Two Phoenix Democrats are readying for a battle to be the state's top education official, with one announcing his candidacy in Tucson on Tuesday.
Jason Williams launched his campaign for superintendent of public instruction at Challenger Middle School, 100 E. Elvira Road, after making similar appearances in Flagstaff and outside Phoenix earlier in the day.
Williams is the former Phoenix-area executive director of Teach for America, which places college graduates in low-performing schools.
He decided to run, he says, because "it is time for someone to be running the Department of Education who has been on the front lines."
So far, his competition is Slade Mead, an agent to professional athletes and a former state senator who has switched parties to try for a shot against Republican incumbent Tom Horne in November.
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The Arizona superintendent of public instruction serves a four-year term and oversees the state Department of Education, sits on the state Board of Education and has a vote on the Board of Regents, the governing body of the three state universities.
Williams, 29, who traveled through the state Tuesday on a yellow school bus to launch his candidacy, has a bachelor's degree in political science from Boston College. He taught sixth-grade math and science in East Oakland, Calif., through Teach for America before taking the job with the program's Arizona office in 2000.
Mead, 44, has degrees from Yale University and the University of Connecticut law school. He was a board member in Tempe's Kyrene School District.
For both candidates, the state's graduation exit exam — AIMS — is sure to be a major campaign issue. Students are required to pass AIMS starting this May. Horne, who narrowly won the job in 2002 and intends to run for re-election, has remained supportive of the high-stakes test despite criticism.
"What I have been proposing is that we revamp the AIMS test," said Mead, suggesting that AIMS be "part of a body of work" needed to graduate.
Williams also was critical of the exam.
"We're using it as a way to punish our children," he said. "To me, all exemplary teachers will tell you that you don't inspire students by only focusing on consequences."
