Georgia Superintendent candidate visits Savannah to discuss education vision

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -A candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools visited Savannah on Saturday to discuss his vision for Georgia education.

Otha Thornton, president of the National PTA Association, said his experience with the national organization has guided him in making policy and finding programs and practices to make a difference in education.

Thornton ran for the position in 2018 and is seeking election this time around. He said one of the biggest things he would like to accomplish if elected is upgrading the state’s Quality Basic Education Formula.

“It was put in place in 1985 and it has not been updated since that time,” Thornton said. “So if you think about, you know, we’ve had an upgrade in technology since 1985. We have more challenges now with social media, mental problems with now school systems due to social media issues, health issues, you know, due to the cost of medical care and our kids getting the necessary attention they need.”

Thornton said upgrading the formula will help address some of those issues in schools.

“Because if you don’t, if a kid is hungry, if a kid is sick, you know, hearing problems, vision problems, they can’t learn up to their maximum potential,” he said. “So that’s number one, upgrading that.”

He said he also wants to push for more parent engagement to result in student success.

Other candidates include Fred Longgrear, Nelva Lee, Mesha Mainor and Randell Trammell.

The general election for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools is November 3, 2026.