1. Glenda Neubauer Ritz was born on 1954 and is an American educator and politician who formerly served as the former Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana.
18 Facts About Glenda Ritz
1. 2.
Glenda Ritz was elected in 2012, defeating incumbent Superintendent Tony Bennett.
3.
On June 4,2015, Ritz declared she would run for governor in 2016.
4.
Glenda Ritz has been married to Gary Ritz of Pendleton, Indiana, since 1977.
5.
Glenda Ritz won teacher of the year awards at two different schools, and in 2012 she was one of 155 nationally board certified teachers in the state of Indiana.
6.
Glenda Ritz served as a member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a board member of the Indiana State Teachers Association and president of the Washington Township local ISTA union, and president of the Washington Township Education Association for 15 years.
7.
Originally a registered Republican, Glenda Ritz switched party registration in 2008 and ran as the Democratic nominee against first-term incumbent Tony Bennett to become the next Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012.
8.
Glenda Ritz was seen as an underdog with Bennett enjoying a substantial fundraising advantage and support of many prominent Republican officials.
9.
Glenda Ritz called the election a "referendum" on Bennett's tenure.
10.
Glenda Ritz was endorsed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate John R Gregg.
11.
Glenda Ritz won the election in an upset, capturing 52 percent of the vote.
12.
Glenda Ritz was defeated in the 2016 general election by Jennifer McCormick.
13.
Pence and Glenda Ritz were able to agree on the new standards.
14.
In 2014, Glenda Ritz opposed the Republicans push to create a fast track for teacher certification saying that the standards for licensing should be kept rigorous.
15.
At the time, Glenda Ritz refused to speculate whether she would remain chair.
16.
Glenda Ritz launched her gubernatorial race on June 4,2015, following the announcements of John Gregg and Karen Tallian.
17.
At her announcement, Glenda Ritz said that education and the economy would be the centerpiece of her campaign platform.
18.
Political pundits predicted that Glenda Ritz was expected to get the support of the ISTA, which is the teachers' union.