Tom luna idaho biography of christopher

Tom Luna

American politician

Thomas Luna (born )[1] is an American politician who served as Idaho superintendent of public instruction from to Luna was the chair of Idaho Republican Party from June to July [2]

Early life and education

Luna was born in Santa Ana, California.

He moved to Idaho to attend Ricks College (now Brigham Young University, Idaho) in and later attended Boise State University, but did not graduate from either.[3]

Luna was initially prevented from serving as Idaho superintendent of public instruction because he lacked a college degree. To satisfy the requirement, Luna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Thomas Edison State College, a majority-online university based in Trenton, New Jersey.[4][5][6][7]

Career

Business

Luna is the former owner of Scales Unlimited, an industrial truck scale service company which he started in [1] and sold in [8] He was later appointed to be President of The International Society of Weights and Measurement (ISWM) and as a voting member of National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP).[9]

Education

Luna served on the Nampa School Board for seven years, three of those as chairman.

As a member of the Nampa School Board, Luna supported school vouchers and tax credits for private schools as a means to increase competition in education.[10]

From to Luna worked for the United States Department of Education as an adviser to then-Secretary of Education, Rod Paige.[3][11] He served as executive director for the White House Initiative of Tribal Colleges and Universities and as the director of the US Rural Education Task Force.[12]

Running for the superintendent of public instruction in Idaho in , Luna focused on promoting charter schools.[10] Columnist William McGurn stated that he found Luna's business experience and lack of education degree, "refreshing".[13]

In , Luna was elected as Idaho superintendent of public instruction.[3] He was re-elected to a second term in [14] He was also appointed commissioner of Idaho Achievement Standards Committee and chairman of the Idaho Assessment and Accountability Committee.

Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2011) If you know, send me an email. Marilyn Howard. Wikidata item. Of course within districts, merit pay tends toward crony-ism.

The centerpiece of education reforms spearheaded by Luna following his election as superintendent is a package of legislation known as Students Come First.[15] Among the reforms in the Students Come First package, passed by the Idaho Legislature in , are new limits to the collective bargaining rights of Idaho teachers, an increased annual minimum pay for new teachers by $, a performance-based merit pay system for teachers, an increased classroom size in grades 4 through 12, a performance-based merit pay system for teachers, the phasing out of tenure and implementation of rolling contracts for teachers and administrators, mandatory online course credit as a high school graduation requirement, and providing laptop computers for all high school teachers and students.

[15][16][17]

While serving as Idaho superintendent, Luna was Named president-elect of Chief State School Officers () and was appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) to help set policy for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).[18][19]

Later career

Luna expressed interest in running for Idaho's 1st congressional district in [20] On June 7, , he announced that he would not seek the office or any other for Idaho elections, [21] Part of his statement read, "At this time, I want to continue to focus on my passion for education versus serving in Congress."[22][23][24] Luna also publicly supported Tommy Ahlquist and donated $2, to his campaign.[25]

Luna is the Senior Vice President and Chief Government Relations Officer of Project Lead The Way.[26][27]

Idaho Republican Party

Luna served the Idaho Republican Party as the financial chair of the executive committee.[28]

Luna ran for chairman of the Idaho Republican Party in the summer of to fill the vacancy left by the February resignation of Jonathan Parker.

Luna lost to Raul Labrador by a margin of just two votes, –[29]

In , Luna was again a candidate for chairman of the Idaho Republican Party after Raul Labrador announced that he would not seek re-election and would instead return to his law career. Luna defeated Mark Fuller, the chair of the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee in a – vote in June [30][31] Luna was defeated for reelection in July by State Representative Dorothy Moon, who most recently was the runner up in the May Primary for Secretary of State.[32]

Luna (while Chair), along with Ada County Republicans Chair Victor Miller, hosted a weekly radio show called Red Wave Radio since January [33][34]

Luna ran for (and lost) Idaho Republican Party National Committeeman at the Summer Convention against incumbent Bryan Smith only getting votes compared to Bryan Smith's votes.[35]

Personal life

Luna and his wife Cindy have six children and thirteen grandchildren.[3] Luna is a Latter-day Saint.[36]

References

  1. ^ abSuperintendent of Public Instruction, debate page, Idaho Public Television
  2. ^"Dorothy Moon Defeats Tom Luna to Become Idaho Republican Party Chair".

    Idaho Dispatch. Retrieved

  3. ^ abcdIdaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, Idaho State Department of Education
  4. ^"Take 2: Former Nampa School District Trustee Earns Degree, Right to Seek Office".

    0FFBD. Boise, Idaho. The Idaho Statesman. March 30, Retrieved September 10,

  5. ^"Wiki Bio Wrong About Luna Degree | The Spokesman-Review".

  6. Carousel
  7. Tom Luna (Idaho) - Ballotpedia
  8. Details
  9. Education in Two Worlds: The Setting of the Moon: Tom Luna's ...

    10. . Retrieved

  10. ^"US Shouldn't Buy What Luna's Selling | The Spokesman-Review". . Retrieved
  11. ^"State Journal - Education Week". Education Week. Retrieved
  12. ^"Company Overview". Quality Scales Unlimited. Retrieved
  13. ^"Two visions for Idaho public education".

    Retrieved

  14. ^ ab"Tom Luna's education reform plan was a long time in the making", Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman, February 20,
  15. ^"Idaho education firestorm sparks attempt at repeal"Archived at , Jessie L. Bonner, Associated Press, (reprinted by KBOI-TV), June 8,
  16. ^Richard, Alan ().

    "Federal Efforts Lacking, Rural Advocates Say - Education Week". Education Week.

    Tom luna idaho biography of christopher For example, rural district officials were more likely than nonrural district officials to report challenges presented by a large enrollment of economically disadvantaged students who may live in communities lacking resources such as libraries. Idaho Education News. Until recently, the newspapers did not even mention this was Tom Luna's doing. Idaho Capital Sun.

    Retrieved

  17. ^"McGurn: Son of Scott Walker", William McGurn, Wall Street Journal, June 25,
  18. ^"Idaho - Election Results - The New York Times". . Retrieved
  19. ^ abStudents Come First informational website & Students Come First Idaho State Department of Education website
  20. ^"Luna's Students Come First laws head for ballot showdown", Kristin Rodine, Idaho Statesman, August 26,
  21. ^"Idaho Votes to Phase Out Teacher Tenure, Restrict Collective Bargaining", Fox News, March 09,
  22. ^Education_idaho ().

    "Idaho Education News: Superintendent Luna Named President-Elect of Chief State School Officers". Idaho Education News. Retrieved

  23. ^"Tom Luna Appointed as NAGB Member / NAGB". . Retrieved
  24. ^Staff, KBOI News. "Former Superintendent of Public Instruction announces interest in congressional seat".

  25. Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2012)
  26. See full list on ballotpedia.org
  27. Idaho State Department of Education - Superintendent Tom Luna

    28. KBOI. Retrieved

  28. ^Kruesi, Kimberlee (). "FYI: Just got confirmation that Luna has no plans to run for any other political office in #idpol #idleg …". kkruesi. Retrieved
  29. ^"Luna won't run for Congress after all". . Retrieved
  30. ^"Tom Luna announces he won't run for Congress".

    Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved

  31. ^Kruesi, Kimberlee (). "This just in: Tom Luna says he's NOT running for CD1 #idpol". kkruesi.

    Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction The purpose of a task force is to accomplish a task! At one point it paraphrases a statement by the Rural Task Force director, presumably Tom Luna: Since April , Education has focused more efforts on rural education issues. Rural districts also identified small school size and geographic isolation as greatly affecting their ability to implement NCLBA. It is as if he never existed.

    Retrieved

  32. ^"Beyond ads and endorsements: Where the candidates stand on education". IdahoEdNews.
  33. ^"PLTW | PLTW". PLTW. Retrieved
  34. ^"Tom Luna to take job with nonprofit". Idaho Education News. Retrieved
  35. ^"Executive Committee".

    . Archived from the original on Retrieved

  36. ^Dawson, James (29 June ). "Raul Labrador Is Idaho's Next Republican Party Chairman". . Retrieved
  37. ^Jones, Blake. "Former superintendent Tom Luna wins GOP chairman spot, top Republicans preach unity on convention's last day". Post Register.

    Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2012): The state legislators, who jumped on his ship of error, do not mention him. Later career [ edit ]. Luna was initially prevented from serving as Idaho superintendent of public instruction because he lacked a college degree. Nampa police: Tom Luna threatened, vehicle vandalized.

    Retrieved

  38. ^"Here is the latest Idaho news from The Associated Press at p.m. MDT". . Retrieved
  39. ^"Dorothy Moon Defeats Tom Luna to Become Idaho Republican Party Chair". Idaho Dispatch. Retrieved
  40. ^"Red Wave Radio".

    KIDO Talk Radio. Retrieved

  41. ^Idaho Republican Party on Facebook Watch, retrieved
  42. ^Corbin, Clark (). "Dorothy Moon reelected as chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party • Idaho Capital Sun". Idaho Capital Sun.

    Superintendent of Schools Instead, Mr. Tools Tools. Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction — Tom completed his college education at Thomas Edison State College.

    Retrieved

  43. ^"Transgender Woman Wins Idaho Primary". CNN iReport. Retrieved