Candidate for
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Education is not a football game. Education transcends political party, national origin, ethnicity, language and religion. Education is a continuous lifelong process involving families, communities and schools. It is the means by which people develop social skills, determine their vocation, cope with everyday life and solve the problems of humankind. It is a never ending process passed on from generation to generation. Educating our children is the most important thing we do.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction needs to understand the perplexities of the classroom, have the foresight and ability to bring many diverse groups together, pooling the fragmented resources of the educational community and to involve the families and community of our schools in the educational process.

For twenty-five years I have demonstrated a passion for teaching and a compassion for the children and adults whom I have taught. As Superintendent of Public Instruction I will promote individual assessment in the early primary years to allow our children to receive timely help developing proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic; I will promote understanding over social promotion; I will promote both advanced academics and vocational training in high school; I will support the development of standards based lesson plans to aid teachers and parents educate our children; and I will promote a restructuring of the educational system to allow our tax dollars to go directly into the classroom.

I thank you for your understanding of the problems facing education and your vote to help our children.