Tom luna idaho biography channel

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 (2012)
  • See full list on ballotpedia.org
  • Idaho State Department of Education - Superintendent Tom Luna

    • 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.

      Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2012): The centerpiece of education reforms spearheaded by Luna following his election as Superintendent is a package of legislation known as Students Come First. Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update. Petitions challenging the Students Come First legislation collected enough signatures to place the matter on the state's November 6, , general election ballot. Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction —

      The Idaho Statesman. March 30, Retrieved September 10,

    5. ^"Wiki Bio Wrong About Luna Degree | The Spokesman-Review". . Retrieved
    6. ^"US Shouldn't Buy What Luna's Selling | The Spokesman-Review". .

      Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas Luna born [ 1 ] is an American politician who served as Idaho superintendent of public instruction from to Education Week. That bill restricted collective bargaining rights for teachers to salaries and benefits only. For media inquiries, contact us here.

      Retrieved

    7. ^"State Journal - Education Week". Education Week. Retrieved
    8. ^"Company Overview". Quality Scales Unlimited.

      Tom luna idaho biography channel CNN iReport. Running for the superintendent of public instruction in Idaho in , Luna focused on promoting charter schools. Please donate here to support our continued expansion. References [ edit ].

      Retrieved

    9. ^"Two visions for Idaho public education". Retrieved
    10. ^ ab"Tom Luna's education reform plan was a long time in the making", Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman, February 20,
    11. ^"Idaho education firestorm sparks attempt at repeal"Archived at , Jessie L.

      Bonner, Associated Press, (reprinted by KBOI-TV), June 8,

    12. ^Richard, Alan (). "Federal Efforts Lacking, Rural Advocates Say - Education Week". Education Week. Retrieved
    13. ^"McGurn: Son of Scott Walker", William McGurn, Wall Street Journal, June 25,
    14. ^"Idaho - Election Results - The New York Times".

      . Retrieved

    15. ^ abStudents Come First informational website & Students Come First Idaho State Department of Education website
    16. ^"Luna's Students Come First laws head for ballot showdown", Kristin Rodine, Idaho Statesman, August 26,
    17. ^"Idaho Votes to Phase Out Teacher Tenure, Restrict Collective Bargaining", Fox News, March 09,
    18. ^Education_idaho ().

    19. Tom Luna charts his exit strategy - Idaho Education News
    20. Former superintendent Tom Luna wins GOP chairman spot, top ...
    21. Settings
    22. Clear
    23. Tom Luna - Partner - Strategos Group Public Affairs - LinkedIn

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

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

      KBOI. Retrieved

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

      Superintendent of Schools Top Qs. Under Luna, teachers who had tenure kept it and were to be grandfathered in. Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update. Quality Scales Unlimited.

      . Retrieved

    28. ^"Tom Luna announces he won't run for Congress". Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved
    29. ^Kruesi, Kimberlee (). "This just in: Tom Luna says he's NOT running for CD1 #idpol". kkruesi. Retrieved
    30. ^"Beyond ads and endorsements: Where the candidates stand on education".

      IdahoEdNews.

    31. ^"PLTW | PLTW". PLTW. Retrieved
    32. ^"Tom Luna to take job with nonprofit". Idaho Education News. Retrieved
    33. ^"Executive Committee". . Archived from the original on Retrieved
    34. ^Dawson, James (29 June ).

      "Raul Labrador Is Idaho's Next Republican Party Chairman". . Retrieved

    35. ^Jones, Blake. "Former superintendent Tom Luna wins GOP chairman spot, top Republicans preach unity on convention's last day". Post Register. Retrieved
    36. ^"Here is the latest Idaho news from The Associated Press at p.m.

      MDT". . Retrieved

    37. ^"Dorothy Moon Defeats Tom Luna to Become Idaho Republican Party Chair". Idaho Dispatch. Retrieved
    38. ^"Red Wave Radio". KIDO Talk Radio. Retrieved
    39. ^Idaho Republican Party on Facebook Watch, retrieved
    40. ^Corbin, Clark ().

      "Dorothy Moon reelected as chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party • Idaho Capital Sun". Idaho Capital Sun.

      Tom Luna recall, Idaho Schools Superintendent (2011) CNN iReport. Subscribe Donate. 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. Our district saw a 6.

      Retrieved

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