Grover seeks state schools post, cites practical experience

COEUR d'ALENE - Andy Grover cites practical experience as the greatest difference between he and the other candidates vying to become Idaho's next top education official.

"I've been doing the job," said Grover, during an editorial board meeting Friday at The Press.

Grover, the superintendent of the Melba School District, is one of four Republicans running for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, a job now held by Tom Luna.

Luna announced in January that he would not seek re-election. The other GOP candidates running in the May 20 primary are Randy Jensen, a middle school principal from American Falls; John Eynon, a classroom teacher in the Cottonwood School District; and Sherri Ybarra, a curriculum director in the Mountain Home School District.

Grover, a fifth-generation Idahoan, served in the U.S. Marine Corps. During the first Gulf War, he was stationed in Southern California. After the war, he attended Boise State University and earned a bachelor's degree in political science.

He then became a classroom teacher in the Bonneville School District and went on to earn a master's degree in education administration from the University of Phoenix and an education specialist degree from the University of Idaho.

In 2007, Grover was hired as principal of Melba High School and within three years, he was promoted to superintendent.

He's a staunch supporter of the Idaho Core Standards. He said the higher standards will make Gem state students more competitive.

"Kids have to start thinking. They have to problem solve ... It's not a regurgitation," Grover said.

The greatest difference he sees between himself and Tom Luna is his experience as an educator.

"I think the one thing Tom's never had behind him was the educators," Grover said.

Regarding the teachers union, whose members were frequently at odds with Luna, Grover said he thinks teachers need to have a voice, and they deserve respect as professionals.

Like Luna, he is a proponent for expanding the use of technology in teaching. Grover said all sixth- to- eighth-grade students in his district each have a device to use for online learning. There are interactive smart boards in every classroom in the 800-student school district, he said.

Grover said he believes many of the state's education funding issues can be solved through the implementation of the recommendations of the state's Task Force for Improving Education.