California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has endorsed Democrat Bill Hedrick in his bid to represent California’s 44th Congressional District.

A former educator and school board member, O’Connell cited Hedrick’s 35 years of classroom teaching experience and service on the Corona-Norco Board of Education as the reasons why Hedrick deserves voters’ nod on November 2. O’Connell was elected to his second term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 6, 2006.

“I am pleased to support the candidate for Congress who is clearly committed to improving education in California,” said O’Connell. “Bill Hedrick knows education inside out – from the classroom to the boardroom, and he’s exactly the kind of leader we need in Washington to improve our country’s education system and prepare our children for the 21st century economy.”

“Superintendent O’Connell’s career has been devoted to improving local schools and I am excited to have his endorsement,” Hedrick said. “With his support, I’ll see to it that our nation’s education system gets the boost it needs to be the best in the world again.”

Bill Hedrick has dedicated 35 years to teaching our children and advocating for educators in our public schools. He currently serves on the Corona-Norco Unified School District Board of Education, overseeing the 8th largest school district in California, serving 53,000 students. Bill is the board’s longest serving member at 22 years and has served five terms as president. In 2008, he came with 3,100 votes of defeating Republican Congressman Ken Calvert, making the 2010 rematch for California’s 44th Congressional District one of the most competitive in the state.