Overview:Brown, Biedermann vie for SJC superintendent of schools spot
Troy Brown and Brian Biedermann wanted to run campaigns based on substance with an absence of vitriol. And they feel voters have a very good idea of how they will conduct themselves in office if they are elected.
No matter who wins the race to become the new San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools, the candidates have already accomplish two of their primary goals.
Troy Brown and Brian Biedermann wanted to run campaigns based on substance with an absence of vitriol. And they feel voters have a very good idea of how they will conduct themselves in office if they are elected.
“I think it’s been a very good campaign, and there hasn’t been any nastiness,” said Biedermann. “I know Troy. We both are educators and care about students. We do have different approaches.”
Brown is the incumbent superintendent, although this is his first run for the office. He was the assistant superintendent and succeeded to the office in July of last year upon the retirement of James Mousalimas. Brown oversees 14 school districts in the county, and said he believes one of his strongest arguments for being elected is that he has proven he can do the job.
“I think you need experience at the district level, and at the county level,” Brown said. “I want people to know that I am the current superintendent of school, and that we are doing an amazing job of supporting districts and we are also doing an amazing job with programs. We are the only county office in the state that has a teacher’s college and has a conservation corps.”
Among the issues Brown plans to prioritize is strengthening career technical education and providing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs to educate students and train teachers. Before his time at the county educational office, he was the principal at West High School in Tracy.
Biedermann has served as interim superintendent and director of educational services for Stockton Unified School District. He is currently administration coach at the Sacramento County Office of Education, an instructor for administrative credentialing at the San Joaquin County Office of Education and a Lead Staff Developer for AVID Center. During his time as principal at Edison High School in Stockton, the STEM building and program was praised by President Barack Obama during his 2014 State of the Union Address.
He said his primary goals are caring for the area’s staff and students.
“I want this county to reach its potential, and I think we have the skill set to do it,” Biedermann said. “I was raised to prioritize education, and I’ve been in education for 23 years. Considering what students and educators have gone through in the past few years, I think it’s vitally important we deal with the social and mental issues of the students and teachers, and let them know we care.”
Biedermann also stresses the importance of career and technical education for the students and teacher retention.
