Will County Regional Superintendent: Bertino-Tarrant

Will County Regional Superintendent of Education Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant pulled what many considered an upset in 2006 when she knocked off longtime incumbent Rich Duran to win the office that oversees teacher certifications, bus driver training, truancy issues and other matters for more than 30 school districts.

Four years later, the Democrat from Shorewood faces a challenge from Republican Ron Pemble. A former schoolteacher, Bertino-Tarrant touts her work to improve relations between local schools and the county's business community, offer teachers professional development online and create a pilot program to provide alternative educational opportunities for students who do not have disciplinary issues but struggle with traditional school. She also has solid ideas to create a community outreach program to combat truancy.

Pemble, a school administrator and former teacher, says he wants to reduce wasteful spending and bring “Christian values["] to the regional superintendent's office. Based on the accomplishments of her first term and proposals for a second, we endorse Bertino-Tarrant.