november 2022 VOTER GUIDE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
What is the Superintendent of Public Instruction?
The Superintendent oversees the California Department of Education and, by extension, all of the state of California's public schools. They manage the operational side of the school system
Responsibilities include licensing teachers, maintaining school property, and fulfilling other administrative duties
Execute the policies of the California Board of Education, which is the school system's primary governing body
The salary and benefits of this full-time position total $188,000 per year
Why You Should Care
This office is responsible for overseeing the state’s schools and therefore the welfare and education of our children.
Our Vision for the Office
The Superintendent of Public Instruction should be as independent as possible from outside influence, and have a verifiable record of advocating for students and rigorous academic performance above all else.
No endorsement
Why we’re not endorsing anyone: Tony Thurmond has been disappointing as State Superintendent, particularly on the issue of school reopening during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than listening to the needs of parents and trusting public health experts, Thurmond relied on his biggest supporter, the California Teachers Association (CTA), for guidance. They recommended keeping schools closed. CTA spent $1.2 million on Thurmond in the June 2022 primary election to keep him in office.
Thurmond has also demonstrated mismanagement of the office—former employees report a “toxic” workplace and an abusive management style. Nearly two dozen senior officials have left the agency since Thurmond took office. He also hired a highly paid Deputy Superintendent who was later found to be living in Philadelphia with no ties to California schools. The Deputy, Daniel Lee, had previously been in Thurmond’s wedding party and was running a business in Philadelphia while also on the payroll as Deputy Superintendent. He resigned days after the report was published.
We would also be loathe to endorse Thurmond’s opponent, Lance Christensen, a Republican who opposes vaccine mandates in schools, teaching sex ed, and social and emotional learning.
We are saddened that California’s public school families do not have better options.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.
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