WHAT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION?

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), also referred to as the Secretary of Education for the state public education system, is the leader and overseer of the California Department of Education. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the implementer of state education policy that is set by the Governor and they are the chief accountability officer of student achievement and state standard mastery. In addition, the SPI is an advocate for teacher development and student learning, increased funding and access to resources. The SPI does not have jurisdiction over public higher education, they do provide leadership and guidance. 

WHO IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? 

The current Superintendent of Public Instruction is Tony Thurmond.

WHY AM I RUNNING FOR THIS SEAT?

From the White House to the Classroom, public education is under attack. Now more than ever, we need education leaders that understand education, specifically the needs of K12 students, the value of supporting K12 teachers and ensuring that essential funding is sustained.

My focus as State Superintendent of Public Education is, and will forever be, on student success. I am a career public school educator; beginning my career in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a parent volunteer in my child's Pre-K classroom, then hired as a Paraprofessional/Teacher's Aide and a sixth grade teacher in the Compton Unified School District. For over a decade I have been employed as a teacher educator in the California State University system where I provide instruction and clinical field support to new and pre-service teacher candidates working toward completion of multiple-subjects teaching credentials. I am also an elected member of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees.

I am running to be the Superintendent of Public Instruction because I want to play a larger role in the academic and economic success of California students and teachers. As a public school classroom teacher, I experienced the frustration of meeting the academic and psychological needs of my students with little support, the stress of improving standardized test scores when the timing of test administration is not aligned with curriculum frameworks, and the need for workforce training programs specifically designed to provide students that are neither college interested or college ready with job training in fields that offer life sustaining wages. I know that collectively, we can do better for California stakeholders; students, teachers, parents and community. I have the aptitude and experience to broaden K14 workforce development opportunities and pathways to university access.