A few things before I begin. First, this isn’t an official endorsement from the Weekly. David Garcia is my personal pick for Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. Second, I’ve supported Garcia since early in his campaign and held a fundraiser for him at my home. However, I’ve taken the time to learn about the positions of his primary opponent Sharon Thomas, watched the public television debate between Garcia and Thomas and heard Thomas speak in person, so I know enough about her to make an informed decision.
I’m confident David Garcia will make an outstanding Superintendent of Public Instruction. His qualifications in terms of educational background, job experience and personality put him well above Sharon Thomas and miles above the Republican candidates.
Garcia is an Associate Professor of education at ASU. That means he’s studied the subject of education in depth; it also means he’s taught teachers. He’ll bring an understanding of education issues to the job Arizona hasn’t seen in decades (It’s been something like 30 years since we’ve had an educator as Superintendent). To those qualifications Garcia adds practical experience working in the Arizona Department of Education as an Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction under two Republican superintendents. He also worked as an education research analyst at the state legislature. Garcia is a Democrat who knows how to work with Republicans and has gained their respect for his expertise even when they don’t agree with him, which will be an invaluable tool when he works on education issues with the legislature.
Garcia’s positions on education are progressive but not doctrinaire. He’s a realist who understands where Arizona schools are right now and wants to move them in a direction he (and I) believe will benefit Arizona’s children. To see his positions on the issues, you can go to the Issues page of his website.
As a college professor, Garcia works with some of the best and brightest students in Arizona, but his personal history also gives him an understanding of the needs of Arizona students who don’t have an easy time in school. A Hispanic from a working class family and a native Arizonan, Garcia went to public school here and was an underachiever in high school. When he finished, he decided to go into the army to get his act together. After he completed his service, he went back to school as a first generation college student and earned his PhD in education policy and research. Right now he has two young children enrolled in public school, so he has an up-close-and-personal relationship with our schools.
Garcia is in the best position of any candidate to move Arizona’s system of education forward. He has earned my strongest endorsement.
This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2014.
What do mean this is not an “official” endorsement of Garcia? You are not an “official” you are just a guy with a blog in a newspaper. Nothing more.
Reading COMPREHENSION really matters. Here is what the sentence ACTUALLY says “First, this isn’t an official endorsement from the Weekly.”
No confusion whatsoever if you read and COMPREHEND the entire sentence before firing off a snarky response.
I believe that reading comprehension is something that David Garcia plans to address should he be elected. Perhaps he can find a way to offer remedial classes in reading comprehension for those that failed at in their previous education.
You’re not aware of what an official political endorsement from a publication is, are you Fraser? If you were, you’d understand the sentence David used.
Almost anyone but Hupp would be a vast improvement in the office he has turned into a stinking pile of voucher feces.
Nobody likes Hupp. I do not like Hupp. Safier is still a guy with a blog, nothing more. Given the chance The Tucson Weekly would endorse Garcia. And I enjoyed pissing both of you off.
Try again, Fraser – you are not important enough in my world to piss me off.
I hope the topic of what constitutes an official endorsement has been exhausted. Let’s talk about Garcia’s positions. Overall, his positions are a whole lot better than Huppenthal’s notion of education policy… which is essentially putting his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. Having said that, my impression is that Garcia is…in some cases…articulating positions that reflect School of Education “groupthink” and are not in the best interests of student learning.
When he says that measuring the important stuff goes beyond looking at standardized test results he is right on target. But how does that fit in with his basic enthusiasm for the Common Core standards? The Common Core are not, as he correctly notes, a national set of standards. But, he neglects the fact that the US Department of Education overreached its authority by trying to tie some grant funding to the adoption of the Common Core standards. Additionally, success under the Common Core standards is still measured by norm referenced (standardized) tests. Most importantly, in my mind, is his failure to criticize a set of standards that removes great literature from the curriculum in favor of more technical reading so that members of the Chamber of Commerce can significantly cut the amount of money they spend on training.
Garcia argues in favor of increased funding, but for wrong-headed reasons. He argues in favor of using more “innovative” programs to increase student learning. That is nothing but Ed School nonsense. There is only one variable that schools provide that has a significant impact on student learning… That variable is quality teaching. If we should have learned anything over the past four decades it is to forget silver-bullet programs. They are a waste of money and human energy. If Arizona can not attract and retain quality teachers then far too many students will fail to learn. The salaries, benefits and working conditions we provide teachers in Arizona are driving many of our best teachers out of state. Increased funding needs to go to make our compensation competitive with at least half the other states. If we want all our kids to have a real shot at overcoming poverty the best thing we could do would be to make sure they all have great parents. Since we can’t control that variable, our next best alternative is to make sure they all get to work with great teachers, and I didn’t see that on Garcia’s website.
Dr. Garcia was one of my professors in my doctoral program. He is intelligent and insightful. To say that he is part of education groups peak is shallow and ignorant.
You sound good Marty but, Whom do you recommend? If your idea is to throw more money to school boards then I dont buy it. Many teachers leave from frustration. School boards and bad parents are a large part of the reasons good teachers leave.
So when you say “progressive” is he supportive of public charter schools?
I agree: Garcia is the best choice to become Arizona’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction.
But it goes without saying, the best choice does not always win the election. For example, in the last election Penny Kotterman was clearly the best choice, but she lost to Huppenthal. And guess what? Major newspapers, including the Arizona Republic, endorsed Huppenthal even after they acknowledged that Kotterman was the most qualified.
I am grateful for writers and advocates for public education like David Safier who care enough about education, and march to the beat of their own drum and endorse who they think is best: David Garcia.
I have not studied the candidates well enough to debate your choice, David. However, my concern with educators who enter the realm of politics is that far too often, their goal is more to protect teacher status quo than to further education, and despite your probable protestations to the contrary, those two aims rarely coincide.
I still reserve judgement until I have studied all candiates.
After visiting Garcia’s website it appears he favors the basis (no pun) of public charter schools and believes more non-charter public schools should be enabled offering specially designed curricula focused on student interests
“What makes charter schools appealing to many parents and legislators is that these schools have more autonomy to distinguish themselves from district schools. This allows charters to tailor curriculum to the interests and needs of its students and parents. They can emphasize the arts, or advanced curriculum, or technical training. This type of specialization should not be limited to charters. All schools, both district and charter, should be given the flexibility, encouragement and incentive to differentiate.”
No argument there.
I would like to hear more from him concerning the use of standardized test results to hold teachers salaries and livelihoods hostage to student performance on these tests. His positions seem to indicated other measures matter more than these test results. Which measures and how will they stand against the deluge of CC standards, policies and practices threatening public schooling in the US and Arizona?
He leaves me scratching my head when discussing state funding for education. Arizona ranks 47th in the US and Garcia takes a pass on that issue arguing for better allocation of revenues to, say, Career and Technical Education. That’s like recommending a fire department already struggling with scarce resources to extinguish major infernos direct already insufficient funds to buying more hoses.
Being a better choice than Huppenthal is obvious. I’d like to hear more about his specific proposed positions on more important issues.
Think we will stumble into making a great choice for Superintendent? We can thank people like David for suggesting his choice and encourage the rest of us to examine the various candidates. After that what?
Can the Superintendent budget state resources? Can he enforce hiring of great teachers, or classroom size, or educational standards?
What he can do is lead. Use his position to convince the Legislature to invest in education, spotlight innovation and performance in local schools.
I would like to see the Superintendent recognize the work of local elected school governing boards and educate the general public on the benefits of public education as the key to economic development and jobs.
No piece of public infastructure is more important than educational opportunity. From early childhood through advanced skill training at community colleges or advance degrees from our great University studies the measure of people are their willingness to build an educational system taylored for individual development.
There is no bigger incentive for industrial or commercial expansion to Arizona than a skilled and educated work force readily available.
Let’s make this election a referendum on candidates who understand the value of our educational opportunities. Yes, David Garcia is a superior choice for that very reason.
Odd criteria you use. Personality? I’m not electing an entertainer.
Maybe that’s what’s wrong with whom the voters are selecting. They are looking to be entertained.
Garcia is by far without a doubt the most competent and Educated candidate in this so called “RACE” Im just happy Huppenthal’s lazy ass is out. He is pathetic, he is an embarrassment to ARIZONA. GARCIA IS THE ONLY CHOICE!!!