More than 15,000 people have signed an online petition aimed at having Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James replace Betsy Devos as the nation’s head of the U.S. Department of Education.
The petition, which is directed at President Donald Trump, says: “LeBron James is an inspiration to kids all over the country. He’s shown he cares about America’s youth and understands the power of public education in helping children meet their true potential.”
The author writes, “The first candidate is famed athlete LeBron James, a highly respected and extremely influential community advocate and activist who recently opened a state-of-the-art public school for at-risk children in Akron, Ohio.”
“The second candidate is Betsy DeVos, a scandal-ridden Republican donor who shows an inexcusable dislike for public education, wants to gut protections for women and minorities, and has advocated for teachers to be armed in schools,” the author continues.
James’s new I Promise School in Akron, Ohio will run from July 30-May 17, which is seven weeks longer than a normal school year. Every student will receive free tuition, food, uniform and even a free bike, according to the organization.
