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Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo
Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo
Susan Castillo, the first Hispanic woman in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, served in the Oregon State Senate from 1997 to 2002 where she was vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee. She was also elected as Assistant Democratic Leader for the 1999 and 2001 legislative sessions.
In addition to her duties as an elected official, Castillo is a fellow in the American Leadership Forum, which is dedicated to bringing leaders together to strengthen their skills and better serve the public good. She is a board member of Birth to Three, a nationally recognized non-profit parenting education and support program dedicated to strengthening families. She is also an active member of the Council of Chief State School Officers. In 2004, Castillo was named one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” by Hispanic Business Magazine.
Growing up, Castillo saw the challenges her mother faced due to a lack of a formal education and she understands the strong connection between education and economic opportunity. Castillo feels a deep commitment to ensuring that all children receive a quality education that prepares them for college, work and life in the 21st Century.
Castillo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Oregon State University. Prior to entering public office, she enjoyed a long career as an award-winning television journalist for KVAL-TV in Eugene. Castillo is married to Paul Machu and lives in Eugene.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo
255 Capitol St. NE, Salem 97310-0203; 503-947-5600
Susan Castillo, Eugene; nonpartisan; elected 2002; reelected 2006; reelected 2010; term expires January 2015.
The Oregon Constitution, Article VIII, established the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The superintendent is elected by the people of Oregon and acts as administrative officer of the State Board of Education and executive head of the Department of Education. The term of office for superintendent is four years.
The superintendent is responsible for providing statewide leadership for some 561,698 elementary and secondary students in Oregon’s 197 school districts. The responsibility also extends to public preschool programs, the Oregon School for the Deaf, regional programs for children with disabilities and education programs for young people in statewide juvenile corrections facilities. The superintendent recommends policy to the State Board of Education, which adopts rules affecting local schools. The Department also coordinates with 20 education service districts that provide specialized resources and programs to school districts in their regions.
The Oregon Department of Education is responsible for providing leadership in statewide curriculum programs, school improvement efforts and statewide testing. In addition, the department acts as a liaison and monitors implementation for a variety of state and federal programs.
In conjunction with the Legislature’s actions, the superintendent and State Board of Education set priorities designed to lead the state’s efforts in early childhood education; improve education, particularly in reading, for all students in Oregon’s public elementary and secondary schools; close the achievement gap; and improve high school graduation rates and further reduce the drop-out rate.