Georgia school superintendent race heats up

Down-ballot races hardly ever seize voters’ consideration, however the two candidates operating for Georgia college superintendent hope to disrupt that narrative.

What’s taking place: Voters on Nov. 8 will resolve whether or not to re-elect incumbent Republican Richard Woods or give his Democratic opponent, Alisha Thomas Searcy, a shot on the workplace.

Why it issues: The state college superintendent acts because the chief govt officer of the Georgia Division of Training and implements coverage choices accepted by the State Board of Training.

What they’re saying: Woods informed Axios he is operating for an additional time period as a result of he needs to supply extra commencement pathways for college kids, revamp the instructor and chief analysis system, push for improved college security and deal with college students’ psychological well being.

• Woods mentioned he is heard from superintendents across the state who say they’re seeing an increase in suicide makes an attempt or tendencies amongst college students.
• “It is actually unlucky how that has actually stretched all the way down to a few of our youthful grades,” he mentioned.

The opposite facet: Searcy informed Axios she’s operating to unseat Woods as a result of she has the “expertise, background [and] preparation to tackle what I consider is probably the most tough time in public schooling.”

• Searcy, a former state legislator and superintendent of colleges at Ivy Preparatory Academies, additionally needs to handle college security and psychological well being points, in addition to growing the beginning pay for academics, change the state’s funding components for schooling and bettering studying scores amongst college students.
• “It’s simply unacceptable to me that we do not handle the individuals who handle our youngsters,” she mentioned.

Each candidates traded barbs over whether or not their opponent is the appropriate individual for the job. Searcy, 44, mentioned Woods has been “asleep on the wheel” for the final eight years and has accomplished nothing to help districts in the course of the pandemic.

• “We may have been addressing psychological well being points, we may have been doing vital work to fill studying gaps, however nothing has been accomplished from the superintendent,” she mentioned.

Woods, 60, informed Axios that Searcy has by no means been a classroom instructor, which is “crucial if you’re having to make choices that largely have an effect on the people who attain our youngsters.”

• He additionally mentioned whereas Searcy was a state legislator, she voted for a instructor analysis system that may have evaluated educators six instances a yr.
• “I believe we now have to acknowledge that uniqueness in our workforce and make the most of them in a means which advantages them professionally,” he mentioned of academics.

Context: The race for state college superintendent competes for consideration with extra high-profile races, however some developments have been noteworthy.

• Woods gained an endorsement from the Georgia Affiliation of Educators, which has been crucial of Searcy’s help of constitution colleges and a coverage that funnels tens of millions of {dollars} to non-public colleges by scholarships paid for with tax credit, in accordance with the AJC.
• Searcy not too long ago talked about on social media that she felt “ostracized and excluded” by different Democratic candidates. On her web site, she lists dozens of endorsements from group members and elected officers.

Be sensible: The Atlanta Press Membership will host a debate for state college superintendent candidates at 12:15pm Monday. You possibly can watch the talk reside on GPB.org or on the press membership’s Fb web page.