cutting out the DoE for example won't disenfranchise a single teacher, just a bunch of politically ambitious bureaucrats

I disagree, and think that's worse. Think about the kind of person that becomes a bureaucrat within the DoE?

but they'll flip flop for any bigger threat to their position.

They haven't yet. I think this might be relying a little too much on the idea that the elites have no principles, standards or over-arching goals. I'm sorry, but a lot of them truly believe what they're doing is in the best interest of society. That's what makes it such a threat. People who sway with the breeze can be themselves controlled and bought off. These people aren't like that. It's why the whole thing needs to be torn right down. And personally I don't believe it can be rebuilt, but it's only at that point that even an idealist could agree it could be rebuilt. Anything before that is just allowing the roots to remain in tact.