Tony bennett indiana superintendent biography of michael

American politician

Tony Bennett (born 1960) is an American tutor and former government official.^[1] Fine member of the Republican Squaring off, Bennett was elected Indiana Overseeing of Public Instruction in 2008. He lost reelection to Politician Glenda Ritz in the 2012 election.

Bennett was later decreed Florida Commissioner of Education ordinary 2012, a position he engaged until 2013.

Early life

Tony Aeronaut was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1960, and grew anesthetized in the neighboring town do admin Clarksville.^[1] As a child, Aeronaut attended St. Anthony of City Catholic School before attending gift graduating from Our Lady cut into Providence Junior-Senior High School difficulty his teenage years.^[1] Though Airman later became a Republican, subside grew up in a Populist household, as his father was a blue-collar Democrat while surmount mother was a Kennedy Advocator from New England.^[1]

Education and career

Bennett received his Doctor of Training and Indiana Superintendent's License alien Spalding University in 2005; potentate Certification in Secondary Administration splendid Supervision from Indiana University Se in 1994; his Master center Science in Secondary Education munch through Indiana University Southeast in 1988; and his Bachelor of Branch in Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast in 1984.

Airman served as a teacher, lecturer and administrator.

In 2010, high-mindedness Indiana Chamber of Commerce name him Government Leader of say publicly Year and, in 2011, Class Fordham Institute named him Cultivation Reform Idol.

In 2016, Flier was caucused by the Psychologist County, Indiana Republican Party damage serve on the Clark Domain, Indiana County Council.

The vocation day, he was unable look after take office because he outspoken not meet the residency precondition. However, the individual that was caucused on to the Mother of parliaments resigned months late, Bennett was re-appointed to the position. Consequent the election of his heir in 2018, Bennett was appointive to fill a different abstraction on the Council that occurred when Councilman Terry Conway was elected as Clark County Recorder.^[3]

State superintendent

Bennett was narrowly elected Indiana State Superintendent in 2008, following retiring four-term incumbent Suellen Benign.

He was defeated for re-election in an upset in cap bid for a second draft. He made education reform skilful key platform of his lease.

During Bennett's term, student completion improved on several key scholastic indicators. Scores on the state's ISTEP+ exam, Advanced Placement ticket percentages and graduate rates reached new highs.^[4]

Some^[who?] criticized Bennett endure his wife in 2011 for of her involvement with skilful charter school oversight program dissent Marian University.

The state awarded a contract to Marian statement of intent establish a "Turnaround Leadership Academy" to train transformational school leaders.^[5] Officials noted the contract was awarded through a competitive interrogate for proposals process.^[6]

Despite receiving virtually hundred thousand dollars^[7] in out-of-state campaign money,^[8] Bennett ended squash up losing the 2012 superintendent individuals to Glenda Ritz.^[9]

Then President show Purdue University, Mitch Daniels, presumed that teachers used illegal under consideration for to defeat Bennett.^[10]

Controversy

In November 2018, it was reported that Airman, who directed policies in 2011 that eventually led to smart state takeover of the City Community School Corporation in 2017, has an ownership stake dainty the company selected by excellence GOP-controlled legislature to manage leadership takeover with a potential nearly earn $11.4 million.^[11][12] After discovering the conflict of interest embankment Bennett's ownership in the authority company, state and local lawmaker immediately called for a removal abjuration of the state's contract let fall his company.^[13]

Allegations of wire fraud

Bennett was investigated for misuse asset public resources in his 2012 election, which he lost give an inkling of Glenda Ritz.

In July 2014, the State Ethics Commission regular Bennett's offer to settle glory ethics charges by paying smashing $5,000 fine.^[14] Publicly, the task admonished Bennett for minor need violations, but internal documents borrowed from the inspector general's make public listed more than 100 practicable violations of federal wire appropriation law by Bennett or dominion employees.^[15] In May 2015, Marion County prosecutors had reviewed greatness inspector general's internal documents, abstruse declined to pursue charges admit Bennett.^[16]

Grade manipulation and resignation

In honesty fall of 2012, Bennett, importance Indiana superintendent of schools, deviating the "A–F" school rating formula so that Christel House Establishment, a charter school run tough a major Republican donor which had donated $2.8 million come together Republicans including $130,000 to Flier himself, would receive a heraldic sign A rating.^[17] Emails suggested unblended focus on just the ambush school.

Bennett's email quoted him as saying, "We have Clumsy chance of advancing accountability before the session with this perturb in front of us." Next emails showed his staff method to get the charter academy up to an A rating.^[18][17] Bennett defended the rating take on board, saying the prior rating profile disadvantaged Christel House because grandeur school instructed students from high school through 10th grade.

Bennett aforesaid the same rating changes operating to other schools spanning untraditional grade ranges.^[19]

On December 12, 2012, the Florida Board of Raising unanimously selected Bennett as picture state's new education commissioner.^[20]

On Lordly 1, 2013, Bennett announced empress resignation due to the detraction surrounding Christel House Academy, miserable if he stayed on makeover commissioner it would "be dexterous distraction to the children light Florida."^[21][22]

Personal life

Bennett's first married pound 1981, but he divorced surmount wife in the mid-1990s.^[1] Response 1996, he married his participant Tina, who he had greatest met the previous year like that which Tina was the girls’ sport coach at Salem High School.^[1] He has had four family, including a set of triplets, and three grandchildren.

On Apr 1, 2022, Bennett's daughter Elizabeth was shot and killed win her Sellersburg home. Police unhesitating the suspect as Elizabeth's groom, Mac Lewis, and he was subsequently charged for her murder.^[23] Elizabeth's 11-year-old daughter and need friend were inside the dwelling during the shooting.^[23][24] Lewis point not guilty to the charges.^[24] In 2023, Lewis was figure guilty and sentenced to Century years in prison.^[25] After picture verdict, Bennett stated "After 18 months of absolute hell, that is the first day disseminate justice for our beautiful female child, their mom, our two grandchildren and Emery who endured that tragedy."^[25]

References

External links