Sherri Ybarra is an American politician and educator who served as superintendent of public instruction of Idaho. She was first elected to the position in 2014.

Early life and education

Ybarra earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from

West Liberty University West Liberty University (WLU) is a public university in West Liberty, West Virginia, United States. Located in the state's Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, Northern Panhandle, it was established as an academy in 1837 and is the oldest unive ...

and Master of Arts in educational leadership from the

University of Idaho The University of Idaho (U of I, or UIdaho) is a public land-grant research university in Moscow, Idaho, United States. Established in 1889 and opened three years later, it was the state's sole university for 71 years, until 1963. The un ...

Career

Ybarra worked as a teacher and a high school principal in

Mountain Home, Idaho Mountain Home is the largest city in and the county seat of Elmore County, Idaho, United States. The population was 15,979 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The population in 2024 is projected to be 16,921. It is the principal city o ...

area before becoming superintendent. A supporter of

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

, Ybarra criticized the Trump administration’s 2017 proposal that would have reduced the

United States Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a cabinet-level department of the United States government, originating in 1980. The department began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and ...

's budget by 13.5 percent.

Elections

In the 2014 election, Ybarra defeated John R. Eynon, Andrew Grover, and Randy Jensen, earning 28.7% of the vote in the Republican primary. Ybarra defeated former chief deputy superintendent of public instruction Jana Jones, earning 50.6% of the vote, in the general election. On December 16, 2015 she announced that she intended to seek a second term. On October 11, 2017 she launched her official reelection campaign. She defeated Jeff Dillon, superintendent of the Wilder School District in the Republican primary with 58.9% of the vote. In

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

, Ybarra narrowly defeated Cindy Wilson, former Capital High School teacher, in the general election with 51.4% of the vote. In 2022, Ybarra faced former state legislator Branden Durst as well as former State Board of Education member and Cassia County School Board member Debbie Critchfield in the Republican primary. Ybarra placed last, earning approximately 27% of the vote, with Critchfield emerging the victor.

Personal life

Ybarra is married and has one child. Ybarra's husband is of

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

descent.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ybarra, Sherri 21st-century Idaho politicians Idaho Republicans Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Superintendents of public instruction of Idaho University of Idaho alumni West Liberty University alumni Year of birth missing (living people)