Ybarra tosses hat in ring for state schools superintendent

Sherri Ybarra, the head of curriculum development in the Mountain Home School District, has announced her candidacy for state superintendent of public instruction.

That job is currently held by Tom Luna, who is not seeking re-election. Ybarra will run in the May 20 Republican primary, where she will face off against John Eynon and Randy Jensen.

Ybarra is confident she can win.

"I feel like I'm qualified. I've shown my ability."

She's spent her time in the trenches, she noted. "I think my track record speaks for itself."

She has nearly 17 years' experience as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, federal programs director and curriculum director.

She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Educational Leadership, and this summer she'll be graduating from the University of Idaho with an Ed. S.E.D. in Educational Leadership, with an emphasis in Superintendency.

"Education is my focus and passion, proven through my dedication and experience in the profession," Ybarra said.

Ybarra is best known in the local school district for taking West Elementary School, which had constantly been failing Annual Yearly Progress standards, and turned it into one of the state's best -- recognized as a four-star school.

And it wasn't easy at West, where a bunch of factors that tend to work against success were present --the students had a high rate of poverty and many were English language learners.

"I have proven myself as an effective leader with the commitment and vision it takes to make positive changes in education," she said, "and I've done this by being hands-on, experienced, dedicated and hard-working."

Furthermore, Ybarra said, "integrity is my business. That's how I've proven myself and made positive changes in education. I'd like to think that I've been a role mode for my student's as well."

She noted that the superintendent serves the state board of education, but "the way you lead is by focus. Achievement is non-negotiable."

On the state's adopting the Common Core standards, Ybarra admits that "there are some concerns that it's an overstepping of government, and there's some validity to that.

"But overall, it provides consistency and kids need consistency.

"Studies show that people 18-30, the age that have children, move six times on average. When students move like that, into new schools, they need consistency and reliability."

She noted that Common Core is not a curriculum, as some have charged, but is based on students all achieving a common set of basic skills. Teachers have flexibility in how they do that, as long as their students learn those basic skills.

Ybarra said she has experience helping schools find the resources they need to give their students the best education possible and to achieve those basic skill levels -- or better.

As a principal, she obtained a "Fuel Up to Play 60" grant that improved technology and increased healthy physical activity. And she is currently working on a STEM project and utilizing grant writing as a "creative and innovative way to fund more programs."

After 11 years as a classroom teacher and six years as a school and district administrator, Ybarra said she is positioned to build a "sustainable educational model that addresses the needs of the entire child."

With a campaign slogan of "Address the Whole Child," she intends to focus on three areas that will improve education for Idaho's children for generations to come:

"Giving our children 21st century abilities, not over-testing them and increasing safety."

In the end, it's not about politics but all about helping children learn. "I serve education and I serve it well," she said. "I think when the voters see my record, they'll get behind me," she said.

Ybarra has a Facebook page up for her campaign and soon will have a website: sherriybarraforidaho@squarespace.com. Campaign donation envelopes are available at Home Federal, she said.