Sonoma County Office of Education

SCOE hosts State Superintendent Candidates' Forum

11/16/2017 -

State superintendent candidates Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond debateA State Superintendents Candidates' Forum was held at the Sonoma County Office of Education on Nov. 14, 2017. The two leading candidates for this top education position in California, Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond, shared their thoughts and plans on a number of key issues facing education today.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is the non-partisan, elected executive officer of the California Department of Education (CDE). The state superintendent executes policies set by the California State Board of Education, and also heads and chairs the board. Current superintendent Tom Torlakson’s term expires at the end of 2018, and a new superintendent will be elected in November of that year.

More than 100 educators and community members attended the two-hour event, which was designed to be an opportunity for school and district employees, administrators, and representatives throughout the North Bay to learn more about each candidate. Mr. Thurmond and Mr. Tuck were interviewed by a diverse panel of local educators, including:

  • Dr. Robert Haley, Superintendent, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District
  • Jenni Klose, School Board President, Santa Rosa City Schools
  • Pete Stefanisko, WDEA President and Teacher, Windsor Unified School District
  • Rachel Valenzuela, Director of Student Services and Special Education, Mark West Union School District

“SCOE was honored to provide the North Bay with an opportunity to get to know the candidates for this important position impacting education” said Steve Herrington, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools.