| Superintendent of Public Instruction ofArizona | |
|---|---|
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| Residence | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Term length | Four years, can serve two terms |
| Succession | Fourth |
| Website | State Website |
TheArizona Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected state executive position in theArizona state government. The superintendent oversees the state of Arizona's public school system and directs thestate's Department of Education.
The state superintendent's powers are mostly administrative, with little influence overeducation policy.[1] While the superintendent overseesteacher certification and administers state policy, other officials and boards exert control over most substantive aspects of education in the state.[1] For example,school funding formulas and appropriations are set by law (as determined by theArizona Legislature andgovernor of Arizona, or by voters inballot questions).[1] The State Board of Education sets curricular and academic standards.[1] The superintendent servesex officio as one member of the State Board of Education and State Board for Charter Schools, but the other board members are appointed by the governor to staggered terms.[1] Thus, the extent of the state superintendent's influence over state education policy largely depends on his or her ability to persuade the governor, the state boards, and the Legislature.[1]
As of 2017, Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction is the lowest paid state education administrator in the United States, being paid $85,000 compared to the national average of $174,000.[2]
The current superintendent isTom Horne.[3]
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is fourth (behind theSecretary of State,Attorney General, andTreasurer, respectively) in theline of succession to the office ofGovernor of Arizona.[4]
The Superintendent of Public Education is anex officio member of theArizona Board of Regents which oversees public universities in the state.[5]
| # | Name | Political Party | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles O. Case | Democratic | 1912–1921 |
| 2 | Elsie Toles | Republican | 1921–1923 |
| 3 | Charles O. Case | Democratic | 1933–1941 |
| 4 | Herman E. Hendrix | Democratic | 1933–1941 |
| 5 | E. D. Ring | Democratic | 1941–1947 |
| 6 | N. D. Pulliam | Democratic | 1947–1947 |
| 7 | L. D. Klemraedson | Democratic | 1947–1949 |
| 8 | M. L. Brooks | Democratic | 1949–1955 |
| 9 | C. L. "Cliff" Harkins | Democratic | 1955–1957 |
| 10 | M. L. Brooks | Democratic | 1957–1959 |
| 11 | C. L. "Cliff" Harkins | Democratic | 1955–1959[6] |
| 12 | W. W. "Skipper" Dick | Democratic | 1959–1967 |
| 13 | Sarah Folsum | Republican | 1967–1971 |
| 14 | Weldon P. Shofstall | Republican | 1971–1975 |
| 15 | Carolyn Warner | Democratic | 1975–1987 |
| 16 | C. Diane Bishop | Democratic | 1987–1995 |
| 17 | Lisa Graham Keegan | Republican | 1995–2001 |
| 18 | Jaime Molera | Republican | 2001–2003 |
| 19 | Tom Horne | Republican | 2003–2011 |
| 20 | John Huppenthal | Republican | 2011–2015 |
| 21 | Diane Douglas | Republican | 2015–2019 |
| 22 | Kathy Hoffman | Democratic | 2019–2023 |
| 23 | Tom Horne | Republican | 2023–present |
 Arizona statewide elected officials | |
|---|---|
