Oregon’s Superintendent of Public Instruction is the Governor. Section 1, Article VIII of the Oregon Constitution gives the Governor the title, and ORS 326.300 requires the Governor to appoint a Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction who runs the K–12 system day-to-day.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.300 – Governor as Superintendent of Public Instruction; Appointment of Deputy So the person voters elect as governor is legally responsible for the state’s public schools, and the person they rarely hear about, the Deputy Superintendent, is the one actually directing the Oregon Department of Education.
Why the Governor Holds the Title
Most states elect a separate superintendent of public instruction or let an independent board appoint one. Oregon put the office inside the executive branch instead. ORS 326.300 designates the Governor as the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which places the state’s highest-ranking education office with the Governor rather than alongside the Governor.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.300 – Governor as Superintendent of Public Instruction; Appointment of Deputy
The practical effect is a direct line of accountability. If schools underperform or a policy fails, voters have one official to hold responsible at the next election. It also means education policy is expected to move in step with the Governor’s broader executive agenda rather than compete with it.
From Elected Office to Appointed Role
For more than a century, Oregon’s Superintendent of Public Instruction was independently elected. The last election for the position was held on May 18, 2010, when incumbent Susan Castillo defeated challenger Ron Maurer.
The structure changed the following year. In 2011, under Governor John Kitzhaber, the legislature passed Senate Bill 552, which designated the Governor as Superintendent and required the Governor to appoint a Deputy with specific qualifications.2Oregon State Legislature. SB552 2011 Regular Session The bill was declared an emergency measure and took effect on passage, though Castillo was allowed to finish her term. The Governor began making appointments after she left office in the summer of 2012.
What the Deputy Superintendent Does
The Governor cannot personally manage the school system, so ORS 326.300 requires the appointment of a Deputy Superintendent to carry out the role. The Deputy performs the duties the Governor designates, and the Governor remains legally responsible for the Deputy’s actions.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.300 – Governor as Superintendent of Public Instruction; Appointment of Deputy
Under ORS 326.310, the duties of the office include:
- Serving as the administrative officer of the State Board of Education and carrying out its policies and decisions.
- Acting as the executive head of the Oregon Department of Education, directing and supervising all department activities.
- Advising local school district and education service district boards on questions about school law, board rules, and the duties of school officers and teachers.
- Collecting and compiling statistics on the condition and operation of public schools for the State Board and the public.
- Appointing department staff, subject to the State Personnel Relations Law and State Board approval.
- Administering and supervising adult education programs in public elementary and secondary schools.
All of this work is carried out under the direction of the State Board of Education.3Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.310 – Superintendent’s Educational Duties
Qualifications, Appointment, and Removal
The qualifications for Deputy Superintendent are written directly into the statute. A candidate must have at least five years of experience administering an elementary school or a secondary school. The law sets a concrete floor rather than a general experience standard.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.300 – Governor as Superintendent of Public Instruction; Appointment of Deputy
The Governor makes the appointment, and the Oregon Senate must confirm the choice under the procedures in ORS 171.562 and 171.565. That gives legislators a check on the Governor’s pick before the Deputy officially takes office. Once confirmed, the Deputy serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Removal does not require Senate approval, but the Governor must consult with the State Board of Education before letting the Deputy go.1Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes 326.300 – Governor as Superintendent of Public Instruction; Appointment of Deputy
The Governor sets the Deputy’s salary; it is not fixed by statute. The Deputy also receives reimbursement for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in performing official duties.
What the Office Does Not Control
The Superintendent’s authority has real limits inside Oregon’s education system, and two in particular matter for anyone trying to understand who runs what.
The first is the State Board of Education. The Board holds broad authority to set standards, adopt rules, prescribe minimum courses of study, govern interscholastic activities, accept federal education funds for the state, and administer school nutrition programs.4Oregon Department of Education. State Board of Education It has nine members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate: six representing the state’s five congressional districts and three serving at large. Members serve four-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms, and elect their own chair each year. The Superintendent works alongside the Board rather than above it.
The second is educator licensing. Teaching credentials in Oregon are handled by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, an independent 17-member body that sets licensure rules, maintains professional standards, and approves teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities.5State of Oregon. Teacher Standards and Practices Commission The Deputy Superintendent runs the Department of Education but has no direct say over who gets or keeps an Oregon teaching license.