YORKTOWN — It's been just over a month since Dr. Jennifer McCormick launched her Republican campaign bid for Indiana's superintendent of public instruction.
In that time, the highly-regarded superintendent of Yorktown Community Schools has made the rounds of Lincoln Day dinners throughout Indiana in hopes of locking in supporters and securing donors to help her defeat Democrat Glenda Ritz in the November general election.
McCormick said she decided to run for the job amid growing frustration with confusion, political squabbling and what she sees as a lack of leadership during Ritz's administration.
"I didn't plan to run for public office," said McCormick, who's been superintendent in Yorktown since 2010. "The past four years have been difficult for teachers, parents and administrators because the Department of Education is disorganized and there has been a lack of leadership."
McCormick began her education nearly 20 years ago working as a special education teacher before working as a middle school language arts teacher.
She became principal of Yorktown Elementary School, and later was named assistant superintendent of Yorktown Community Schools.
“I have lived ISTEP. I have seen behavioral issues that we are all dealing with. I know and understand what it takes to be in that classroom, to lead a school building and to lead a district," McCormick said.
One of her most important goals McCormick said is establishing a coherent vision for education in Indiana. “We need to know what we are aiming to accomplish so that everyone at every level can focus on that goal.”
She's also detailed "non-negotiables,” or specific goals students, parents and educators deserve. They are:
• A partner in the Department of Education.
• A statewide assessment program that is credible.
• A system in which curriculum, instruction and assessments are aligned.
• A system that strives for excellence rather than focusing on political squabbling.
State Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, thinks McCormick is highly qualified for the job.
"She's the first person I talk to about education issues because of the depth of knowledge she has," he said.
McCormick, who has not resigned from her position as Yorktown superintendent, is fitting campaign stops into her schedule as best she can.
In addition to the political dinners, McCormick said she's meeting with small groups of of educators and other potential supporters.
"I'm astonished where she's been and who's she's talked with," Eckerty said. "There's no doubt in my mind she can handle the rigors of the job."
The key to her campaign will be exposure, however. "She'll have to raise a significant amount of funding, there's no question about that," Eckerty said.
Russ Willis, chairman of the Madison County Republican Party, said McCormick has his complete support. "I am highly impressed," he said.
Like Eckerty, Willis said the key to a successful campaign will be for McCormick to get her message out and show how she would run the Department of Education compared to Ritz.
McCormick needs to "show the distinct differences she'll bring to that position, and there will be differences."
Ritz has an ample campaign war chest at her disposal, however. She ended 2015 with more than $303,000, according to state campaign finance records.
Ritz Campaign Manager Annie Mansfield declined on Friday to comment directly about criticism McCormick has raised about how the department has operated.
"She's going to have a convention fight in June, and other folks could jump into the campaign," Mansfield said.
McCormick was the second Republican to announce a run for the office. Dawn Wooten, a college instructor from Fort Wayne, filed to run in September.
Delegates at the Republican State Convention in June will decide who will challenge Ritz in November.
Meanwhile, Ritz will continue to run on her achievements, Mansfield said.
These include the creation of an outreach division of school improvement, that has led to improved school accountability grades at 103 schools in Indiana.
Ritz has strong backing from the Indiana State Teachers Association, and has sharply criticized Indiana's school voucher program, which she contends siphons money from public education.
McCormick, on the other hand, has declined to criticize vouchers, arguing the subsidies play a legitimate role in making sure all Hoosier children receive a quality education.
Over the next several months, these and other education topics, including school funding, teacher salaries and high-stakes testing, will likely be the main topics among contenders for Indiana's top educator.