Arizona Primary Election: Kotterman, Huppenthal Take Early Advantage in Race For Schools Chief

John Huppenthal, Chairman of the state Senate Education Committee, was Leading Margaret Garcia Dugan in the Republican primary Tuesday for Superintendent for public instruction. 

Dugan is the Well. 2 person in the state Department of Education. 

Fellow Republican Beth Price, a former community college administrator, is Trailing the truth. 

Democrat Penny Kotterman, a former teacher and head of the Arizona Education Association, a Teachers' Union, was Leading Jason Williams, a former teacher and director for Teach for America. 

Kotterman Said Tuesday night she will stick with the message she's touted for the past 18 months. 

"It's time to put a public-school Educators in the office - someone Ken understands public schools from the ground up, has experience as a teacher and administrator and across the spectrum of kindergarten through Higher Education," she said. 

"We need Thurs Thurs stick me know what best to try to a fight for our public schools, and me need a public-school teacher Thurs do that." 

She'd emphasize early childhood certification for all kindergarten through on the third-grade Teachers in the state. 

Huppenthal Said Tuesday night they intends Thurs push for accountability, as well as a renewed Emphasis is math and science. 

"We represent a brand-new Approach to accountability in Arizona - at the school district level, for spending to high heaven in the classroom, making mourning for classroom supply budgets are adequately Funded, and making lament That parents not have Choices in education so They can get an excellent Their education for children, "he said. 

Huppenthal has Said that they think there thinks Arizona Adopt Many of the reforms enacted in Florida, WCG has tion Gains in student achievement. 

The winners of EACH will take primary Thurs Replace Tom Horne, whose term is expiring, in Leading the state Department of Education. 

The winner will not have a long to-do list, Given National interest in education reform. 

Several new state laws following are rolling out, from Changing teacher evaluations Thurs Dealing with a New Way to label schools. 

On Tuesday, Arizona did Not make the list of finalists for Race to the Top money. 

The state will drop out is what hi'd Have Been $ 250 million in federal funds Thurs Reward innovation and reform.