Former State Board of Education member Brad Oliver tells Indy Politics he isn’t ruling out a run for the office currently being held by Democrat Glenda Ritz.
Ritz, the current Superintendent of Public Instruction, is expected to announce that she will run for Governor.
Governor Mike Pence named several new appointments to the Board Wednesday, Oliver was not one of them. However he has been named as a possible candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. When asked about the possible run, he issued the following statement…
“I am considering how I can best serve the children in our state as an educational leader. My entire professional career has been anchored in making a difference for kids and the teachers who serve them. While I have not made a decision at this time about running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. I believe Indiana’s student achievement gains are being compromised due to poor leadership at the Indiana Department of Education. Our schools rely on the leadership of the Department of Education and many school districts are struggling to receive timely, accurate responses to questions involving state education policy. The only way this will be remedied is by electing a strong bipartisan leader as State Superintendent who makes decisions purely on the basis of what is in the best interests of all children in our state and regardless of whether or not they attend a public, public charter, or private school. I will continue to pray about how and where I can best influence education policy that respects the challenging work of teachers and works to create prosperous opportunities for our State and our children.”
Oliver was appointed to the Board in 2013 by Governor Mike Pence. He is currently Director of Education at The Summit, a community investment organization in Fort Wayne.
Photo: Chalkbeat Indiana
