JUNEAU -- Gov. Bill Walker on Thursday defended his appointment of a principal at a private Catholic high school to the state education board, which was sharply criticized by a state teachers union.
The Alaska affiliate of the National Education Association said in a statement to reporters Thursday that Walker's selection of John Harmon amounted to "sneaking an unqualified nominee" on the state board. The nine-member board is responsible for setting state education policy and performance standards.
Walker appointed Harmon after the board's chair, Esther Cox, withdrew her reappointment following attacks from conservative groups. Harmon's appointment was read across the Senate floor on Thursday, with four days left in the legislative session.
The House and Senate both scheduled confirmation hearings on Harmon's appointment for Friday.
Harmon is the principal of Lumen Christi High School, a private Catholic school in St. Benedict's parish in Anchorage, where his online biography says that "the purpose of education is to achieve God's fullest potential within each student and to develop his or her spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical needs."
The teachers union said Harmon's appointment left the education board without members with classroom experience, though Harmon's biography says he taught classes and was a regular guest speaker at local schools and universities while he was a corporate attorney.
Walker's other board of education appointee is Keith Hamilton, the founding president of Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, a position he's held since 2000. His resume also includes 20 years working as an associate pastor to students at churches in Colorado and California.
Asked about the significance of his appointees' religious backgrounds in a news conference Thursday, Walker responded: "I don't think there's any significance at all."
"They all provide educational opportunities in our state," he said.
He added that he views classroom experience as an important criterion. But, he said, "I look at the names I have available and I select the ones I think will be the best qualified for the job."