Comments on: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/ PUBLIC EDUCATION KEEPS THE AMERICAN DREAM ALIVE Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:04:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1890 Mike Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:58:01 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1890 I cannot seem to find anything about why the position ended up being one that had to be elected. Does anyone know? I blogged for the K12 Center on this yesterday and tried to find humor, however, it is of concern.... http://www.storiesfromschoolaz.org/2010/11/elections-squirrels-teaching-and-shiny-things.html I cannot seem to find anything about why the position ended up being one that had to be elected. Does anyone know? I blogged for the K12 Center on this yesterday and tried to find humor, however, it is of concern….

http://www.storiesfromschoolaz.org/2010/11/elections-squirrels-teaching-and-shiny-things.html

]]> By: Kotterman v. Huppenthal: Superintendent of Public Instruction | Arizona Education Network http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1865 Kotterman v. Huppenthal: Superintendent of Public Instruction | Arizona Education Network Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:33:11 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1865 [...] Two candidates have emerged from the Arizona primary election for Superintendent of Public Instruction.  They are Penny Kotterman and John Huppenthal.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the top education official in the state, and acts as the Chairman of the State Board of Education and is the head of the Department of Education.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction influences policy in the legislature, is responsible for the implementation of education legislation and is in charge of the Department of Education and its interactions with school districts.  Further, the Superintendent of Public Instruction commands the bully pulpit on education issues and has a great deal of influence on the direction the state takes regarding educational issues like school funding.  Because of the importance of this officeholder, we have gathered information to help you make an informed decision on November 2 when you elect the next Superintendent of Public Instruction.  To read you should pay attention to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, click here. [...] [...] Two candidates have emerged from the Arizona primary election for Superintendent of Public Instruction.  They are Penny Kotterman and John Huppenthal.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the top education official in the state, and acts as the Chairman of the State Board of Education and is the head of the Department of Education.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction influences policy in the legislature, is responsible for the implementation of education legislation and is in charge of the Department of Education and its interactions with school districts.  Further, the Superintendent of Public Instruction commands the bully pulpit on education issues and has a great deal of influence on the direction the state takes regarding educational issues like school funding.  Because of the importance of this officeholder, we have gathered information to help you make an informed decision on November 2 when you elect the next Superintendent of Public Instruction.  To read you should pay attention to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, click here. [...]

]]> By: Carl McPherson http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1826 Carl McPherson Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:15:48 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1826 <a href="#comment-687" rel="nofollow">@Meredith</a> Your comment has pushed me over the edge. We need someone to jerk the public school funding back.. cut it by 80% is what I would do.. charter schools, private schools and home schools get FAR FAR FAR better results. Your comment helped me decide to vote for John Huppenthal, thank you. @Meredith
Your comment has pushed me over the edge. We need someone to jerk the public school funding back.. cut it by 80% is what I would do.. charter schools, private schools and home schools get FAR FAR FAR better results. Your comment helped me decide to vote for John Huppenthal, thank you.

]]> By: Kent Paul Dolan http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1825 Kent Paul Dolan Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:27:19 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1825 It was very saddening to watch a debate among the three remaining Republican primaray candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and learn many disheartening things. 1) All three favor the odious charter school system. 2) Margaret Dugan, formerly assistant in charge of keeping Arizona public schools among the lowest quality in the nation, takes pride in being the bigot who disabled the bilingual education system which assured Spanish-only students at least a fighting chance to get some other education while they were learning English. Nope. 3) John Huppenthal also claims to have been a person involved in elevating Arizona schools to their current benthic level of educating students, still near the bottom of states in the US for public education. Much worse, he gloats in an endorsement from the bigot responsible for writing SB1070, who in turn claims inspiration from white power advocates. Nope. Beth Price appeared worn out with the years, and had trouble keeping her thoughts focused and her sentences complete. Nevertheless, she has an outsider's excellent view of what's wrong with Arizona schools, which she explained by the metrics she used as a junior college administrator, to measure the problems, and a plan of remediation for those problems. Until you've measured a problem, you don't know anything about it. She made the other two candidates seem, correctly, to be in denial about the abysmal state of Arizona's K-12 education system, while she was measuring it and could recite the results. Yes, best of a bad lot, but yes. xanthian. It was very saddening to watch a debate among the three remaining Republican primaray candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and learn many disheartening things.

1) All three favor the odious charter school system.

2) Margaret Dugan, formerly assistant in charge of keeping Arizona public schools among the lowest quality in the nation, takes pride in being the bigot who disabled the bilingual education system which assured Spanish-only students at least a fighting chance to get some other education while they were learning English. Nope.

3) John Huppenthal also claims to have been a person involved in elevating Arizona schools to their current benthic level of educating students, still near the bottom of states in the US for public education. Much worse, he gloats in an endorsement from the bigot responsible for writing SB1070, who in turn claims inspiration from white power advocates. Nope.

Beth Price appeared worn out with the years, and had trouble keeping her thoughts focused and her sentences complete. Nevertheless, she has an outsider’s excellent view of what’s wrong with Arizona schools, which she explained by the metrics she used as a junior college administrator, to measure the problems, and a plan of remediation for those problems. Until you’ve measured a problem, you don’t know anything about it. She made the other two candidates seem, correctly, to be in denial about the abysmal state of Arizona’s K-12 education system, while she was measuring it and could recite the results. Yes, best of a bad lot, but yes.

xanthian.

]]> By: CTE Teacher http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1728 CTE Teacher Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:30:12 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1728 Huppenthal HAS voted against funding for education most of his career- but have you seen this? http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/21/student-gop-senator-education/ Huppenthal HAS voted against funding for education most of his career- but have you seen this?

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/21/student-gop-senator-education/

]]> By: Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidates Debate on AZ PBS’s Horizon | Arizona Education Network http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidates Debate on AZ PBS’s Horizon | Arizona Education Network Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:51:54 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1707 [...] learn more about the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and its importance go to Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction; Why You Should Pay Attention to this Office Categories: Recent News House Passes Education Jobs Bill that Could Send $211 million [...] [...] learn more about the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and its importance go to Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction; Why You Should Pay Attention to this Office Categories: Recent News House Passes Education Jobs Bill that Could Send $211 million [...]

]]> By: 2010 Arizona Legislative & State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidates | Arizona Education Network http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1510 2010 Arizona Legislative & State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidates | Arizona Education Network Thu, 27 May 2010 01:58:52 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1510 [...] education-related reads: . 2009 Legislative Session: Education Funding Voting Record by Legislator Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office Public Education and Our AZ Constituion Public Education, the AZ Constituion & the NO TAX [...] [...] education-related reads: . 2009 Legislative Session: Education Funding Voting Record by Legislator Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office Public Education and Our AZ Constituion Public Education, the AZ Constituion & the NO TAX [...]

]]> By: aenadmin http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1493 aenadmin Sat, 22 May 2010 23:45:17 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1493 AZEdPolicy: In response to your direct question: the Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan resource. I myself am a registered Independent, and our board, writers and researchers reach across the political spectrum. You can read more about our non-partisan group in the <a href="http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/about-us/" rel="nofollow">About Us</a> section of this website. I would also, however, like to comment on your assertion that "children who are blind, deaf, or have moderate autism NEED private placements; and that's what Senator Huppenthal supports." Though I cannot speak to Sen. Huppenthal's position on this matter, it is important to point out that the majority of special needs children in our state attend public schools. Our forefathers embedded specific instructions in our Arizona Constitution for the legislature to "enact such laws as shall provide for the education and care of pupils who are hearing and vision impaired" (Article 11, Section 1); and the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) was established by our state legislature in 1912. Today ASDB remains a public school and serves over 2,500 children. In my child's own school district, there are a number of very gifted educators who work with children with a wide range of special education needs. While private schools may be a wonderful option for some parents, it is neither accurate nor appropriate to suggest that children with specialized learning needs can only be successfully served outside of the public schools. Lisa Hawkins Today's site moderator AZEdPolicy:

In response to your direct question: the Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan resource. I myself am a registered Independent, and our board, writers and researchers reach across the political spectrum. You can read more about our non-partisan group in the About Us section of this website.

I would also, however, like to comment on your assertion that “children who are blind, deaf, or have moderate autism NEED private placements; and that’s what Senator Huppenthal supports.”

Though I cannot speak to Sen. Huppenthal’s position on this matter, it is important to point out that the majority of special needs children in our state attend public schools. Our forefathers embedded specific instructions in our Arizona Constitution for the legislature to “enact such laws as shall provide for the education and care of pupils who are hearing and vision impaired” (Article 11, Section 1); and the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) was established by our state legislature in 1912. Today ASDB remains a public school and serves over 2,500 children.

In my child’s own school district, there are a number of very gifted educators who work with children with a wide range of special education needs. While private schools may be a wonderful option for some parents, it is neither accurate nor appropriate to suggest that children with specialized learning needs can only be successfully served outside of the public schools.

Lisa Hawkins
Today’s site moderator

]]> By: AzEdPolicy http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1487 AzEdPolicy Sat, 22 May 2010 15:00:19 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1487 <a href="#comment-687" rel="nofollow">@Meredith</a> Senator Huppenthal's record supports teacher pay raises and removal of red tape! If you read his record, you will understand that some children do not fit into the Public school model. Children who are blind, deaf, or have moderate autism NEED private placements; and that's what Senator Huppenthal supports. Good for you, thinking the Public model fits all children; it simply does not. Do Democrats run this site? It's pretty biased. @Meredith
Senator Huppenthal’s record supports teacher pay raises and removal of red tape! If you read his record, you will understand that some children do not fit into the Public school model. Children who are blind, deaf, or have moderate autism NEED private placements; and that’s what Senator Huppenthal supports. Good for you, thinking the Public model fits all children; it simply does not.

Do Democrats run this site? It’s pretty biased.

]]> By: Dawn Moss http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 Dawn Moss Sun, 16 May 2010 22:22:53 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1198 Huppenthal, like many Republican legislators, is pro charter and private education. I have been trying to do some research to where his financial interest lies. I was shocked to even think he would run. He, like many don't seem to realize, they are in PUBLIC office, not private and he would be overseeing PUBLIC, not private education. His agenda is to get rid of it. He also voted against the asbesto investigations at Corona Del Sole HS. Those of us in education know Ms. Kotterman is our obvious choice, an educator should run the highest office in the state for education! Huppenthal, like many Republican legislators, is pro charter and private education. I have been trying to do some research to where his financial interest lies. I was shocked to even think he would run. He, like many don’t seem to realize, they are in PUBLIC office, not private and he would be overseeing PUBLIC, not private education. His agenda is to get rid of it. He also voted against the asbesto investigations at Corona Del Sole HS.

Those of us in education know Ms. Kotterman is our obvious choice, an educator should run the highest office in the state for education!

]]> By: Legislative Newsletter: May 4, 2010 | Arizona Education Network http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-1120 Legislative Newsletter: May 4, 2010 | Arizona Education Network Tue, 04 May 2010 23:22:28 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-1120 [...] Dugan and Huppenthal, both Republicans, will run against each other in the August 24 primary.  Kotterman and Williams will compete in the Democratic primary. Related Articles: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office [...] [...] Dugan and Huppenthal, both Republicans, will run against each other in the August 24 primary.  Kotterman and Williams will compete in the Democratic primary. Related Articles: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office [...]

]]> By: aenadmin http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-712 aenadmin Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:31:14 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-712 <a href="#comment-710" rel="nofollow">@paying attention in tempe</a> Tempe ~ Thank you for your comments. Our apologies for leaving Ms. Dugan off the original post - it wasn't an intentional omission and we have added her name to the list. In the interest of fairness, we would also like to provide the links to all of the current candidate websites. We strongly encourage readers to visit each website to learn more about each candidate and their platform for education. Margaret Dugan www.margaretdugan.com Penny Kotterman www.pennykotterman.com Jason Williams www.williamsforarizona.com Gary Nine www.g9foraz.com (withdrawn but site still active) John Huppenthal www.johnhuppenthal.com Beth Price www.bethpricecg.com @paying attention in tempe
Tempe ~
Thank you for your comments. Our apologies for leaving Ms. Dugan off the original post – it wasn’t an intentional omission and we have added her name to the list.

In the interest of fairness, we would also like to provide the links to all of the current candidate websites. We strongly encourage readers to visit each website to learn more about each candidate and their platform for education.

Margaret Dugan http://www.margaretdugan.com

Penny Kotterman http://www.pennykotterman.com

Jason Williams http://www.williamsforarizona.com

Gary Nine http://www.g9foraz.com (withdrawn but site still active)

John Huppenthal http://www.johnhuppenthal.com

Beth Price http://www.bethpricecg.com

]]> By: paying attention in tempe http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-710 paying attention in tempe Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:25:57 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-710 Two other things: 1. I don't know who Dr. Price is, but her website currently says 'blah blah blah' in all of her categories. Literally. I'm guessing that is because she hasn't written the text yet for the webpage, but it isn't inspiring much confidence in me! :) 2. You guys left out Margaret Dugan. Isn't she still running? Her website is here: http://www.margaretdugan.com/ Two other things:

1. I don’t know who Dr. Price is, but her website currently says ‘blah blah blah’ in all of her categories. Literally. I’m guessing that is because she hasn’t written the text yet for the webpage, but it isn’t inspiring much confidence in me! :)

2. You guys left out Margaret Dugan. Isn’t she still running? Her website is here: http://www.margaretdugan.com/

]]> By: paying attention in tempe http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-709 paying attention in tempe Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:11:38 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-709 I just looked at all of the websites I could find for the Superintendent candidates. One thing really caught my eye: Senator Huppenthal's website makes this claim about his "education leadership": "Under Senator Huppenthal’s leadership, per-student funding has increased by over 5% per year for Kyrene, Chandler and Tempe schools for the last three years. This funding gave the districts the resources to reduce class size and allows the National Education Association to rank Arizona K-12 instructional salaries as the 12th highest in the nation." Holy crap! Aside from the fact that he voted against education funding 100% of the time last year (and he sure can't claim credit for voter approved over-ride campaigns in the districts he listed) I just double checked to make sure of something...and yes, he is repeating the same bold LIE ("NEA ranks Arizona K-12 instructional salaries as the 12th highest in the nation") that you guys debunked in the first report I ever saw from you. (AZ Education Facts). NEA's most recent numbers show Arizona K-12 instructional salaries are 44TH (not 12th!) in the nation. (*see page 21, table c-18 on this link http://www.ne a.org/assets/docs/09rankings.pdf) Table c-21 in the same study shows that average instructional salaries in Arizona have DROPPED between 1997 and 2007 by 23.1% -- the highest drop in the nation by far. SHAME on Mr. Huppenthal! I'm tired of these types of politicians who think that they can slide these lies past us like hot butter. If he can't even come up with the right numbers on his resume, what makes him think he's qualified to run our public schools!?!?!?!?!? I just looked at all of the websites I could find for the Superintendent candidates.

One thing really caught my eye: Senator Huppenthal’s website makes this claim about his “education leadership”: “Under Senator Huppenthal’s leadership, per-student funding has increased by over 5% per year for Kyrene, Chandler and Tempe schools for the last three years. This funding gave the districts the resources to reduce class size and allows the National Education Association to rank Arizona K-12 instructional salaries as the 12th highest in the nation.”

Holy crap! Aside from the fact that he voted against education funding 100% of the time last year (and he sure can’t claim credit for voter approved over-ride campaigns in the districts he listed) I just double checked to make sure of something…and yes, he is repeating the same bold LIE (“NEA ranks Arizona K-12 instructional salaries as the 12th highest in the nation”) that you guys debunked in the first report I ever saw from you. (AZ Education Facts).

NEA’s most recent numbers show Arizona K-12 instructional salaries are 44TH (not 12th!) in the nation. (*see page 21, table c-18 on this link http://www.ne a.org/assets/docs/09rankings.pdf) Table c-21 in the same study shows that average instructional salaries in Arizona have DROPPED between 1997 and 2007 by 23.1% — the highest drop in the nation by far.

SHAME on Mr. Huppenthal! I’m tired of these types of politicians who think that they can slide these lies past us like hot butter. If he can’t even come up with the right numbers on his resume, what makes him think he’s qualified to run our public schools!?!?!?!?!?

]]> By: Penny http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2010/03/arizona-superintendent-of-public-instruction-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-this-office/comment-page-1/#comment-688 Penny Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:40:13 +0000 http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/?p=3456#comment-688 Meredith- That is exactly why I am running for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Our current policy makers have been systematically cutting education funding for years. I was a teacher for 18 years, most of those here in AZ. My kids went to school here and I know I can help us move forward, not backward. I hope you will check out my website at www.pennykotterman.com. The AEN is an amazing group of parents and community members. This is great information- keep up the good work! Meredith- That is exactly why I am running for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Our current policy makers have been systematically cutting education funding for years. I was a teacher for 18 years, most of those here in AZ. My kids went to school here and I know I can help us move forward, not backward. I hope you will check out my website at http://www.pennykotterman.com. The AEN is an amazing group of parents and community members. This is great information- keep up the good work!

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