Tony Bennett (superintendent)
| Tony Bennett | |
|---|---|
| Education Commissioner of Florida | |
|
In office December 12, 2012 – August 1, 2013 |
|
| Governor | Rick Scott |
| Preceded by | Gerard Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Pam Stewart |
| Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
|
In office January 19, 2009 – January 23, 2013 |
|
| Governor | Mitch Daniels |
| Preceded by | Suellen Reed |
| Succeeded by | Glenda Ritz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clark County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Tina |
| Alma mater |
Indiana University. Southeast (BS, MS) Spalding University (DEd) |
Tony Bennett is the former Florida Commissioner of Education and the former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Bennett received his Doctor of Education and Indiana Superintendent's License from Spalding University in 2005; his Certification in Secondary Administration and Supervision from Indiana University Southeast in 1994; his Master of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast in 1988; and his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast in 1984. Bennett served as a teacher, coach and administrator.
In 2010, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named him Government Leader of the Year and, in 2011, The Fordham Institute named him Education Reform Idol.
Bennett was narrowly elected Indiana State Superintendent in 2008, succeeding retiring four-term incumbent Suellen Reed. He was defeated for re-election in an upset in his bid for a second term. He made education reform a key platform of his tenure.
During Bennett's term, student achievement improved on several key academic indicators. Scores on the state's ISTEP+ exam, Advanced Placement pass percentages and graduate rates reached new highs.
Some criticized Bennett and his wife in 2011 because of her involvement with a charter school oversight program at Marian University. The state awarded a contract to Marian to establish a "Turnaround Leadership Academy" to train transformational school leaders. Officials noted the contract was awarded through a competitive request for proposals process.
Despite receiving nearly hundred thousand dollars in out-of-state campaign money, Bennett ended up losing the 2012 superintendent race to Glenda Ritz.
Some controversy arose after the election because the current president of Purdue University, Mitch Daniels, claimed that teachers used illegal tactics to defeat Bennett.
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Wikipedia