From www.ntouchaz.com

State schools chief candidate Jason Williams files signatures, qualifies for ballot with grassroots support

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May 25, 2010 - 7:10:36 AM

Phoenix – Jason Williams, one of the leading candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction, qualified to be on the ballot May 20 after submitting to the Secretary of State nearly 7,200 nomination petition signatures collected by his grassroots network of supporters across the state. So far, Williams is the only Democrat to have submitted enough signatures to qualify.

“With your help, and the support of our statewide grassroots network, we collected more than enough signatures to qualify without having to pay a single dime to any outside consultants or firms,” said Williams in a statement he sent to reporters today. “Your efforts – the work of teachers, students, retirees, activists and advocates for education – made it possible for us to reach our signature goal, and it is that same grassroots movement that will carry us to victory.”

Williams secured the Democratic Party nomination in 2006 for Superintendent of Public Instruction with a majority of votes in 14 of 15 counties. In the general election against the Republican incumbent, Williams received more votes than any other non-incumbent Democrat in the closest of all the statewide races.

Since then, Williams has continued his work to ensure every child in Arizona has access to a quality public education. He currently serves as a Managing Partner for BlueDynamic and was the founder of AZ School Works. In addition to working with the Roosevelt School District, Williams is a faculty member for Arizona State University’s Beat the Odds Institute Parent Liaison Academy, meets weekly to mentor an eighth grade student through Arizona Quest for Kids, and serves on several education-related Boards of Directors and Advisory Committees, including College Depot, Communities In Schools, Genesis City, and Phoenix Collegiate Academy.

From 2000-2005, Williams serves as Executive Director of Teach For America in Phoenix. During his tenure, local funding for the program doubled, teacher placements increased 150%, and the number of schools and districts partnering with Teach For America increased 100%. In addition, under his leadership, student achievement levels for the Phoenix program increased significantly, turning the region from Teach For America’s lowest to its highest performing in the U.S. in just three years.