Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction. Term is four years; there is a limit of eight years in any 16 year period for a person in this office. Salary is set by state statute at $92,000 plus benefits. Incumbent Jim McBride (R) is finishing a term he was appointed to when the previous elected Superintendent resigned, he is being challenged by Michelle L. Hoffman (D). 
 
Biographical Information:
 
Michelle L. Hoffman (D):  I was born to Waldron and Bonnie (Lutz) Nicholas while my father was stationed in Cheyenne with the Wyoming Highway State Patrol.  I was raised and attended schools in Laramie.  In 1987, I received a B.A. from the UW, and in 1998 a Masters degree from Lesley University.  I have been employed by Fremont County School District #14 for 20 years as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, grant writer, Principal and District Superintendent.  I served six years on the Lander School board and belong to numerous educational associations.  This year, my son Michael will be a senior at Lander High School.
 
Jim McBride (R):  I have been Wyoming’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction since Aug of 2005; before that I was our state’s previous Technology Director. I have been a teacher, administrator, Air Force commander, college president and superintendent of schools.  My wife Sandi and I have been married 35-plus years.  We have two children Monique and Jim.  Jim is a Physicist in Boston.  Monique is a practicing lawyer in Cheyenne.  Her husband Nick does computer support at the Lowe’s Distribution Center.  They have two wonderful children, Emma and Grace who bring joy and new meaning to Jim and Sandi everyday.
 
What effect is the “No Child Left Behind” federal legislation having on the depth of overall education in Wyoming’s K-12 schools? 
 
Michelle Hoffman (D):  Curriculum is being narrowed as districts strive to “score” well on state assessments.  Traveling through the state, I have been told by teachers and parents they fear we are focusing on the “test” and not enough on educating well-rounded children.  Fine Arts, Physical/Vocational Education and other subjects are taking a back door to those subjects which are tested.  Meaningful assessment is needed to ensure quality instruction, but that is not done only once a year. 

Jim McBride (R):  NCLB’s greatest strength is its requirement for accountability.  As a result of NCLB, we are measuring growth (achievement) and identifying students that need help far sooner -- and addressing their needs far better.  Its weakness is that its requirements are tied to funding.  As federal dollars continue to be cut, the NCLB requirements are more difficult to meet.  NCLB is also very prescriptive and is very weak recognizing Wyoming’s unique rural nature. 

 
How many schools would you consider “rural” in Wyoming, and what special programs are in place to be sure that the quality of education is on a par or superior to that of the schools in towns?
 
Michelle Hoffman (D):  In Wyoming, 29 school districts have been labeled by the Federal government as rural.  14 of the remaining 19 districts have schools within the districts which are rural.  With these definitions and numbers, I consider all of Wyoming schools rural.  The “basket of goods” were to ensure that all students within Wyoming would be guaranteed an equal education wherever they attended school.  I don’t believe we have properly defined, or funded that basket as of yet. 

Jim McBride (R):  NCLB defines small schools (smaller than 2500) and now frontier schools (remote and isolated).  Wyoming has 13 districts smaller with fewer than 500 students.  More than half of our districts have “frontier schools,” remote, isolated and very small.  We have outreach programs in each of my Divisions to address special needs, i.e. School Improvement, Special Education, Finance, Federal Programs etc. We try to maximize the use of our technology with high-speed internet and compressed video.