Tony Thurmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Thurmond
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| 28th California Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 |
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| Governor | Gavin Newsom |
| Preceded by | Tom Torlakson |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 15th district |
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| In office December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Nancy Skinner |
| Succeeded by | Buffy Wicks |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tony Krajewski Thurmond
August 21, 1968 Monterey, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Temple University (BA) Bryn Mawr College (MA, MSW) |
Tony Krajewski Thurmond (born August 21, 1968) is an American politician and educator. He is currently the leader of public schools in California. This important job is called the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He started this role in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022. Before this, he was a member of the California State Assembly, representing parts of the East Bay area. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Tony Thurmond is the second African American to hold the Superintendent position in California. He is also the fourth African American to win a statewide election in California. Other African American leaders who won statewide office include Wilson Riles, Mervyn Dymally, and Kamala Harris.
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Tony's Early Life
Tony Thurmond was born in Monterey, California. His mother, who was an immigrant from Panama, passed away when he was six years old. His father did not return after serving in the Vietnam War.
After his mother's death, Tony and his younger brother moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were raised by cousins they had never met before. His cousins followed a Black religious tradition called Hebrew Pentecostalism. This tradition includes Jewish practices like keeping a kosher home and celebrating the Sabbath and major Jewish holidays.
Growing up, his family did not have much money. They relied on public assistance, including free school lunches. Tony went to Temple University, where he was the student body president. Later, he earned two master's degrees from Bryn Mawr College. These degrees were in law and social policy, and social work.
Tony's First Jobs
Tony Thurmond worked for several non-profit groups that help people. In the mid-2000s, he was the leader of Beyond Emancipation. This group helped young people who were leaving the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Alameda County.
He also worked at the Golden Gate Regional Center. There, he managed programs for people with developmental disabilities. In 2012, he became a Senior Director at Lincoln Child Center. Much of his work has focused on helping foster youth. He also directed programs that taught job skills to young people in the East Bay area.
Tony's Political Journey
Before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2014, Tony Thurmond served in local government. He was a member of the West Contra Costa School Board from 2008 to 2012. He was also on the Richmond City Council from 2005 to 2008.
On the Richmond City Council, he helped connect the council with the West Contra Costa County Unified School District. He also worked with Richmond's Youth Commission. Tony Thurmond has run for several elected offices since 2004. He was elected to the State Assembly in 2014 and again in 2016. In 2017, he announced he would run for State Superintendent.
Laws Tony Helped Pass
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Tony Thurmond helped pass many important laws. One of his first laws, AB 1375, changed how people get credit for time spent in jail instead of paying court fines. This credit had not been updated since 1976. His law adjusted it for today's costs.
Another law, AB 1496, requires California to measure and reduce methane gas. This helps lower greenhouse gas emissions across the state. AB 1343 helps make sure immigrants have fair legal processes. AB 768 banned the use of smokeless tobacco in California's five professional baseball stadiums.
He also co-authored the Tobacco-Free Schools Act (AB 2X-9). This law bans tobacco use on all school property. It also requires schools to put up "tobacco use is prohibited" signs at entrances.
Tony Thurmond's law AB 435 helped provide more support for early childcare services. This was for low-income families in many California counties. Another law, AB 1014, moved $35 million from the prison system to local schools. This money was used for programs to reduce students missing school. His law AB 1502 made it easier for more students to get free or reduced-price school lunches. Before this, only about 63% of eligible students received these lunches.
As the leader of a budget committee, Tony Thurmond helped get money for important services. These included health clinics, HIV prevention, and mental health support. He focused on helping veterans, young people, and different racial and ethnic groups.
In 2017, Tony Thurmond introduced a resolution in the California State Assembly. This resolution asked Congress to criticize President Donald Trump for his comments after events in Charlottesville.
State Assembly Committees
From 2015 to 2016, Tony Thurmond was a member of several important committees:
- Labor and Employment Committee (Chair)
- Education Committee
- Health Committee
- Human Services Committee
He also served on special committees, including:
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (Chair)
- Status of Boys and Men of Color
- Technical Education and Building a 21st Century Workforce
Becoming State Superintendent
On April 3, 2017, Tony Thurmond announced he was running for State Superintendent. He chose not to run again for his State Assembly seat. Teachers' unions in California supported his campaign. He won the election in November 2018. He beat his opponent, Marshall Tuck, who supported charter schools.
In December 2021, there were questions about the hiring of Daniel Lee. He was hired as "superintendent of equity" for the California Department of Education (CDE). Reports said that Mr. Lee, who lived in Philadelphia, might not have met California's residency rules for state employees. The job was not publicly advertised at first. Mr. Lee resigned from the position on December 14, 2021.
Running for Governor
On September 26, 2023, Tony Thurmond announced his plan to run for governor of California in 2026.
Tony's Personal Life
Tony Thurmond learned about Judaism from his cousins who practiced Hebrew Pentecostalism. He still feels connected to Jewish practices and community. He describes himself as "a convert who’s never been through a formal conversion." His Jewish identity guides his public service. This includes his work on Holocaust education and fighting antisemitism in California schools.
Tony Thurmond lives in Richmond, California. He has two daughters.
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Tony Thurmond
