Published: May 06, 2008 07:30 am         

Indiana benefited from eduction chief

With Indiana’s attention focused on Hillary Clinton as a viable presidential candidate, Suellen Reed quietly announced last week she would not run again for state superintendent of public instruction.

Reed was the first woman to hold the post, and she served 16 years as the state’s education chief.

She was the most nonpartisan of state officials, working well with Democratic Govs. Evan Bayh, Frank O’Bannon and Joe Kernan and Republican Mitch Daniels.

Although a Republican, Reed felt free to disagree with Republican proposals if she felt they were not in the best interests of the state educational system.

“Our kids come to us not with little Rs and little Ds on their forehead,” she said.

Some opponents felt she sugarcoated failure or mediocrity, but in her position she sometimes had to serve as cheerleader for educational efforts. When educators are tasked with teaching all children, even those who don’t want to learn, it is not surprising that test scores sometimes fail to meet standards.

Reed also worked to establish a more rigorous high school curriculum, which requires students to complete at least three years of courses in math and science. Core 40 will also be required for admission to any four-year state college or university beginning in 2011.

Indiana benefited from Reed’s four terms as state superintendent. And she also demonstrated that women can serve ably in an elected executive capacity.