Superintendent of Public Instruction

The Superintendent of Public Instruction administers the basic education program for all public and private schools in the state; prepares the state school budget; grants certification to teachers and administrative staff; develops and distributes curriculum; administers accreditation of public and private schools; prepares rules for disabled, gifted, remedial, health services, food services, vocational, basic education, bilingual, and other state programs; reviews expenditures of local school districts; regulates apportionment of federal program funds; and administers education programs for children in state institutions.

You’ve been reading and hearing about the McCleary decision. McCleary was a supreme court decision requiring the state to fully fund k-12 education. The legislature has not done so and the court has found them in contempt and is assessing a fine of $100k/day until they do it.

Erin Jones                 erinjonesin2016@gmail.com

http://www.erinjones2016.org/

experienced as classroom teacher & administrator. Currently Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction. Focus on great schools for all kids, regardless of zip code, race, or language.

Core values:

Advocacy – in support of students and educators.

An educator’s lens – by continuing to teach 2 days a week she stays close to the heart of education, teachers. Non-teaching staff are also important. Appropriate resources for arts, athletics, and other facilities need to be provided.

A collaborative mindset – to include local government, community organizations, business owners, religious institutions, and families. 

Systems alignment – including a strategic plan to assure success from pre-kindergarten through college.

The issues:

Funding – she cites the McCleary case, in which she testified, and provides a link to the case. For 6 years the legislature has suspended voter approved COLAs for school employees, resulting in loss of real income. Teacher pay in WA is 42^nd out of the 50 states. She lists the real losses caused by the budget crunch, including lack of tech and vital support staff, which leads to student failures. Asking educators to improve results with decreasing resources is not only impossible, its an unfair expectation with unacceptable results.

Common Core – a set of standards for what students are expected to know and be able to do in any given year. It is not a curriculum and it is not the state test. She plans, as Superintendent, to gather educators and test experts not associated with any test company to see how they can improve testing and spend less time on testing.

State Testing – tests need to be effective and provide useful information to educators. Testing needs to be simplified and meaningful. English language learners should not be tested as if they are proficient in the language when they are not.

Teacher Evaluation – is necessary but should not be punitive or an excuse to oust individual teachers. Student test scores should not factor into individual teacher evaluations.

She gives a clear definition of the duties of the Superintendent.

She is endorsed by many Dem officials and organizations, progressive organizations, education unions, and African American organizations,

Platform:

• The legislature has no plan for McCleary funding. That needs to happen.
• Equality is key. Data, recruiting educators, authentic community engagement, student support.
• Need better transitions between grades.
• Eliminate barriers for educators to do their job. Help identify local gaps. Academic and soft skills needed.
• High stakes testing is dangerous. Look at other measures. Focus on personal growth.
• Public doesn’t understand levies. Make sure the public is aware of the financial issues.
• OSPI (Office of the Superintendent of Public Education) should talk about family engagement.
• Need a conversation about who pays taxes.
• OSPI needs to provide data that can be used.
• Accountability has gone overboard – eliminate barriers.
• She is a Director for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) http://www.avid.org/.
• Match student passion with opportunities and careers.
• Summary: As an educator she eliminated barriers. She is running because she loves teaching.

·       Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters.

Chris Reykdal                       chris4wakids@gmail.com

http://www.chrisreykdal.com/

education: WSU, University of North Carolina MA in public admin.

Has a great deal of experience in education planning and budgeting. Was also a classroom teacher. Currently a state legislator. “Our greatest obligation is not to short-term solutions, but to long-term sustainability for our children and grandchildren. By making tough choices today, we can have a strong economy, a healthier environment, a world-class education system, and a strong safety net for vulnerable families. These create the substance of long-term success.”

issues: Fully funding basic education, with affordable access to college; Recommitting to career and technical education; Meaningful assessments, rather than standardized tests; High school completion; The opportunity gap – its not that non-white students are less smart. They’re just not as well served, and the result is lower achievement. Outstanding school support staff, supported with adequate pay and working conditions. Teacher excellence, achieved in part with adequate pay. Expanding dual credit options (running start). High standards with local control. A long term vision for OSPI.

Commenters on his website ask his position on charter schools. Good question. I also note a lack of mention of the McCleary case and the fact that every day the state fails to fully fund basic education costs the taxpayers $100,000.00. The superintendent of public instruction does not set the budget, but s/he certainly carries some weight with the legislature. In fairness, he does commit to “fully funding basic education”, which is the language of McCleary.

He is endorsed by many Dem legislators and organizations, teachers’ unions, other labor unions,

Platform:

• Capital gains tax is needed to raise more money
• Local levies should go down or be eliminated and state property taxes increased
• Need flexible pathways to get 24 HS graduation credits
• Testing is ok but needs work
• Career vs. college ready: Functional vs. academic
• Thinks ESSA is better than NCLB (these are testing platforms). Wants ESSA to evolve.
• Doesn’t support charter schools
• Said Senate blocked action on the levy cliff. OSPI should be an advocate on levy issues.
• Local control of school decisions
• Big data has pluses and minuses. Controls are needed. How to manage release? Data systems are poor.
• Define customers and their needs
• Steps vs. Outcomes
• 24 HS credits look like college prep and career prep
•  

·       Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters.

            I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Erin Jones this summer. I was more than favorably impressed. She is fluent in 4 languages, a trait which I respect. And everything she had to say about education and how she would like to see it organized resonated with me. She stressed that she insists on spending time in the classroom because she does not want to lose contact with kids, who are what education is all about. We talked about the fact that most kids go to school reluctantly, but that there are a few schools out there whose students don’t want to leave at the end of the day because they are excited by the learning happening there. She wants to see every school be like that and has plans and ideas for how to make that happen.

            I don’t know Chris Reykdal at all. I see that he has a very good record in the legislature and he might well make a good superintendent of public instruction. I question why he would want to step out of a position where he is doing a lot of good. It seems like he is more useful in his present position.

            I will be voting for Erin Jones.