Democratic Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates Teresa Leyba Ruiz and Brett Newby joined Ted Simons as part of our new “Candidates in Conversation” series to discuss major issues, focusing on topics about education in Arizona like school funding, teacher shortages, and policy direction.
“The superintendent of Public Instruction is the chief administrator for the Arizona Department of Education,” Leyba Ruiz said, “…but I think what it really should be is the advocate in Chief for our public schools for the 1 million students across Arizona.”
The superintendent implements policies and laws set by the state department, the State Board of Education, and the state legislature, ensuring teacher certifications.
“It’s a person that needs to be able to bring the community together,” Newby discussed. “Being the person who is advocating for them to have a seat at the table so that we can have equitable funding.”
Leyba Ruiz emphasized that a superintendent of public instruction is meant to work collaboratively with the legislators to ensure that they are funding public education at the level it should be.
“We are so underfunded that we’re unable to pay teachers the salaries they deserve,” Leyba Ruiz explained, “…we should put more money into not only our teachers, but into all the support staff that it takes to run a school.”
As a professional licensed behavioral analyst, Newby explained how he is data-driven and meticulously observes where districts are spending their money and where state funding is going.
“I think all of that needs to be audited, figured out where our money is going, because right now there is money just kind of being freely given out,” Newby said, “…and I think it really needs to be reined in with guardrails, and ensuring that our funding is actually going to the classroom.”
