Tony Thurmond

Tony Thurmond is State Superintendent of Public Instruction, responsible for the largest public school system in the nation, with nearly 6 million students and over 10,000 schools. Since taking office in 2019, he has created and championed historic initiatives to close the achievement gap, support student mental health, and improve equity, access, and opportunity for all of California’s public school students. He has integrated new programs and strategies into K-12 public schools, including securing a historic $4.13 billion investment in community schools to ensure an equity-driven approach to public education; supporting teachers through a $1.5 billion investment in professional learning for educators; championing the $2.7 billion Universal Transitional Kindergarten program to expand quality preschool; and fighting to increase Expanded Learning funding to $4 billion ongoing to add opportunities for students throughout the summer. He is a graduate of Temple University, and he holds dual master’s degrees in law and social policy and social work from Bryn Mawr College.