Lizzette Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds is Statewide Policy and Programs Deputy Commissioner, Education Agency, State of Texas. She came to public attention in November 2007 over the controversial firing of Christine Comer
.
(1983-7) and holds a degree in political science. She worked for a state senator and as a lobbyist before serving as deputy legislative director during George W Bush’s 1994-2000 tenure as Governor of Texas. She was the Secretary's Regional Representative, U.S. Department of Education
, Region VI. While in this role she was invited to the Board of Visitors of Southwestern University, She joined the Texas Education Agency
(the state education agency) in January, 2007, as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Statewide Policy and Programs. She was given management responsibility in September 2007 for the Curriculum Division.
, the executive director of the National Center for Science Education
, sent an email to a list of addressees including Christine Comer
, then Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency. It announced a talk in Austin
by one of the Center's directors, Barbara Forrest
. Forrest was a key expert witness
for the plaintiffs in the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
trial, who argued successfully that the concept of Intelligent Design
is not scientific, but is a trojan horse for religious teaching in public schools. Comer received the email on October 26, 2007, and forwarded it to some acquaintances, adding only the text "FYI".
Reynolds received a copy of the email and forwarded it to Comer's bosses less than two hours after Comer sent it. Reynolds cover text is quoted in part: "This is highly inappropriate. I believe this is an offense that calls for termination or, at the very least, reassignment of responsibilities. This is something that the State Board, the Governor's Office and members of the Legislature would be extremely upset to see because it assumes this is a subject that the agency supports." Comer was subsequently asked to resign her employment.
Christine Comer
Christine Castillo Comer is the former Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency . Comer spent nine years as the Director of Science until she resigned on November 7, 2007...
.
Career
Lizzette Reynolds was educated at Southwestern UniversitySouthwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
(1983-7) and holds a degree in political science. She worked for a state senator and as a lobbyist before serving as deputy legislative director during George W Bush’s 1994-2000 tenure as Governor of Texas. She was the Secretary's Regional Representative, U.S. Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, Region VI. While in this role she was invited to the Board of Visitors of Southwestern University, She joined the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
(the state education agency) in January, 2007, as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Statewide Policy and Programs. She was given management responsibility in September 2007 for the Curriculum Division.
Comer controversy
In October 2007, Eugenie ScottEugenie Scott
Eugenie Carol Scott is an American physical anthropologist who has been the executive director of the National Center for Science Education since 1987...
, the executive director of the National Center for Science Education
National Center for Science Education
The National Center for Science Education is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is the United States' leading anti-creationist organization, and defends the teaching of evolutionary biology and opposes...
, sent an email to a list of addressees including Christine Comer
Christine Comer
Christine Castillo Comer is the former Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency . Comer spent nine years as the Director of Science until she resigned on November 7, 2007...
, then Director of Science in the curriculum division of the Texas Education Agency. It announced a talk in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
by one of the Center's directors, Barbara Forrest
Barbara Forrest
Barbara Carroll Forrest is a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. She is a critic of intelligent design and the Discovery Institute.- Biography :...
. Forrest was a key expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
for the plaintiffs in the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District
Tammy Kitzmiller, et al. v. Dover Area School District, et al. was the first direct challenge brought in the United States federal courts testing a public school district policy that required the teaching of intelligent design...
trial, who argued successfully that the concept of Intelligent Design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
is not scientific, but is a trojan horse for religious teaching in public schools. Comer received the email on October 26, 2007, and forwarded it to some acquaintances, adding only the text "FYI".
Reynolds received a copy of the email and forwarded it to Comer's bosses less than two hours after Comer sent it. Reynolds cover text is quoted in part: "This is highly inappropriate. I believe this is an offense that calls for termination or, at the very least, reassignment of responsibilities. This is something that the State Board, the Governor's Office and members of the Legislature would be extremely upset to see because it assumes this is a subject that the agency supports." Comer was subsequently asked to resign her employment.