Nonpartisan
Who am I?
I am Tracy Layne Foss, and I am running for North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Instruction. I am the mother of three wonderful adult children, and soon to have a total of three wonderful in-laws, and I have been happily married for nearly 34 years, to my husband Justin Foss. I am also a teacher and a lifelong North Dakotan—two roles that deeply shape who I am and what I believe in.
Why am I running?
I am running because I believe public education is the backbone of our nation and our state—and it is worth fighting for. I know our education system has real challenges, but I also know these challenges are fixable. However, solutions won't come unless we listen to all stakeholders. There is no hierarchy. There is no stakeholder that is "first". All must be thought of in all decisions.
What is the solution?
I believe solutions begin with listening and understanding. We must take a deep, honest look at what is working in our schools and what is not. And that requires bringing all stakeholders to the table. We also need to carefully examine what is on everyone's plates—what needs to stay, what can be redistributed, and what needs to be removed. Just as importantly, we must strengthen or create the supports necessary to ensure that students, teachers, staff, administrators, and families all have what they need to succeed.
Why am I qualified?
I bring over 30 years of experience in education, spanning nearly every level. More than 21 of those years have been spent teaching—at the college, high school, junior high, and middle school levels—and I have also served as an elementary para. My experiences outside the classroom include serving as a school district business manager, working as a grant writer for a 15-school consortium, and serving as a state CTE supervisor in Information Technology and Technology & Engineering Education.
In conclusion
I truly believe God has guided my path through the many roles I've had in education. Each step has given me experiences and perspectives that I now feel called to bring forward in service to North Dakota. I am ready to lead, ready to listen, and ready to work toward real solutions for real growth that will result in a stronger education system for our beloved state. I assure you that I don't want the title, I want the job! Together, let's move ahead.