State Supt. of Education Jack O'Connell Endorses Kevin Johnson for Mayor

SACRAMENTO – The state’s top educator, Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, today endorsed Kevin Johnson in his race for mayor of Sacramento.

O’Connell, a Democrat, praised Johnson for his education advocacy and improving student achievement in Sacramento schools.

“Kevin Johnson recognizes that education must be a top priority to ensure that our children have the skills needed for a lifetime of success,” said O’Connell.

“Kevin Johnson is a strong leader with the commitment and dedication necessary to improve our schools and community.”

“This endorsement is as good as it gets,” said Johnson. “Jack O’Connell is leading this state in addressing the achievement gap and engaging our the entire education community in ways to improve our schools, particularly in our cities. I am honored to win his endorsement.”

“Education is my passion, and it’s the key ingredient in changing Sacramento so it can be the world class city we know it can be,” Johnson continued.

Jack O’Connell was elected to a second four-year term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 6, 2006.  As chief of California’s public school system and leader of the California Department of Education, Superintendent O'Connell has focused on closing the achievement gap and preparing students for a rapidly changing global economy by holding high standards for all students. He is a strong supporter and facilitator of partnerships between schools, businesses, communities, and philanthropies in order to engage students with challenging, real-world education experiences.

After 12 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Johnson returned to his hometown of Sacramento to serve as the CEO of St. HOPE, a non-profit community development corporation he founded in 1989 designed to revitalize inner-city communities through public education, economic development, civic leadership and arts enrichment.  Through Johnson’s efforts, St. HOPE currently operates St. HOPE Public Schools, a system serving more than 1,500 students in grades P – 12.  With its successful turnaround of the failing comprehensive Sacramento High School into a high-performing charter school focused on sending all students to 4 year colleges, St. HOPE is recognized as one of the national leaders in the “transformation high school” movement. 

O’Connell will make the announcement at a Town Hall meeting hosted by Johnson at the Guild Theater in Oak Park tonight at 7 p.m.