Who is running for superintendent in Idaho’s general election? Hear from the candidates
Two candidates are running in the Nov. 8 general election to serve as Idaho’s next superintendent of public instruction.
The election comes as schools across the state continue to deal with a shortage of teachers and staff members, debates over book bans and curricula, and aging facilities.
Debbie Critchfield, the Republican candidate, previously served as the president of the State Board of Education and a communications director for the Cassia School District. Terry Gilbert, who is running as a Democrat, is a retired teacher who served as the president of the Idaho Education Association.
Critchfield defeated incumbent Sherri Ybarra, who’s served as superintendent for nearly eight years, in the GOP primary election in May.
The superintendent of public instruction serves four-year terms and heads the State Department of Education. The superintendent also has a seat on the Board of Education.
The Statesman sent surveys to each of the candidates on a variety of issues. Their responses are copied below, unedited. Learn more about other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/voter-guide.
Use the horizontal scroll bar underneath each Q&A as needed to read the full Q&A. You also can click on the chart and drag horizontally.
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
