Jill Underly For State Superintendent of Public Instruction

WISCONSIN— The 2021 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate seats and local government and school boards.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Jill Underly hopes to be elected as as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position Sought

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan

Family

I live in Hollandale with my husband John and our two children who are currently in middle school.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Occupation

Superintendent, Pecatonica Area School District, six years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

underlyforwi.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’m running for State Superintendent to make sure that every child has what they need to learn and succeed every day. I want strong public schools that are well funded, to provide not just the basics for kids, but all the opportunities that public schools need to provide so that our kids can thrive in the 21st century.

I’m excited to see that schools all across Wisconsin are returning to in-person learning and I echo the Governor’s calls for robust summer programming, and a removal of the mandatory September start date to allow local districts to start the next school year early if they choose. We have to do everything we can to help catch our students up, and to ensure they’re mental health and emotional needs are being met after the immense trauma this pandemic has caused for so many.
I also want to make clear I’m an advocate for public schools.

I think our funding formula is broken, and too many kids, especially in urban and rural districts, are missing out on opportunities. And we need to move away from a system that takes funds from public schools and transfers resources to private schools and unaccountable charters. We need every child, every day to have the best possible public education.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing Wisconsin’s public schools is the broken funding formula and the massive inequity it’s causing for Wisconsin’s kids. Your zip code should not determine your educational opportunities, but that’s what it currently does. What I promise is this: I will advocate for changing our school funding system so that all students get the opportunities of the “best schools” in Wisconsin.

When you look at inequities in our school districts - you'll find that the best financed school districts will continue to offer more opportunities - such as more advanced classes, reading and gifted and talented specialists, and activities - while the underfunded schools cannot offer the same. These opportunities should exist no matter where a kid lives, who they are born to, or what language they speak at home.

As State Superintendent I would work with the legislature and our school boards association and use the recommendations in the 2019 Blue Ribbon Commission on Education Funding as our plan for fair funding. I would work closely with experts on school finance at both DPI and the UW School of Education to design a system that is rooted in research and positive outcomes for all kids - regardless of their zip code. I think the quick answer is we need a system that gets the most resources to the most kids, especially the kids who need the resources the most – students with disabilities, students in high-poverty schools, and English-language learners.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a strong record of sound financial management and a history of balancing budgets. I’m 100% in support of our public schools and my platform is centered on what kids need and fixing the broken school funding formula, in contrast to my opponent, who has bizarrely called for the relocation of the Department of Public Instruction, a plan that would be incredibly costly and take further funds away from our schools that are already in a funding crisis. This is in addition to her mishandling and attempted cover-up of a financial scandal that cost her district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It’s critically important that the next State Superintendent have good judgment and good budget management skills. Unfortunately, my opponent has repeatedly demonstrated that she lacks good judgment or the sound financial management needed in this position.
I’m running for State Superintendent to dismantle the systems of inequity plaguing our students and ensure that every child, every day, has access to the high-quality education they deserve, regardless of their zip code, race, gender, orientation, ability, or income status.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I believe our teachers, local district administrators, and school board members did everything they could in the face of an unprecedented worldwide health crisis and I’d like to take a moment to recognize everyone in Wisconsin’s education system for the incredible dedication they’ve demonstrated and all of the hard work they’ve done to support our kids through this pandemic and the massive disruption it’s caused to their learning and their well-being. Our teachers especially have gone above and beyond to support their students.

I do believe that the State Department of Public Instruction could have done more to provide stronger guidance to our local districts, and sooner in the pandemic than what was provided. As State Superintendent, I’ll prioritize providing the guidance and framework for local partnerships our school districts continue to need in order to ensure we can safely keep our schools open for in-person learning.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In addition to fixing the broken school funding formula and reopening our schools to in-person learning, like I’ve done in Pecatonica, We’ve got to prioritize things that will support all of our kids and start closing the opportunity gaps in Wisconsin like:

- Early childhood education and early intervention for students with disabilities, speech and language, and literacy and numeracy;
- Recruiting and retaining passionate and enthusiastic teachers, who are well trained and valued for their work and expertise;
- Mental health support, including funding for more social workers, school counselors, school social workers, and nurses in our schools, and
- A school funding system that invests in our public schools first, and provides the most resources to the schools that need it the most: our rural, urban, English language learners, students with disabilities, and high poverty students.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I believe that In-person learning is the best way to educate the majority of our kids and best for our workforce and our economy. I’m the only candidate for State Superintendent who has successfully run a school district through the pandemic — my district has been open, and I’ve worked hard to safely keep our schools open to in-person learning. I am the candidate for state superintendent who knows how to safely get our kids back in the classroom where they can receive the best education in person, because I’m the candidate who has actually done it and knows what it takes.

As a former teacher, principal, and now as a local Superintendent I have a proven record of high student achievement, innovation, and sound financial management of my district. I have dedicated my life to serving our kids with over 20 years of experience in every facet of public education.
As Superintendent in Pecatonica, I’ve been a leader in the state by offering full-day, high-quality preschool and child care to all families – because high quality preschool helps kids perform better in school and helps families who struggle with child care costs.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Growing up, my mom always told me to just be kind. Always be kind. You never know what others might be going through. That’s really stuck with me.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As State Superintendent, I’ll be a champion of our public schools, students, their families, and our educators to help us recover from this pandemic. I’ve dedicated my life to serving kids with over 20 years of experience in every facet of education and I have the experience, qualifications, judgement, and perspective needed at the Department of Public Instruction at this critical time for Wisconsin’s kids. I’m ready to get to work on day one.