Washington (CNN) Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Monday that if elected president, she would choose a former public school teacher to lead the Department of Education.

In making the pledge, which came in an email to her supporters, the Democratic presidential candidate took aim at President Donald Trump's secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, who Democrats have criticized for promoting charter schools and for-profit colleges. Devos' lack of public education experience drew criticism from Warren and public school advocates during her confirmation hearing.

"I'll just be blunt: Betsy DeVos is the worst Secretary of Education we've seen. She and her team are up to their eyeballs in conflicts of interest," Warren wrote. "Instead of championing our students, they protect for-profit colleges that break the law and cheat them."

"So I'm making this pledge to you: In my administration, the Secretary of Education will be a former public school teacher who is committed to public education," the Massachusetts Democrat continued.

Warren added that her pick would be someone "who understands how low pay, tattered textbooks, and crumbling classrooms hurt students and educators," and someone "who understands the crushing burden of student debt on students and young professionals and who is committed to actually doing something about it."

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