You can see it in his demeanor. In his comfort level on the issues he has set out. In his sense of mission.

Jaime Molera has grown into the job of state superintendent of public instruction – well enough, certainly, to represent Republicans in the fall elections.

The Arizona Republic recommends incumbent Superintendent Molera as the GOP nominee over former legislators Keith Bee and Tom Horne. Also, we recommend another lawmaker, state Sen. Jay Blanchard, as the Democratic nominee.

Molera’s views of accountability as applied to both schools and students set him apart from the competition. He has advocated a workable AIMS graduation test, with an emphasis on workable.

Also, Molera has been a relentless supporter of the independence of charter schools, a position made all the more vital now that charter opponents have begun an offensive to regulate the semi-independent schools into irrelevancy. Horne and Bee both are supporters of public-school reform under some circumstances, but lack Molera’s passion for the task. Bee, for example, would support requiring charters to hire only certified teachers, a proposal high atop the agenda of those seeking to douse the fire of education innovation.

Blanchard, meanwhile, thrived in the state Senate after defeating former House Speaker Jeff Groscost following the alternative-fuels debacle. A former Marine and classroom teacher, Blanchard has taught education at Arizona State University for three decades. He has put his educational acumen to work, backing proposals to reduce Arizona’s appalling dropout rate and to return a sense of self-discipline to our schools.

As superintendent, Blanchard would be a powerful voice in behalf of better pay for teachers. He deserves the nod over Mesa Public Schools Principal Rod Rich, a decent, self-assured candidate whose positions appear a bit too narrowly defined in support of the status quo.

The Republic recommends two fine advocates for better public education, Republican Jaime Molera and Democrat Jay Blanchard, in their primary races for superintendent of public instruction.



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