Meet the two candidates running for Georgia State Superintendent

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – Election season is nearly right here, and we’re providing you with a glimpse into the candidates you’ll see on the poll.

Two candidates are working to be Georgia’s state faculty superintendent. Each have many years of expertise in training and plan to deal with instructor burnout and faculty security considerations.

Alisha Thomas Searcy and Incumbent Richard Woods aren’t any strangers to the classroom. With their expertise, each speak about why they really feel educators needs to be paid pretty and the way they’ll guarantee college students and employees are secure on campus.

Managing 1.8 million youngsters who attend faculties throughout the state of Georgia has been Richard Woods’ duty for the previous eight years.

“The report is obvious. I’m actually the one candidate that has been a classroom instructor, been an administrator. So you recognize, I’ve the expertise 30-something years proper now in pre-Ok via Twelfth-grade training,” mentioned Woods.

Throughout his time in workplace thus far, the previous Social Research instructor has centered on instructor burnout and lowering the variety of native checks whereas additionally guaranteeing security on faculty grounds.

“For all of us we need to guarantee that anybody that steps onto our grounds into our faculties are protected that they really feel secure since you bought to have a secure surroundings to you recognize in order that our youngsters can be taught,” mentioned Woods.

Woods explicitly needs to extend faculty useful resource officers and guarantee faculties have ample psychological well being sources.

When Woods grew to become Georgia’s College Superintendent, Alisha Thomas Searcy was wrapping up her time on the State Home of Representatives. Searcy grew to become the primary African American elected from Cobb County to serve within the Home, the place she stayed for six years.

“Once I left the legislature in 2014, I went again to high school, bought a grasp’s diploma in training management and likewise participated in two totally different very intense superintendent coaching applications. After which grew to become a superintendent,” mentioned Searcy.

With security on her thoughts after the Uvalde, Texas faculty capturing, the place 19 college students and two academics had been killed, the previous Atlanta-area Superintendent held a roundtable dialogue in Columbus.

“We talked about all the things from having faculty useful resource officers in each faculty. We talked about psychological well being and the significance of guaranteeing that college students are doing properly,” mentioned Searcy.

Searcy says she additionally plans to extend beginning pay for all academics to $65,000 yearly to lower classroom burnout.

“I would like voters to know that it is a vital election, that Democrats and Republicans can vote for me because the State College Superintendent as a result of I need to deal with not crimson or blue, not Democrat or Republican. I need to focus in your youngster,” mentioned Searcy.

For extra data on every candidate’s platforms, click on both hyperlink under:

Richard Woods

Alisa Thomas Searcy

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