Watch or listen on-demand: California Politics Now reviews and talks with the state of California superintendent of public instruction candidates
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The ONME News spoke with superintendent of public instruction candidates, Wendy Castaneda Leal (Nonpartisan,) Gus Mattammal (Nonpartisan,) and Nichelle Henderson (Nonpartisan.)
By ONME News
The ONME News team hosted the California Politics Now Election Forum Discussion featuring superintendent of public instruction candidates, Wendy Castaneda Leal (Nonpartisan,) Gus Mattammal (Nonpartisan,) and Nichelle Henderson (Nonpartisan.)
Superintendent of Public Instruction: The California Superintendent of Public Instruction is a nonpartisan, elected constitutional officer who leads the California Department of Education (CDE) and oversees the state’s K-12 public school system, serving over 6 million students. The Superintendent implements educational policies set by the State Board of Education, manages teacher licensing, administers funding, and promotes initiatives for student achievement.
Key responsibilities include:
Administrative Oversight: Directing the CDE (roughly 2,700 employees) and managing state schools for the deaf and blind.
Policy Execution: Carrying out state and federal laws related to K-12 education, adult education, and child care programs.
School Improvement: Supporting districts with school safety, mental health services, and initiatives to close the achievement gap.
Fiscal Oversight: Monitoring school district budgets, managing grants, and appointing state trustees for financially insolvent districts.
Advisory Roles: Serving as a member of the UC Board of Regents, California State University Board of Trustees, and the Teacher Credentialing Commission.
The superintendent acts as the chief spokesperson for California public schools and holds the authority to make appointments to various statutory boards, commissions, and task forces.
Current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, has faced criticism regarding high staff turnover, accusations of a "toxic" work environment, and questions about his leadership visibility. While he has championed initiatives on student mental health, literacy, and equity, critics have labeled him ineffective in managing the department and serving students, a sentiment that surfaced during his 2018 election and continued during his tenure. [EdSource]
Key Criticisms and Controversies:
Workplace Environment: In 2021, reports surfaced alleging that Thurmond fostered a toxic work environment and experienced high staff turnover within the California Department of Education (CDE).
Leadership Visibility: Critics have questioned his public visibility during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ineffectiveness Claims: Some critics from his 2018 campaign described him as ineffective, focusing on his past performance.
Governance Disputes: Governor Newsom has proposed reorganizing the CDE, citing a "fractured" system, which some interpret as a critique of current leadership, although Thurmond argues he has partnered with the Governor on initiatives.
[EdSource]
Defenses and Achievements:
Initiatives: Supporters point to his work on expanding universal meals, mental health funding, and closing the digital divide.
Advocacy: He has worked to reduce school suspensions (by 27%) and promote student wellness.
Collaboration: Thurmond describes his role as the "glue" between school leaders, the legislature, and the Governor, fostering relationships to drive policy. [1, 2, 3]
As of 2026, Thurmond is running for Governor while navigating a proposed state restructuring that could diminish the power of his current office.
The news hosts also reviewed with commentary the statements of the following candidates:
Richard Barrera (Nonpartisan)
Frank Lara (Nonpartisan)
Ainye Long (Nonpartisan)
Al Muratsuchi (Nonpartisan)
Josh Newman (Nonpartisan)
Anthony Rendon (Nonpartisan)
Sonja Shaw (Nonpartisan)
Watch below or listen above.
Due to last week's unusually strong storm that affected the remote logins to the network's live online platform, the ONME News team, rescheduled the California Politics Now Election Forums featuring treasurer and controller candidates for May 5.
The forum will discuss candidates, David Serpa (R), Tony Vasquez (D), Anna Caballero (D), Jennifer Hawkins ( R ), Eleni Kounalakis (D), Glenn Turner (G).
News moderators will also discuss the state of California controller candidates: incumbent candidate, Malia Cohen (D), Herb Morgan ( R ) and Meghann Adams (Peace and Freedom Party). [Candidate re-signup below]
Upcoming Election Forum Candidate Sing-Up Below
Candidates can register and RSVP below to be included in the forum. (Candidates will be present online only.)
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