Teacher wrath costs Bennett 2nd schools chief term
November 6, 2012 9:48PM
** FILE **Indiana's new state superintendent of public instruction Tony Bennett, is shown in this Oct. 17, 2008 file photo, as he speaks before campaign rally in Noblesville, Friday, Oct. 17, 2008. Bennett supports controversial vouchers that force public and private schools to compete for state money. He likes the nearly taboo idea of small school districts exploring consolidation. And he says schools need to be creative with the money they have rather than asking taxpayers to shell out more cash. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)
Updated: December 8, 2012 6:21AM
INDIANAPOLIS — Republican Tony Bennett has lost his bid for a second term as Indiana’s schools superintendent to a lifelong educator backed by teachers unhappy with Bennett’s sweeping education overhaul.
Tuesday’s victory by Democrat Glenda Ritz was seen as a victory for Indiana teachers who have felt Bennett blamed them for school failures. Many educators have opposed changes under Bennett that include expanding charter school access, limiting teachers’ collective bargaining and basing teacher pay raises on annual evaluations.
Bennett also pushed for the state’s private school voucher program and oversaw the first state takeover of troubled public schools.
Ritz has pledged to roll back many of Bennett’s changes.
That includes a reading test that third-graders must pass to advance to fourth grade.
Ritz is an elementary school library media specialist in Indianapolis.
