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The contest for Wyoming’s next top education official has taken shape with three Republican candidates now competing to lead the state’s schools at a moment of major policy change. With a new funding formula, a high-profile school-choice lawsuit and revamped literacy rules on the table, the outcome will affect budgets, classroom practices and local control across the state.
Why this race matters now
The office of the superintendent oversees the Wyoming Department of Education and will implement — or push back on — several immediate shifts: the Legislature approved a new recalibration bill reshaping district funding; the state’s universal school choice program is tied up in court; and statewide literacy standards and instruction have been reworked. The winner will set priorities for how those changes are carried out in Wyoming’s 48 school districts.
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Who’s running
Tom Kelly — educator turned legislator
Rep. Tom Kelly of Sheridan entered the contest early. He came up through public education as a paraprofessional, then taught social studies and special education before moving into higher education, where he now leads a political science department. Kelly holds a master’s in education and a doctorate in political science.
In the Legislature he has served on key education committees and describes himself as a “free-market, libertarian-leaning” Republican. Kelly emphasizes reducing state mandates in favor of local decision-making, backing teacher pay increases, supporting school choice and urging limits on classroom screen time.
Chad Auer — policy and administration experience
Chad Auer left his role as senior policy advisor to Gov. Mark Gordon to launch a bid for superintendent. He began as a high school teacher and coach, later serving as a principal and working in the Colorado Department of Education. Auer also served as a Colorado mayor and earned a J.D. from the University of Wyoming in 2021.
At the Wyoming Department of Education he was chief of staff, and his platform centers on improving literacy and math outcomes while securing targeted funding for school resource officers, mental health services and facility upgrades. Auer frames technology as both a challenge and an opportunity, urging deliberate adoption of innovations that strengthen — rather than disrupt — Wyoming’s system.
Steve Harshman — veteran coach and lawmaker
Steve Harshman is one of the state’s longest-serving legislators and a longtime classroom teacher and coach in Natrona County. He taught for decades and has been active on budget and education committees, including a lengthy tenure on Appropriations and time as House Speaker.
Harshman has a track record of advocating for education funding and scholarship programs and was an early critic of the universal voucher initiative now under legal scrutiny. He positions himself as a defender of Wyoming’s public schools, seeking to streamline standards, protect local control and manage education dollars responsibly.
Immediate challenges the next superintendent will inherit
- Funding implementation — Translating the recalibration bill into district budgets and ensuring equitable distribution.
- Legal uncertainty — Responding to court rulings and administrative consequences from the universal school choice litigation.
- Literacy and curriculum — Overseeing new literacy standards and guidance for classroom instruction across diverse districts.
- Mental health and safety — Allocating resources for counseling services and school resource officers amid rising demand.
- Technology integration — Balancing innovation with instructional quality and classroom management concerns.
Those issues have practical consequences for principals, teachers and families: district budgets will shift, curriculum choices will be contested, and local boards may find themselves negotiating between state directives and community expectations.
Timeline and what to watch
The Republican primary is set for Aug. 18, and prospective candidates have until May 29 to file. Expect the campaign to center on how each contender would implement the funding changes, respond to the ongoing litigation about school choice and support literacy and workforce-readiness goals.
Voters should look for detailed plans on budget transition timelines, district-level autonomy, and proposals for recruiting and retaining teachers — areas where the superintendent can have immediate influence. Endorsements from school boards, teacher groups and county officials may also signal how local leaders want the office to prioritize responsibilities.
As the filing deadline approaches, the contest will sharpen from broad themes into concrete proposals; the candidate who most persuasively ties policy to classroom outcomes is likely to gain traction with voters concerned about stability and results during a period of rapid change.
