Only a few hours prior to the signing of the removal of the transgender bathroom policy by President Trump, Betsy DeVos was making her way to a meeting with representatives of the LGBTQ community from within the education department. The meeting was created to discuss the plan moving forward after the removal of the federal policy. This, of course, was a very sensitive time, and therefore one aide, in the presence of DeVos, stated to the representatives that Mrs. DeVos fought hard against the removal of this policy.

However, only a mere afters after the president’s announcement and surrounded by media, Betsy DeVos gave no sign that she was ever against the removal of the federal policy. In fact, she would go on to attend the annual CPAC conference and speak to a crowd of thousands regarding her approval of the removal of this executive action by President Obama.

But those who have known and followed Betsy DeVos’s career as the Michigan Republican Party chairwoman and leading advocate for charter school funding warn that she isn’t going to simply become a meek team player to the administration. Betsy DeVos can be very gracious when facing setbacks or other controversies, but she has also earned a reputation within her home state of being ruthless when it comes to getting what she wants. She will often use her family’s vast fortune and influence to bring about change. Former state attorney general & GOP member Mike Cox has gone on record as saying that she has, over the years, instilled a tremendous amount of fear into people and not just because of her family wealth.

Betsy DeVos, who was not present for this article, came to Washington with little to no experience in regards to how politics work within that environment. In fact, her lack of experience was seen when she attempted to debate Jeff Sessions regarding the removal of the transgender bathroom policy. This was a critical debate as Jeff Sessions was at the time very close to the president’s ear and thus influence major decisions. Once again, proponents and opponents of Betsy DeVos state that people tend to underestimate her abilities. They believe that once she has enough time in Washington to learn the ropes, she’s going to be a force to be wrecking with.

Mrs. DeVos was raised in the western part of Michigan, specifically in Holland. During her time there, Betsy DeVos would go to work with her father (Edgar Prince) within his auto parts company. Edgar Prince was also a very wealthy and influential man who often donated to various conservative causes throughout his time. Betsy would go on to marry Dick DeVos, another heir to a large family fortune.

Today, this power couple has not only made headlines but brought about change within their state of Michigan. Betsy was able to expand charter schools in the state, and Dick DeVos would go on to flip the state from a solid union state to a right to work haven.

Follow Betsy DeVos on twitter.

Trust is a very valuable thing, and it is not something that necessarily comes easily. A lot of people have asked lately if we should all be so trusting of our current Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. She is a Trump appointee who was confirmed into her current role by the thinest of margins. A 50-50 tie vote in the Senate was broken by Vice-President Mike Pence in order to get DeVos over the finish line.

A lot of the controversy surrounding her has to do with her politics as well as her personal advocacy for charter schools. She has been vocally very strong in support of charter schools for her entire life. She continues to support the idea of these schools now, and she is more poised to be able to do something with those beliefs than she ever was before.

The pure political woman is one way to view Betsy DeVos, but it is not the complete picture of her. She is not just another political hack who is out to do the bidding of the Administration. Rather, she is someone who has firm personal beliefs that she is not afraid to express in certain ways even if they may be politically risky to her.

One of the first things that DeVos did when she was sworn in was to meet with the union leaders of two of the nation’s largest teacher’s unions. One of those leaders refused to meet with her, but the other one did. It was a gesture by DeVos that pointed to the fact that she wants to try to cooperate with those on the other side of the political spectrum as much as she possibly can. She doesn’t hold grudges against them just because they view politics differently.

Another thing about DeVos that you may not know is that she took a calculated political risk and met with LGBTQ groups to inform them of a policy that was coming from the White House that she felt she had to enact. Despite being personally opposed, DeVos went ahead with the repeal of Obama-era guidelines given to public schools encouraging them to allow students to use the bathroom that they believe best matches their sex. DeVos didn’t want to have to move that policy forward, but she felt that she had no choice. Still, she wanted to let the LGBTQ groups know what she was doing and why she was doing it. She felt that in this small way she could show them that she was not hostile towards their cause.

You can tell that DeVos is a complex character and that she deserves to be viewed through a number of different lens. Those who have the time to ponder her get a much fuller picture of who she really is.

Visit www.betsydevos.com to learn more.

Jason Hope has plans for making Scottsdale a better place with a bright future. His is heavily involved in research and development of mobile apps, desktop software, gaming software, and devices which enhance individuals lives by connecting them with others using technology to make their lives easier and more enjoyable.

Jason Hope is a futurist who works with businesses and individuals helping them move in the right direction when it comes to planning and developing technical advancements. He believes he has what it takes to support and cultivate young entrepreneurs as they enter the vast world of technology. Often new arrivals to this field have great ideas but not the experience or capital needed to bring ideas to fruition. He works with high school seniors and college students by offering grants and assisting them with their technology goals.

Arizona holds a special place in Jason’s heart because he grew in Temple and attended Arizona State University earning a degree in finance, and an MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. He believes education is vital for economic, social, and health reform. Jason Hope continues to be a supporter of underserved schools and students to ensure everyone has access to a quality education.

Jason Hope’s dedication to making the world a better place has lead him to support research done by the SENS foundation. This organization conducts research on anti aging and allowing for better quality of life. Through their research, they focus on finding cures for diseases that break down our body causing it to age faster. Current medicine focuses on treatment, but the SENS foundation wants to prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart and lung disease from happening to begin with. If scientific research can be innovative and challenge modern thinking there is no limit to where this can lead.