Getting to know the candidates for state superintendent

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The Daily Montanan sent candidates in this race a list of six questions prepared by staff members. We have limited each response to 200 words. All candidates have been given the same opportunity to respond and the same word limit. Candidates who do not appear with the rest of the candidates in the race did not submit answers to the Daily Montanan. Answers that were longer than 200 words were trimmed to the nearest sentence. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@dailymontanan.com

Three candidates, two Republicans and one Democrat, are running in the race to become Montana’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Current Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is termed out after serving two four-year terms and is running in the eastern congressional district race.

The state superintendent supervises K-12 education and serves as a member on the Land Board and State Library Commission, as well as a non-voting member on the Board of Public Education and the Board of Regents for the Montana University System.

In the June 4 primary, Republicans will be choosing between Montana Board of Public Education Vice Chairperson Susie Hedalen and Sharyl Allen, the former deputy of the Office of Public Instruction.

Sen. Shannon O’Brien, D-Missoula, is running unopposed in the primary as a Democrat for the office.

The Republican primary pits Hedalen, endorsed by Gov. Greg Gianforte and the superintendent of Townsend School District, against Allen, who has held a series of roles in public education and left some under controversial circumstances. Allen recently pleaded not guilty to a criminal obstruction charge when she argued investigators couldn’t question students without parents first being notified, citing board policy.

O’Brien was former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s education policy advisor, worked as dean of Missoula College, and has served as a state senator since 2021.

Democrats previously had a stronghold on the superintendent position, but Arntzen’s election in 2016 made her the first Republican to hold the office since 1989.

Republican Sharyl Allen

The turnover at the Office of Public Instruction has been high, and many people have worried about the stability of staff coupled with the need to retain professionals. Are you concerned about the turnover, and what approach will you take, if elected?

Like any other organization that loses skilled, capable staff with a valuable history of the work, the systems and processes that ensure excellent services to the field, the loss of staff is a concern. First, it is why my team and I are visiting with folks who have left the OPI to see if there is a positive way to invite them to rejoin the team. The second tactic is to develop a culture of confidence in the competence of each employee who strives to meet our most important goal: timely, friendly and excellent service to the field. We will visit with the 200 OPI employees, hold listening sessions with the employees, and identify satisfaction and what would make the OPI the best state agency to work.

What is the role of charter schools as they relate to Montana’s public schools?

The Montana legislature established the role of public charter schools in the 2023 legislative session. Before that, Montana already had a charter bill that allowed districts to create charter schools for any of the purposes identified in the bill. I fully support the rationale given and the role charters are to play. However, Let’s all be clear: The purpose of charter schools is the same purpose that all Montana public schools should be providing.

Montana has toyed with the idea of universal pre-kindergarten as a way to help increase school readiness. Do you support this idea?

No, I do not support requiring children to be in formal schooling at earlier and earlier ages. Voluntary pre-k, yes as long as it is a clear parental choice.

Montana has ranked dead last in recent years when it comes to starting teacher pay. How much of an issue do you think teacher pay is for our educators?

I have talked to teachers about teacher pay. This is a severe issue when our teachers live in poverty because of salaries. Many teachers tell me they could not stay in their communities and work if it weren’t for spouses with good-paying jobs. It is also a severe issue as it creates morale issues. Let me be clear: Teacher pay is just one of many issues that must be addressed regarding teacher recruitment and retention.

Montana has sought to reduce the requirements to become a teacher or a school psychologist. Do you support these efforts?

First, the idea of reducing the requirements to become a teacher or school psychologist may be a misnomer. Through the accreditation process, there was no reduction in requirements; however, there were new flexibilities in adding endorsements. The 2023 legislature approved an alternate path for becoming a teacher and getting licensed.

I support efforts that make sense without reducing the effective teaching in Montana classrooms.

The Office of Public Instruction has recently come under fire from legislators and educators for throwing up roadblocks in implementing laws passed in 2023. How would you move ahead if elected?

I believe in a collaborative relationship between OPI staff and legislators/bill drafters to ensure that the interpretation of legislative intent is fully understood in situations where the OPI is responsible for carrying out bills. This collaborative nature of work needs to begin before the OPI is tasked with the implementation of the law. I have already begun working on the issues identified and am working with my team on solutions that can be implemented after being elected State Superintendent, in November 2024. Let me highlight a few:
1. Clearly identify the issues around data and ESSER/ARP uses. The spending of the federal COVID-19 funds will be over by the time I take office. However, data modernization will not be.
2. Take the data challenges communicated by the field and put them into our data expert’s systems and processes team to identify the system issues and work with other agencies relying on data for an efficient and effective solution.
3. Rely on my strong relationships with legislators to ensure a clear understanding of the intent behind passed bills.
4. Have appropriate staff and resources in place to implement bills successfully.

Democrat Shannon O’Brien

The turnover at the Office of Public Instruction has been high, and many people have worried about the stability of staff coupled with the need to retain professionals. Are you concerned about the turnover, and what approach will you take, if elected?

Every day we will focus on what is best for our children and put them at the center of each decision we make. I’m committed to building a culture of service and restoring the pride we all once had in that office. Working with educators, community leaders, business owners and universities over the last 12 years, I know Montana has an abundance of talent that can be tapped to rebuild OPI.

What is the role of charter schools as they relate to Montana’s public schools?

We have a responsibility to our taxpayers to spend their money effectively and transparently. The PUBLIC charter schools are showing great promise and innovation. The PRIVATE charter schools, however, with limited oversight and no obligation to meet public expectations, are unconstitutional. We cannot dedicate precious resources to private education. Montanans love their local schools and they trust their teachers. We can and we must fund public education adequately to provide a free, quality public education for every Montana child.

Montana has toyed with the idea of universal pre-kindergarten as a way to help increase school readiness. Do you support this idea?

Currently, less than half of our elementary students are reading at grade-level. This is simply not acceptable. Preschool plays a significant role in solving this problem. Optional preschool, for those families that want it, will help ensure that all children have the opportunity to be successful. Simple literacy and social skills are taught in pre-kindergarten classes which means that children are ready for kindergarten on day one. This readiness to learn means our teachers will have great success in doing their jobs of ensuring every child has a fair shot to succeed and a quality education is achieved.

Montana has ranked dead last in recent years when it comes to starting teacher pay. How much of an issue do you think teacher pay is for our educators?

We need to meet this crisis head-on by addressing the issues driving Montana teachers out of state or into another profession. To start, we must ensure Montana teachers earn a living wage. We must encourage and help replicate creative local efforts to provide affordable teacher housing. Beyond that, we need to lift up teaching as a profession. Working with the Montana University System, we must ensure students heading off to college see teaching as a viable career path and have financial incentives to pursue it. Once in the classroom, teachers should once again see OPI as a valuable resource and support to their profession.

Montana has sought to reduce the requirements to become a teacher or a school psychologist. Do you support these efforts?

The teacher shortage crisis in Montana is real and must be addressed immediately. That said, we cannot lower our standards. Working in schools to ensure our next generation is successful is a tough job that requires training and education. Montanans respect and trust their educators. Simply put, we need to support our educators, we need to pay them a livable salary, and make sure they have the tools they need to be effective.

The Office of Public Instruction has recently come under fire from legislators and educators for throwing up roadblocks in implementing laws passed in 2023. How would you move ahead if elected?

As a state senator, I understand the relationship between the legislature and the executive branch. As state superintendent, I will work diligently with legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass and implement laws that are supportive of our public schools. To begin, an independent financial and programmatic audit at OPI would identify major gaps and suggest triage priorities, but the complaint I hear repeatedly from school districts is the need to be responsive. Not answering the phone or getting back to people is unacceptable. Under my leadership OPI will be responsive and supportive.

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