Biography

After serving almost two decades in the California State Legislature and building a strong reputation as a champion of public schools, Senator Jack O'Connell is a candidate to become California's next Superintendent of Public Instruction.

As a former teacher and County School Board Member, the father of a high school sophomore in public school, and the author of numerous landmark education bills in both the Assembly and the Senate, O'Connell has made improving California's education system his number one priority.

O'Connell's leadership in public education has resulted in unparalleled legislative accomplishments.  As the author of California's groundbreaking class size reduction program, O'Connell also worked to effectively increase teacher salaries and implemented an incentive program to recruit new teachers by providing grants for college tuition. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee's Subcommittee on Education, O'Connell has worked to prioritize education spending and increase funds for school construction. This year, he has worked to increase funding for special education and school-to-work programs.

O'Connell is also credited with successfully spearheading the effort to reduce the vote threshold for local school bonds through Proposition 39. As a result, local school bonds can now be approved by 55% of the voters at regularly scheduled elections.

His work in public education has earned him recognition from many education groups. He has been named Legislator of the Year by the Alumni Association of the University of California, the California League of Middle Schools, the California League of High Schools, the California Teachers Association, and the Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges, to name a few. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Faculty Association and the Albert S. Rodda Lifetime Legislative Achievement Award by the California School Boards Association. He also received the Champion for Children Award from the Child Development Policy Institute.

Senator O'Connell received his BA from CSU-Fullerton, and earned his Secondary Teaching Credential from CSU-Long Beach. He then taught high school for several years in the community where he grew up.

He was elected to the 35th State Assembly District in 1982 and was reelected by wide margins thereafter, once garnering both the Republican and Democratic nominations. In 1994, O'Connell was elected to the 18th State Senate District, and easily won reelection in 1998.

Senator O'Connell and his wife Doree have been married for 25 years and have a 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer. Doree O'Connell recently earned her teaching credential.