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José's own mother fled to the United States from Cuba while pregnant with him, after the Castro regime detained his father as a political prisoner. Like many of the students they’ve served throughout their careers, Aimee and José Viana began school as English-language learners. “Her combined experience in administrative roles along with her field experience-working directly with administrators, teachers, and students in a variety of educational settings-makes her an exceptional talent who could create a positive impact on Hispanic Americans,” Catholic Diocese of Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge, who led the Diocese of Raleigh during Aimee Viana’s time there, wrote to Education Week in an email.īefore coming to Washington, José Viana spent eight years as an administrator at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, helping the children of migrant workers overcome academic hurdles, such as frequent moves and cultural and language differences, that can prevent them from doing well in school. She later joined the bishop’s executive staff, overseeing a half-dozen offices and missions, including Hispanic ministry and outreach services for 54 counties in the eastern half of the state. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2010. The Vianas started their careers in the Miami-Dade County, Fla., public schools, where José first worked as an English-language-learner teacher and Aimee began as a paraprofessional while still a college student.Īfter leaving South Florida, the couple spent close to a decade in North Carolina, carving out careers with regional and statewide influence.Īimee Viana served in the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., working as a principal at two diocesan schools, including one recognized as a U.S. The Education Department-which declined Education Week‘s request to interview the Vianas-said the Schlapps’ connection to the Trump administration played no role in the appointments of either José or Aimee Viana.Įducation Department spokeswoman Liz Hill said DeVos connected with the Vianas “through a network of education policy experts, reformers, and grassroots leaders she’s developed over the last 30 years.” ‘Real-Life Experience’ “When I watch them on television defending me, nobody has a chance,” Trump said of the Schlapps during his February 2017 speech at the conference as he thanked them for being “fantastic friends and supporters.” Her husband, Matt Schlapp, is an influential lobbyist and the chairman of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Jose Viana’s sister, former Fox News contributor Mercedes Schlapp, is the director of strategic communications at the White House, where she has served as a senior member of Trump’s staff since September 2017. While the Vianas were relative unknowns inside the Beltway before their arrival, they are related to one of Washington’s most prominent power couples. In an administration that has alienated large swaths of the Latino population-with its immigration policies, response to Puerto Rico’s devastation by Hurricane Maria, and push to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program-immigrant advocacy and civil rights groups have praised the Vianas as allies, but some have questioned how the husband-and-wife team landed the prestigious posts at such a critical time. The talk comes amid concerns from civil rights and advocacy groups that the federal education department has already failed to ensure equity for the nation’s 5 million English-learners. And, the office of English-language acquisition, or OELA, could soon be restructured as part of an effort by DeVos to revamp the entire education department.