Erin Jones (Washington)
Erin Jones was a candidate for the nonpartisan position of Washington superintendent of public instruction in the 2016 election.[1]
She was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016, and formally conceded the election on November 23, 2016.
Biography
Jones is an administrator in the Tacoma school district. She serves as the director of a program called "Advancement via Individual Determination" (AVID). Previously she served as the director of equity and administration in the Federal Way school district and as the assistant superintendent of student achievement in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.[2]
Before becoming an administrator, Jones taught English and French in public and private schools. She speaks Dutch, French, Spanish, and English.[3]
Education
- B.A. in comparative literature, Bryn Mawr College (1993)
- Certificate in secondary education and teaching, Pacific Lutheran University (2001)
- Certificate in language immersion instruction, Concordia University (2001)[3]
Elections
2016
- Main article: Washington Superintendent of Schools election, 2016
Jones filed to run in the 2016 election for the nonpartisan position of Washington superintendent of public instruction. Eight other candidates filed to run for the seat.[1] Jones placed first in the August 2 top-two primary election and competed with state Rep. Chris Reykdal, who placed second, in the November general election.
General election results
Chris Reykdal defeated Erin Jones in the Washington superintendent of schools election.
| Washington Superintendent of Schools, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
 Chris Reykdal |
50.52% | 1,337,547 | ||
| Erin Jones | 49.48% | 1,309,896 | ||
| Total Votes | 2,647,443 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election results
The following candidates ran in the Washington primary for superintendent of schools.
| Washington primary for superintendent of schools, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Erin Jones |
25.76% | 295,330 | |
| Nonpartisan | Chris Reykdal |
20.95% | 240,194 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ronald Higgins | 16.65% | 190,886 | |
| Nonpartisan | Robin Fleming | 13.52% | 154,991 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Spring | 8.52% | 97,702 | |
| Nonpartisan | John Patterson Blair | 5.59% | 64,064 | |
| Nonpartisan | KumRoon Maksirisombat | 3.79% | 43,491 | |
| Nonpartisan | Al Runte | 3.26% | 37,386 | |
| Nonpartisan | Grazyna Prouty | 1.94% | 22,265 | |
| Total Votes | 1,146,309 | |||
| Source: Washington Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign issues
Jones outlined the following positions on her campaign website:[4]
Funding
| “ | We cannot continue to ask educators to raise test scores, improve graduation rates, increase college attendance while decreasing access to resources. Doing so is not only impossible, it’s an unfair expectation with unacceptable results.[5] | ” |
Common Core
| “ | Common Core is often confused for being curriculum, instructional practice and a state assessment. Common Core are merely a set of standards - here's what students should know and be able to do this year. I had the opportunity to provide input on the very first draft of the middle and high school English Language Arts standards for Common Core years ago while at OSPI. Common Core is not curriculum. I do not believe textbooks should be the foundation of instruction, although they are a resource. Curriculum is not instruction or teaching. My desire is to promote quality instruction for all students, including students who qualify for highly-capable services to students on IEPs/504 Plans to students who receive support as they learn academic English. Finally, Common Core is not the state test (the Smarter Balanced Assessment). It is my plan, as soon as I take office, to gather educators and test experts (not connected to a test company) to have honest conversations about a testing system that does not take as much time, informs our practice, and returns results in a timely fashion.[5] | ” |
State testing
| “ | The length and time devoted to testing must also be addressed, both at the state and district levels. Educators need quick snapshots of how their students are preforming. These snapshots should be simple to deliver and simple to assess. Results should clearly indicate where students need extra support and when they are able to move ahead.[5] | ” |
Teacher evaluation
| “ | Teacher evaluation is critical to the success of all public schools. However, teacher evaluation should not be punitive or a mechanism to “oust” teachers. Rather, it should serve to help teachers identify their strengths and needed areas of growth. Evaluation should be a way to celebrate success and a tool to ensure teachers receive the support and coaching they need to become their best selves.[5] | ” |
Charter schools
| “ | The legality and options for charter schools are in the hands of the Court, which will weigh in again soon. As State Superintendent, I will enforce the law, because I am committed to serving all students. The charter school debate has devolved into an endless political and legal battle that is not contributing to our shared goals and common purpose. There is too much at stake to be entrenched and divisive.[5] | ” |
Endorsements
| Key endorsements | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Jones | |||||||||
| Congressman Adam Smith (D) | |||||||||
| Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) | |||||||||
| African American Caucus of the Washington State Democrats | |||||||||
| Seattlish (Progressive Blog) | |||||||||
| The News Tribune | |||||||||
| What is a key endorsement? | |||||||||
Campaign finance
| Erin Jones Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| To date | As of August 2, 2016 | $ | $108,552.34 | $(86,799.99) | $ | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $108,552.34 | $(86,799.99) | ||||||||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Erin Jones Washington Superintendent of public instruction. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Washington Secretary of State, "2016 candidates who have filed," accessed May 23, 2016
- ↑ Linkedin, "Erin Jones," accessed July 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Erin Jones for Superintendent of Public Instruction, "About Erin," accessed July 22, 2016
- ↑ Erin Jones for Superintendent of Public Instruction, "About Erin," accessed July 22, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
