Illinois State Superintendent

Head of public education in Illinois From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Illinois State Superintendent of Education, often shortened to State Superintendent, is a statewide government office in the U.S. state of Illinois.

The State Superintendent is nominated by the Governor of Illinois and serves at the pleasure of the Illinois State Board of Education. Since at least 2007, the superintendent is hired at the beginning of a new gubernatorial term after the governor appoints the State Board of Education. The State Superintendent is the chief education officer of the state, and the chief executive officer of the State Board of Education, but is prohibited from being a member of the board.[1]

From 1851 to 1975, the role was an elected statewide office,[citation needed] the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the old name is still referred to in some laws.[2] Following the inaugural appointment of Ninian Wirt Edwards, the office was an elected position.[citation needed] The powers and duties of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction were transferred to the Illinois State Board of Education on January 12, 1975.[3]

The current officeholder is Dr. Tony Sanders.

List of office holders

Elected office

More information Name, In office ...
Name In office Political party Year(s) elected Note(s)
Ninian Wirt Edwards 1854–1857 Democratic N/a appointed by the governor [4]
William H. Powell 1857–1859 Republican 1856 [4]
Newton Bateman 1859–1863 Republican 1859, 1860 [4]
John P. Brooks 1863–1865 Democratic 1862 [4]
Newton Bateman 1865–1875 Republican 1864, 1866,
1870		 [4]
Samuel M. Etter 1875–1879 Democratic 1874 [4]
James P. Slade 1879–1883 Republican 1878 [4]
Henry Raab 1883–1887 Democratic 1882 [4]
Richard Edwards 1887–1891 Republican 1888 [4]
Henry Raab 1891–1895 Democratic 1890 [4]
Samuel Inglis 1895–1898 Republican 1894 died in office on Jan. 23, 1898 [4]
Joseph H. Freeman 1898–1899 Republican N/a appointed to fill vacancy left by death by Inglis [4]
Alfred Bayliss 1899–1907 Republican 1898, 1902 [4]
Francis G. Blair 1907–1935 Republican 1906, 1910,
1914, 1918,
1922, 1926,
1930		 [4]
John A. Wieland 1935–1943 Democratic 1934, 1938 [4]
Vernon L. Nickell 1943–1959 Republican 1942, 1946
1950, 1954
 [4]
George T. Wilkins 1959–1963 Democratic 1958 [4]
Ray Page 1963–1971 Republican 1962, 1966 [4]
Michael Bakalis 1971–1975 Democratic 1970 [4]
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Appointed (1975–present)

  • Joseph Cronin (1975–1980)
  • Donald Gill (1981–1984)
  • Ted Sanders (1985–1989)
  • Robert Leininger (1990–1994)
  • Mary Jane Broncato (1994) (temporary)
  • Joseph Spagnolo (1994–1998)
  • Glen "Max" McGee (1998–2001)
  • Ernest Wish (2002) (1 month)
  • Respico Vazquez (2002) (temporary)
  • Robert Schiller (2002–2004)
  • Randy Dunn (2004–2006)
  • Christopher Koch (2006–2015)[5]
  • Tony Smith (2015-2019)[6]
  • Dr. Carmen I. Ayala (2019–2023)[7]
  • Tony Sanders (2023-Present)[8]

References

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