The nominee for education secretary graduated from Calvin College, a liberal arts institution in Grand Rapids that “prepares students to be Christ’s agents in renewal in the world.”
‘Birthed in Prayer’
Not far away is The Potter’s House private school, one of her favorite education charities. A “Christ-centered school, birthed in prayer and rooted in Scripture,” it offers generous scholarships to poor students.
“She’s always thinking about what is the best way to educate kids in the 21st century, and are we locked into models that have perhaps become somewhat outdated?” said John Booy, Potter’s House superintendent.
DeVos herself represents the confluence of two Michigan fortunes. Through her father, she was heir to the Prince family’s auto-parts empire. The father of her husband, Dick DeVos Jr., founded Amway, whose parent company is closely held Alticor Inc.
Through her network of nonprofits and political-action committees such as American Federation for Children and the Great Lakes Education Project, DeVos is pushing to direct public money into private religious schools like Potter’s House. Since 1989, DeVos and her relatives have given at least $20.2 million to Republican candidates, party committees, political-action committees and super PACs, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks money in politics.
GOP Chair
DeVos, a former chair of the Michigan Republican Party, declined an interview request. Her support for vouchers stems from one of her core beliefs.
“Let the education dollar follow each child, instead of forcing the child to follow the money,” she said in a 2015 speech. “This is straightforward. And it’s how you go from a closed system to an open system that encourages innovation.”
In Michigan, she supported a ballot measure on vouchers that failed. She then funded successful efforts in states including Indiana, where most of the money goes to religious schools. President-elect Trump has proposed $20 billion in federal money for vouchers.