Debbie Critchfield's first 100 days in office
An EdNews daily blog
100 days in office: Critchfield opens up about the legislative session — and what comes next
“I’m so happy to get to go to work every day,” said Idaho’s new schools chief. “I’m still so encouraged about education in Idaho — I’m just really excited about it.”
Day 98: Pocatello
She carved out time to interview with one of our own — EdNews reporter Carly Flandro.
Day 96: To Idaho Falls
Tomorrow marks day one of the superintendent’s post-legislative roadshow.
Day 93: A day off
She’ll be back at it on Monday.
Day 91: Rexburg-bound
She’ll celebrate three family members at their college graduation this week.
Day 90: A thank you
Critchfield spent time Tuesday sharing information about an upcoming conference on youth mental health and suicide prevention.
Day 89: Monday meetings
The superintendent met with staff from the Attorney General’s office Monday.
Day 85: Podcasting
She discussed her financial literacy legislation with representatives from the Idaho Department of Finance.
Day 84: Outreach activities
The state superintendent talked with an educator about literacy instruction.
Day 83: Panel preparation
And she met with the delegation from the Taiwan-Idaho Education Cooperation.
Day 82: Looking past the legislative session
With the Legislature nearing sine die, Critchfield is planning what comes next.
Day 79: A Friday at home
And watching her $50 million CTE bill pass through the Senate.
Day 78: Celebrating another new law
The financial literacy bill, which Critchfield has long touted, was signed into law.
Day 75: A national conference
While in Washington, D.C., the superintendent met up with a group of high school students from Oakley.
Day 72: Capital for a Day
State superintendent Debbie Critchfield headed to Gooding Friday, for Gov. Brad Little’s Capital for a Day event. She later drove back to Boise to prepare for the Council of Chief State School Officers conference in Washington D.C. She and her executive officers will depart for the conference early Saturday morning.
Day 71: A sick day — but still working
The day of rest comes before statewide and national travel.
Day 70: Career advising
And her career technical education plan passed another legislative checkpoint.
Day 69: She scored some wins
Critchfield lauded plans for increased teacher and classified staff pay.
Day 68: Talking behavioral health
Student mental health is a top concern across the state.
Day 66: Student fundraisers
State superintendent Debbie Critchfield spent her Saturday in Malta at a three-on-three basketball tournament — a fundraiser for Raft River High School’s class of 2025. Critchfield’s family members played in the tournament. Saturday night, she’ll go to a dinner and auction at Oakley High School, a fundraiser for the Oakley High Rodeo Team.
Day 65: A roaring morning
She concluded her week with a drive to Oakley.
Day 64: Monitoring legislation
She’ll begin hosting monthly one-on-one meetings with her executive staff.
Day 62: Legislative prep, while sick
Critchfield spent a second day at home sick.
Day 61: Sick day
She spent her 61st day at home.
Day 57: Another day at the Statehouse
Critchfield’s parental rights legislation passed unanimously out of committee.
Day 56: Idaho Loggers and Haulers
Plus, more legislative meetings.
Day 54: Parental rights
The superintendent closed out a busy Monday with a meeting with her transportation team.
Day 51: Working from home
She met with private school students, and career technical education stakeholders.
Day 50: Halfway there
Supporting the financial literacy bill and meeting with legislators.
Day 48: Three meetings before lunch
And the day was far from over.
Day 47: Connecting with youth
She attended a 4-H conference, and met with a senior from Garden Valley High School.
Day 44: Three new directors
And the superintendent headed to the Statehouse Friday to support a bill on parental rights.
Day 43: CTE seminar
And the state superintendent met with two legislators to discuss K-12 funding.
Day 42: State Board meeting
Behavioral and emotional issues are “the pandemic of our time,” Critchfield said.
Day 40: The science of reading
The superintendent paid a visit to the Statehouse Monday morning to support her financial literacy bill.
Day 39: Meeting with the Tribal Council
She also attended a District 1 education summit.
Day 36: A day for superintendents
And she reviewed her itinerary for an upcoming outreach trip to North Idaho.
Day 35: Watching legislation
The bill involves one of the main tenets of Critchfield’s campaign — financial literacy.
Day 32: Heads up, North Idaho
She has continued to work from the road home to Oakley.
Day 31: Steps for Schools
Critchfield also held a meeting to plan her student advisory committee, a team of select high schoolers who learn about the governments and advise the superintendent.
Day 30: Three cheers for CTE
She’ll celebrate STEM Matters Month tonight with the Idaho STEM Action Center.
Day 29: Testifying in committee
Tomorrow, she’ll present her CTE priorities to lawmakers.
Day 28: Speaking to student-athletes
She also prepared for her Wednesday appearance before the House and Senate education committees.
Day 25: Charter school tour
She spent her morning in Nampa, before heading back to Boise.
Day 23: The long-awaited budget hearing
The new state superintendent had the starring role in the three-hour meeting.
Day 22: School choice rally
She’ll finish up day with two receptions and the Idaho Potato Commission’s legislative dinner.
Day 21: Education Week begins
“When you get 70% of the vote, your priorities are my priorities,” State Board of Education president Kurt Liebich said of Critchfield in Monday morning’s JFAC hearing.
Day 16: Education committee leaders
The superintendent will continue to meet with Yamamoto and Lent every week until the end of the session, according to Critchfield’s team.
Day 15: The secretary of state
She also attended an evening reception.
Day 14: IEA lobby day
Critchfield took the opportunity to talk with teachers, parents and lawmakers.
Day 11: Preparing for her budget presentation
Critchfield will present to the House and Senate education committees Monday.
Day 9: Meetings and a retirement party
Critchfield enjoyed time with regional superintendents.
Day 7: State of the State
“Once again, I see that Governor Little is demonstrating his commitment to education,” Critchfield said, following the governor’s annual speech.
Day 4: The induction ceremony
The State Department of Education also released the salaries of Critchfield’s first hires Friday.
Day 3: A trip to a teen crisis center
She’ll be back in Boise Friday for her formal swearing in on the Statehouse steps.
Day 2: Meeting employees
“It feels like an avalanche,” Debbie Critchfield said of the transition. “But it also is really exhilarating.”
