Changes

Roemer's District 6 seat on the BESE board included Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. He was initially unopposed for his seat on the board in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 20, 2007. Four years later, in the primary on October 22, 2011, he led a field of three candidates, with 60,186 votes (44.7 percent). The [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Donald Songy, the former Ascension Parish school superintendent, trailed with 38,681 (28.7 percent). The balance of votes was held by Republican Elizabeth "Beth" Myers, 35,732 (26.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> In the [[general election]] on November 19, Roemer defeated Songy, 49,967 (56.8 percent) to 38,067 (43.2 percent) and won all parishes except Ascension and Washington.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>

Roemer's District 6 seat on the BESE board included Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. He was initially unopposed for his seat on the board in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 20, 2007. Four years later, in the primary on October 22, 2011, he led a field of three candidates, with 60,186 votes (44.7 percent). The [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Donald Songy, the former Ascension Parish school superintendent, trailed with 38,681 (28.7 percent). The balance of votes was held by Republican Elizabeth "Beth" Myers, 35,732 (26.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> In the [[general election]] on November 19, Roemer defeated Songy, 49,967 (56.8 percent) to 38,067 (43.2 percent) and won all parishes except Ascension and Washington.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>

   

   

As he began his second term on the BESE board, Roemer's colleagues designated him as the chairman. Roemer supported letter grades for public schools, tougher evaluations for teachers, and expanded school options for students and parents.<ref name=advocate>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/5158341-125/bese-president-mulls-senate-race|author=Will Sentell|title=, BESE president mulls U.S. Senate race|date= April 9, 2013|publisher='The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> Roemer's sister Caroline heads the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, one of the options he seeks to expand.<ref name=hayride/> Roemer himself is a founding member of The Children's Charter School, one of the first such institutions in the state.<ref name=roemerbio/>

As he began his second term on the BESE board, Roemer's colleagues designated him as the chairman. Roemer supported letter grades for public schools, tougher evaluations for teachers, and expanded school options for students and parents.<ref name=advocate>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/5158341-125/bese-president-mulls-senate-race|author=Will Sentell|title=, BESE president mulls U.S. Senate race|date= April 9, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> Roemer's sister Caroline heads the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, one of the options he seeks to expand.<ref name=hayride/> Roemer himself is a founding member of The Children's Charter School, one of the first such institutions in the state.<ref name=roemerbio/>

   

   

Like Jindal and White, Roemer pushed for expanded [[charter school]]s in the education reform package. Jindal also pushed for improved teacher evaluations, as had former Governor Roemer prior to 1991. Jindal's educational voucher program was cut down by a court challenge. Jindal also opposed teacher tenure, but the supporters consider the protection to be essential to shield teachers from innuendo and the spread of falsehoods and to block political interference.<ref name=hayride>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2011/10/louisianas-educational-establishment-is-facing-rough-times-in-the-next-four-years/|author=[[Jim Beam]]|title=Louisiana’s Educational Establishment Is Facing Rough Times In The Next Four Years|date=October 30, 2011|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=October 24, 2013}}</ref>

Like Jindal and White, Roemer pushed for expanded [[charter school]]s in the education reform package. Jindal also pushed for improved teacher evaluations, as had former Governor Roemer prior to 1991. Jindal's educational voucher program was cut down by a court challenge. Jindal also opposed teacher tenure, but the supporters consider the protection to be essential to shield teachers from innuendo and the spread of falsehoods and to block political interference.<ref name=hayride>{{cite web|url=http://thehayride.com/2011/10/louisianas-educational-establishment-is-facing-rough-times-in-the-next-four-years/|author=[[Jim Beam]]|title=Louisiana’s Educational Establishment Is Facing Rough Times In The Next Four Years|date=October 30, 2011|publisher=thehayride.com|accessdate=October 24, 2013}}</ref>

   

   

A frequent dissenter on the BESE board, Lottie Beebe, a Republican who also was the superintendent of schools in  St. Martin Parish and an outspoken opponent of much of the Jindal-White-Roemer educational reforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/6604766-125/beebe-the-loyal-opposition-on|author=Will Sentel|titler=Beebe, the loyal opposition on BESE|date= July 29, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=October 22, 2013}}</ref> Beebe was unseated in the 2015 board elections.

A frequent dissenter on the BESE board, Lottie Beebe, a Republican who also was the superintendent of schools in  St. Martin Parish and an outspoken opponent of much of the Jindal-White-Roemer educational reforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/6604766-125/beebe-the-loyal-opposition-on|author=Will Sentel|titlr=Beebe, the loyal opposition on BESE|date= July 29, 2013|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=October 22, 2013}}</ref> Beebe was unseated in the 2015 board elections.

Roemer and Education Superintendent John White were staunch advocates of the [[liberal]] Common Core]] State Standards Initiative school curriculum, which took effect in August 2014, despite court challenges from seventeen [[conservative]] state legislators and newly-announced opposition from Governor Jindal. Roemer said, "The message to teachers and districts in this state to be clear [is]: Common Core is law in this state and what’s what we’re going to move forward with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/17/roemer-la-moving-forward-common-core/14209597/|title=Roemer: La. moving forward with Common Core|author=Mike Hasten|date=August 17, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=August 18, 2014}}</ref>

Roemer and Education Superintendent John White were staunch advocates of the [[liberal]] Common Core]] State Standards Initiative school curriculum, which took effect in August 2014, despite court challenges from seventeen [[conservative]] state legislators and newly-announced opposition from Governor Jindal. Roemer said, "The message to teachers and districts in this state to be clear [is]: Common Core is law in this state and what’s what we’re going to move forward with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/local/2014/08/17/roemer-la-moving-forward-common-core/14209597/|title=Roemer: La. moving forward with Common Core|author=Mike Hasten|date=August 17, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=August 18, 2014}}</ref>