A crowded field of candidates in the race for Wyoming’s top education post will trigger primary elections on both Republican and Democratic ballots. Democratic candidates Ana Cordova and Sergio Maldonado filed their intent to run for superintendent of public instruction by the May 29 deadline alongside GOP candidates Steve Harshman, Tom Kelly, and Chad Auer.
Candidates’ Backgrounds and Priorities
Maldonado, a Northern Arapaho man who was born in Riverton, has worked as a substitute teacher, taught at Central Wyoming College, and is working on earning a Ph.D. He opted to run again because he believes he can contribute to improving academic outcomes in the state. Cordova, a standout student and graduate of Cheyenne schools, earned a master’s degree in human genetics before obtaining her law degree. She decided to run for the position after being asked to by community members.
On the Republican side, Kelly was the first to announce his candidacy. The state representative from Sheridan has worked as a paraprofessional, social studies teacher, and college professor. Kelly holds a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in political science. As superintendent, Kelly’s No. 1 priority would be to “get the state bureaucracy to back off a little bit,” he told WyoFile this spring, and to work with superintendents, principals, and teachers of each district to figure out, “how can I as superintendent make your job easier?”
Auer also got his start in education in the classroom — teaching high school English and math. Auer went on to work in administration, as a principal and in the Colorado Department of Education. After his family moved to Wyoming in 2016, Auer enrolled in law school, earning his Juris Doctor in 2021. Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder appointed Auer as the Wyoming Department of Education’s chief of staff in 2022.
Harshman is a Natrona County native who has been a member of Wyoming’s House of Representatives since 2003. That makes him one of the longest-serving representatives in state history. He is also a veteran teacher and football coach. As a lawmaker, Harshman has historically championed funding for Wyoming schools, and was instrumental in creating the Hathaway Scholarship and Wyoming’s Tomorrow Scholarship.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
