Race for State Superintendent heating up as more candidates join race

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The race is on for the office of State Superintendent of Education. Teacher Lisa Ellis announced her campaign Friday, March, 25, 2022. She isn’t the only candidate to put her name in recently, the field has at least 6 candidates running for office and incumbent Molly Spearmen is not running for re-election.

Ellis’ background includes serving as an instruction coach, student activities director and creating the SC for Ed nonprofit. Her campaign said her platform is based on bringing experience to current issues in the system such as teacher vacancies.

In a release her campaign said, “Our number one priority in improving education must be the recruitment and retention of high quality teachers and staff. As your future South Carolina State Superintendent that priority will be at the front and center of every decision Lisa makes.”

Dr. Gary L. Burgess jumped into the campaign on Feb. 21, 2022. In his announcement he wrote, “South Carolina can do better, and we must do better in educating our children. We must not settle for minimally adequate which leads to us being at the bottom of the academic rung of the education ladder and one of the least educated states in America.”

The crowded campaign field comes as topics such as Critical Race Theory, school vouchers and an increasing shortage of teachers and staff have become points of concern for parents.

Other candidates that have filed include:

Lynda Leventis-Wells

Sheri Few

Kizzi Gibson

Jerry Govan

Kathy Maness

Ellen Weaver

A full listing of the race can be found here.

*As candidates provide statements and campaign websites we will update this story*

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