KCTS Connects Special: The Learning Curve

Bergeson VS Billings: The Debate

Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 p.m.

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For our latest Stuart Foundation supported Learning Curve Special, Connects covers the upcoming race for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Enrique Cerna welcomes incumbent Terry Bergeson and challenger and former two-term State Superintendent of Schools, Judith Billings.

What does the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction cover?

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 education in Washington state. The office works with the state's school districts to administer basic education programs, prepares and administers the biennial state budget, grants certificates for teachers and personnel, develops and disseminates curriculum guidelines and administers the accreditation and school approval process for both public and privates schools. This office also administers the WASL assessment test state-wide. This issue is where you'll see the one of the biggest differences between these two highly qualified candidates.

The Candidates

Terry Bergeson
For more than 35 years, Terry Bergeson has worked to ensure public school students achieve an education that truly prepares them for life beyond the classroom. An advocate of teachers, educators and others within the public school system, Dr. Bergeson has continued to focus on what is best for students, and has worked tirelessly to build partnerships between legislators, educators, and parents and community leaders. She is the current Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Judith Billings
Judith Billings was the State Superintendent of Schools from 1989 to 1996. She has been an educator for 42 years, teaching at junior high, high school and college and university levels. In 1987-88, she worked as a policy advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives education committee. Elected as Superintendent in 1989, Judi administered approximately $4.3 billion annually to 296 school districts for 125 state and Federal education programs through 1997. In that role, she was intimately involved with the passage of Washington state's school improvement legislation, House Bill 1209, in 1993.

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