Editor, Times-Union: This letter is written in response to Ms. Spencer's letter concerning the endorsement of Mr. Kolbe by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz. I would like to speak to the defense of Ms. Ritz rather than the endorsement of Mr. Kolbe or any other candidate. It is worth noting that Ms. Ritz got her job by pulling off a stunning political upset. She defeated her corporate-backed opponent with a coalition of voters consisting of parents, educators, liberals and conservatives. She had to have such a coalition to achieve the numbers that she did. All concerned about the direction our educational system is heading. In all, she garnered more votes than the governor himself, making it clear that the people had spoken and they were endorsing her agenda. You would think that the governor would respect such a grassroots victory and agree to work with Ms. Ritz. Instead he chose to do just the opposite. He began by creating a new agency, by executive order, the Center for Education and Career Innovation. This allowed members of the State Board of Education to bypass Ritz and to work with their own staff housed in the CECI. This act was intended to void any oversight that Ritz might have. This is the main reason that she has been battling with the Board of Education. She is not doing it to stir up trouble, but she is just fighting to be able to do the job she was elected to do. When you consider that every attempt is being made to block her and to make her look bad, she is holding up remarkably well. Glenda Ritz is a true educator who seeks to do what is best for all students. Ask those who have met her. Her warmth and desire to do what is right for the students in her charge exude from her. She has been in the trenches as a teacher and a principal. She has seen the wants and needs of teachers, parents and students up close. She is working to see that the needs of those groups are met instead of those of the corporate-driven reforms supported by her opponents. We have to believe that if she saw something good in the Common Cores that would benefit the instruction of our students that is why she supported them. When the state adopted its own set of standards, which it is our understanding they don’t vary much from the originals, she gave her support to them. She took the high road and played as a true team member. Ms. Ritz is not up for re-election, but she still needs our help. We all can help by letting our representatives know that they should do all they can to assure that she is allowed to do her job. The voters gave her that right. Paul Sibray Silver Lake, via email
