Jack O’Connell was elected to serve as California’s 26th State Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 5, 2002, garnering more votes than any other contested candidate in the country. Before that, he served for two decades in the California State Legislature representing the Central Coast.

At the helm of the California Department of Education, Superintendent O’Connell has focused on accountability, rigor, and high standards for all students. He has worked to reduce the bureaucratic burden placed by state government on school districts and created clearer, more appealing communications tools to benefit parents. He is a strong advocate for improving student achievement in California high schools. A proven team builder with the ability to forge consensus on thorny issues, especially where challenges are strongest, Superintendent O’Connell has worked to fortify California’s world-class academic standards, strengthen California’s assessment system, and bolster support for the state’s classrooms. He is a long-time advocate for smaller class sizes, improved teacher recruitment and retention, comprehensive testing, and up-to-date school facilities.

Jack O’Connell was born in 1951 in Glen Cove, New York. In 1958 his family moved to Southern California, where he attended local public schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from California State University (CSU), Fullerton and earned his secondary teaching credential from CSU, Long Beach in 1975. He returned to his high school alma mater to teach for several years and later served on the Santa Barbara County School Board.

He was elected to the 35th State Assembly District in 1982 and was reelected by wide margins thereafter, once garnering both the Republican and the Democratic nominations. In 1994 O’Connell was elected to the 18th State Senate District and easily won reelection in 1998.

Throughout his career Superintendent O’Connell has worked to improve public education in California. As the author of numerous landmark education bills in both the California Assembly and the State Senate, he made quality education his number one priority. This commitment to the children of California earned Superintendent O’Connell the praise and the respect of colleagues and educators.

Superintendent O’Connell and his wife, Doree, have been married for more than 25 years and have a daughter, Jennifer, attending community college. Doree O’Connell recently earned her teaching credential at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.