Governor Matt Mead on Education Director Candidates

During a press conference Friday Governor Matt Mead said he was impressed with the the three finalists for the job of Director of the Wyoming Department of Education. The governor said he had expected to appoint a permanent director of the agency this week, but he needs some more time because of the quality of the candidates.

The candidates include Springfield (Mo.) Public Schools Superintendent Norman Ridder, retired Puyallup (Wash.) Public Schools Superintendent Tony Apostle and CN Resources and Crandall Corporate Dietitians CEO and CFO Richard Crandall of Mesa, Ariz. Crandall is also a state senator in Arizona and past chair of the Arizona Senate and House education committees.

The state Board of Education recommended the three candidates after more than 80 applied for the position. Mead has interviewed all three. The governor said all three of the candidates are aware of the situation with Senate File 104, the bill that stripped Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill of her duites as head of the education deaprtment. The governor added that all three are eager to move to the state because of the great support Wyoming provides to public education.