(The Center Square) – Candidates for superintendent of public instruction in California and Arizona are outlining priorities for public education ahead of the Nov. 3 election over school choice, education funding, accountability and more.
The Center Square exclusively interviewed Republican candidates Sonja Shaw in California and Kimberly Yee in Arizona. Democratic candidates Richard Barrera and Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz did not respond to The Center Square’s multiple requests for an interview.
California voters will choose between Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, and Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education.
Barrera’s campaign emphasizes increased education funding, affordable housing for educators and universal early childhood education, among other priorities.
“The solutions aren’t in Sacramento — they’re in our classrooms, our communities, and the hands of the educators and families who know what our students need,” Barrera states on his campaign website.
According to Transparency USA, Barrera’s campaign has reported $313,428 in total contributions. Listed contributors include the United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund, which contributed $19,800, and the California Teachers Association/Association for Better Citizenship, which contributed $19,600.
Shaw criticized state education policies, arguing that students should not be subjected to unproven approaches and that more funding should reach classrooms directly.
“Our kids shouldn't be test products. Things should be fully implemented. We should see how it works … We have great teachers, but unfortunately they don’t have the support or the resources,” Shaw told The Center Square.
Shaw also questioned how education funding is allocated, arguing that money should support student interventions, after-school programs and activities that encourage students to remain engaged in school.
The Center Square sits down with Sonja Shaw, a Republican candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“I would like to see the money go back straight to the classroom; to intervention projects, to helping with after-school programs … things that keep kids excited about going to school at the end of the day. That is where the money should be going, not these pet projects,” Shaw said.
Shaw said schools should refocus on foundational academic subjects like reading, writing and math to prepare students for college or career pathways after high school.
Shaw also told The Center Square that she favors school choice programs because it should be up to the parents to decide what is best for their child.
“As a parent, I do believe that you should have the choice, and I don’t think anybody should be afraid of the choice because if you offer a good product, people by default will already pick your product of public schools.”
Shaw has also been a huge advocate against transgender athletes in girls' sports and continues to urge the state of California and the California Interscholastic Federation to follow the federal law of Title IX to protect girls in sports.
Transparency USA lists Shaw’s campaign as having $460,565 in total contributions. Disclosed contributors include The Yuba County Republican Party, listed as a contributor of $12,340.50. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who lost during the gubernatorial primary, contributed $9,800, and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, donated $5,500.
The East Valley Republican Women and Patriot Store, the Los Angeles County Lincoln Clubs Political Action Committee and the Republican Club of San Francisco are each listed with $3,000 contributions.
In Arizona, voters will choose between Republican Yee and Democrat Ruiz for superintendent of public instruction.
Ruiz is an educator with 35 years of experience. She's also the former president of Glendale Community College in the Phoenix area.
Yee, a former Arizona state treasurer, supports a range of educational options.
“I'm a strong believer that parents know their children best, and what their unique needs are for education,” Yee told The Center Square. “[W]e have options from traditional district public schools to public charter schools, to homeschools, to private schools, to micros schools, to tribal schools; all of them belong on the menu of options for parents to choose the best education that fits their child's unique needs.”
Yee also criticized Arizona’s academic performance, saying the state ranks at the 25th percentile in reading and math proficiency for fourth- and eighth-grade students.
She wants to restore phonics-based reading instruction and traditional mathematics instruction, pointing to Mississippi’s literacy gains as an example of what targeted changes can accomplish.
“I would like to bring back phonics-based reading instruction, and we have seen the state of Mississippi do this and be very successful at increasing their proficiency in early literacy,” Yee said.
Yee also called for greater transparency in school district budgets and more education funding directed toward classrooms and teachers. Citing the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute, Yee highlighted that there has been an 8% increase in administrative funding.
“We have to follow the money because these are taxpayer dollars,” Yee said.
Teacher retention is another priority for Yee. She proposed a mentorship program pairing newer teachers with experienced or retired educators to help with professional development, classroom instruction, student discipline, time management and parent engagement.
“You can never replace the treasure of a teacher in the classroom,” Yee told The Center Square.
On artificial intelligence in schools, Yee said students should be taught to use the technology ethically and responsibly. She also called for parental consent and input regarding how extensively AI is used in their children's education.
“We do have to make sure students understand that they have to be responsible with this tool. They have to be ethical with it,” Yee added.
According to Transparency USA, Yee’s campaign has $323,669 in total contributions, with the Maricopa County Republican Party listed as contributing $309.27.
Ruiz’s campaign website calls for tighter oversight of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which allows eligible families to use public funds for approved education expenses outside the traditional public school system.
Her platform proposes ending automatic approval of ESA expenditures of $2,000 or less, implementing an automated system to verify that taxpayer funds are used for education and establishing stricter audits.
Ruiz also advocates for increased funding for public schools and expanding universal pre-K.
Addressing teacher shortages and increasing teacher compensation is also a priority for Ruiz.
Ruiz’s campaign has reported $188,096 in total contributions, according to Transparency USA. The Arizona Democratic Party is listed as contributing $6,566.
The Arizona Education Association Fund for Public Education has endorsed Ruiz and contributed $10,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party in 2026, according to Transparency USA.
For other Southwest states, Colorado and Nevada have different processes for selecting their top state education officials.
Colorado’s commissioner of education, Susana Córdova, assumed office June 26, 2023, and was unanimously appointed by the Colorado State Board of Education.
Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction is appointed by the governor from candidates recommended by the State Board of Education. Dr. Victor Wakefield assumed the position on Oct. 27, 2025.
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