Betsy DeVos, the former billionaire GOP donor and charter school advocate who is now our education secretary, attempted to make her first visit to a public school on Friday since being sworn in, but not without drawing unwanted attention from some angry protestors.In anticipation for DeVos's 10 AM visit to the Jefferson Middle School Academy in DC, some protestors lined the front of the building, holding signs in support of public schools. The small group was reportedly made up of parents, activists, and members of the Washington Teacher's Union, the Washington Post reports.But when DeVos got to the building Friday morning, she apparently tried to avoid the protestors at the front of the school and opted for a side entrance, where, to her dismay, a few additional protesters were waiting for her. Local ABC station WJLA then filmed an awkward altercation where a couple of protesters physically blocked DeVos and her escort from the entrance. She quickly retreated to get into her government SUV, but not before one protester managed to hurl "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" at her—just like Cersei Lannister's walk of atonement in Game of Thrones.
According to the Post, DeVos did manage to get inside the building for the event, which was closed to the media, after the altercation. Although DC Public Schools and the US Department of Education declined to comment, sources from the middle school said many teachers inside were upset prior to the visit.DeVos was one of Donald Trump's most contentious Cabinet picks, who was narrowly confirmed on Tuesday, and remains a divisive figure among parents and education advocates. Throughout her confirmation hearings, DeVos worried senators on both sides of the aisle about her lack of experience for the role. As a longtime advocate for allocating taxpayer dollars to private schools, opponents fear DeVos could use her new position to reform and undermine public schools.