I have been a resident of Cheyenne for just over 10 years. I was born in Denver, Colorado and my family and I relocated to Wyoming a little over a decade ago. We are proud to have called Wyoming home ever since.

I will be 55 years old on Election Day. Old enough to bring valuable experience yet young enough to still have the energy and passion for the job.

With more than two decades of dedicated service in community leadership, public policy, and education, I offer a comprehensive background to the role of superintendent. My academic credentials include degrees in biology and educational administration, complemented by a Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming. Throughout my career, I have held diverse positions—including teacher, principal, and district administrator—and have contributed to leadership teams within two separate state departments of education. My professional reach extends across traditional public schools as well as alternative, online, and charter institutions serving suburban, rural, and Tribal communities. Beyond my professional life, I am a former mayor, a volunteer firefighter, and a committed husband and father. I am seeking this office because I am convinced that Wyoming requires a leader with both deep, multifaceted experience and the vision to guide our educational system toward a successful future.

The first step is to reaffirm the fact that delivering a comprehensive and relevant public education in our rapidly changing geopolitical market place requires attention to a broad range of support systems and services in addition to core content areas. School safety, mental health, nutrition and access to workforce ready skills and knowledge will be one of my top priorities. To accomplish this goal, I will advocate for strategic investments in innovative programs that compliment our already strong academic enterprise. Wyoming has strong public schools and, if we have the courage to embrace the future, we can make them even stronger.

According to the state Constitution, the legislature is tasked with maintaining a uniform and thorough system of public education. However, given that the rising costs are a reality for all Americans, fulfilling this mandate necessitates ongoing, open, and cooperative discussion. The fact that education funding has frequently been settled in court suggests that we have not yet reached an adequate level of support. If I am chosen to serve as superintendent, I will be a steadfast advocate for directing the maximum possible resources toward our schools. I view education not only as our most effective strategy for economic growth but also as the primary safeguard for the future of our republic.

A primary objective during my tenure as superintendent will be to facilitate a long-overdue dialogue with stakeholders regarding our standards, assessment, and accountability framework. I believe Wyoming would benefit significantly from streamlined standards that prioritize evidence-based instructional practices and focus on skills and knowledge essential for the future rather than the past. Furthermore, it is vital that parents and teachers have access to an assessment system providing real-time data to inform immediate instructional choices. Ultimately, my goal is to transition from a punitive 'gotcha' accountability model to one centered on data-driven support, which I am confident will lead to better standardized test performance.

First, I want to emphasize that the superintendent is an executive branch agency leadership role, NOT a bonus legislator. As the only candidate that actually has executive branch experience, I have a clear understanding of the job. Therefore, regardless of my personal views, as superintendent I will implement constitutional and statutory policies as directed. Specific to the Steamboat program, if the courts deem it to be constitutional, I will ensure that it is implemented according to the law. That being said, I have first hand experience in non-traditional educational ecosystems. Based on that experience, I firmly believe that as we consider diversifying the menu of curricular and instructional options available to students and educators, we need to be mindful of the constitution as well as ensure that we are enhancing, not destroying, our public school system.

I believe that Wyoming will retain its educators when they are treated with respect, provided with robust support, and offered competitive compensation. If elected, I intend to partner with local districts, the University of Wyoming College of Education, and other teacher-preparatory institutions to create a proactive human capital strategy aimed at the recruitment and retention of premier teaching talent.

With my background as a University of Wyoming College of Law graduate and a former mayor who has managed hundreds of land use matters, I possess a unique perspective on the quasi-judicial responsibilities inherent in the SLIB. I am committed to acting as a steady, impartial fiduciary who prioritizes transparent due process and the careful management of Wyoming's land and financial assets. Essentially, I intend to be a principled, constitutional, and relatively boring presence on the Board. Furthermore, my extensive experience in local government has taught me the importance of cooperation; I will bring that same spirit of open dialogue and partnership to the SLIB. Ultimately, our stewardship of state lands must remain focused on supporting public education for both current and future generations.