Just recently, our school had a visitor of great importance to Indiana’s education. Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, came to Delphi and toured all three of our schools.

Glenda Ritz is Indiana’s 43rd Superintendent. She is an educational administrator and was elected by our state’s voters to supervise and advocate for public education. Ritz was elected in 2012, taking over Tony Bennett’s position.

Ritz’s grew up just around the bend from us. She was born in Lafayette and graduated from Jefferson High School. She went to Ball State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in education. She went to Purdue University Indianapolis and Indiana University for her second Master’s degree in library science.

While Superintendent Ritz was buzzing between Delphi’s three schools, she made time for an interview with me. In those five to ten minutes she answered all of my questions about Indiana’s future in education.

AW: What are your goals for the future of Indiana education?

GR: I want to be sure that we have great standards and fair assessments. Education in Indiana should be focused on the students. We ask ourselves, ‘What do students need?’.

AW: What is your take on Indiana’s current reform?

GR: We are experiencing teaching and learning within a test-centered system. We need a lot more time for teaching and not testing. We do not need to know whether they can pass or fail a test.

AW: How many schools or counties have you visited? Why is it important to you to visit the majority of schools in Indiana?

GR: I have been to 80 of 90 counties in Indiana, so far, in two years. That’s half of the school systems.

We need to see the type of instruction in classrooms. We want to see access to technology and up-to-date textbooks. I want to see opportunities and resources. We are big in equity in resources.

AW: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment since you’ve become Superintendent?

GR: Outreach. I have 13 coordinators in service schools that were hired and live in the region they serve. It’s changed how schools get services.

Superintendent Ritz told Mrs. Circle after her tour, “I was very impressed.” We’re glad that Superintendent Ritz came to our school. We can’t wait to see what she has for us and the future of Indiana’s education.