Tom Kelly (Republican)

412 Airport Rd
Sheridan, Wyoming 82801-5907
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I'm a lifelong educator who brought my family to Wyoming seven years ago to get away from the failing policies of blue states. I live in Sheridan with my wife, six children, and two grandchildren. With a career where I can work remotely, we were able to choose a home anywhere in the continental United States. Wyoming matched our vision of live and let live liberty coupled with strong communities and helpful neighbors. I'd like to keep it that way.

I spent ten years working in public schools, both as a para and a teacher specializing in social studies and special education. I've taught at various universities, Currently I am the Chairman for the Department of Political Science at American Military University, an HLC accredited institution serving primarily military service members. As a WY House rep, I serve on the Education, Judiciary, and Recalibration committees.

MA in education
PhD in political science

2022-present: Precinct committeeman in Sheridan County
2021-preent: Volunteer martial arts instructor
2020-2022: City of Sheridan Planning Commission
2019: Child Protection Citizen Review Panel, Weld County, CO
2018: Urban Renewal Authority, Greeley, CO

Wyoming needs a Superintendent with a wide range of educational, administrative, and leadership experience who also understands government. I’ve worked in public and private schools with students ranging from middle schoolers with severe learning/behavioral/emotional disabilities to graduate level students who teach at community colleges. Moreover, while recognizing the excellent foundation of public education in Wyoming, proficiency among students in the fundamentals has stagnated for years. The educational system needs a coach who capitalizes on what we get right while looking to improve our outcomes continuously. We don't need a cheerleader who complacently touts our successes without recognizing where we have room for improvement.

As the father of a son with Down syndrome, I'm grateful for the extensive services and resources that Wyoming is providing for him. With my grandchildren about to enter public school, I'm motivated to support an experience that produces graduates prepared for whatever life throws at them. This run is for them, not me.

1) Work with local districts and teachers to identify rules, reports, and mandates that make their job more difficult with little to no added value to the students so such policies can be repealed at the state level.

2) Work with the legislature and State Board of Education to continue prioritizing and reducing the quantity of mandated state standards down to the fundamentals of education to allow greater flexibility of local districts to develop and deliver curriculum and reduce testing requirements.

3) Promote greater academic freedom for educational professionals to identify and address challenges and innovate solutions for them rather than continue top-down state direction.

All three of these priorities are with the vision of having educators not only lead education, but to help recruit and retain excellent teachers, reduce burnout, and increase morale.