Debbie Critchfield

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Debbie Critchfield

| office = Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction

| governor = Brad Little

| term_start = January 2, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Sherri Ybarra

| successor =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|4|9}}

| birth_place = Ogden, Utah, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Dave Critchfield

| education = Brigham Young University (BA)

| website = {{URL|debbie4idaho.com|Campaign website}}

| image = DebbieCritchfield.jpg

| caption =

}}

Debbie Critchfield (born April 9, 1970) is an American politician. She has served as the superintendent of public instruction of Idaho since 2023. Critchfield was previously the president of the Idaho State Board of Education. She is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and career

Critchfield was born in Ogden, Utah on April 9, 1970. She was raised in San Diego, California, and attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Arts. She married Dave Critchfield, a native of Oakley, Idaho, and moved to Idaho with him, where they raised four children in Cassia County.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idahoednews.org/news/meet-debbie-critchfield-republican-nominee-for-state-superintendent/|title=Meet Debbie Critchfield, Republican nominee for state superintendent|date=October 6, 2022|website=Idaho Education News}}

In Oakley, Critchfield worked as a substitute teacher for six years. She won a seat on the school board and served for ten years, including five as chair. Governor of Idaho Butch Otter appointed her to the state board of education in 2014. She served as the president of the board from 2019 to 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lmtribune.com/northwest/former-president-of-idaho-education-board-says-she-will-run-for-superintendent/article_d1a46046-afec-54ee-b731-692bf8846b2b.html|title=Former president of Idaho education board says she will run for superintendent|date=May 12, 2021|website=The Lewiston Tribune}}

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Critchfield ran for superintendent of public instruction in the 2022 elections. She won the primary election in May, defeating Branden Durst and Sherri Ybarra, the incumbent superintendent.https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/election/article261395142.html She won the general election against Terry Gilbert, the Democratic Party nominee.https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/election/article268154772.html

In 2023, Critchfield worked alongside James Petzke, a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, on legislation to require Idaho high school students to take financial literacy classes.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Abby |date=2023-02-12 |title=Students react to financial literacy bill |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/politics/local-new-financial-literacy-bill-would-aid-high-schoolers-with-finance-skills-and-know-how/277-202830dd-eae3-43bc-acba-f406c5f15a62 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=KTVB |language=en-US}}

2022 State Superintendent Election

Critchfield ran for the Republican Primary and won on May 17, 2022{{Cite web |title=Election Night Results |url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/Idaho/LiveResults/1/en/Index_122.html |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=www.livevoterturnout.com |language=en}}

class="wikitable" \|+ !Candidate !Vote Share !Votes
Debbie Critchfield !39.7% !105,070
Branden Durst \|33.8% \|89,451
Sherri Ybarra \|26.6% \|70,431

class="wikitable"

!Candidate

!Vote Share

!Votes

Debbie Critchfield

!39.7%

!105,070

Branden Durst

|33.8%

|89,451

Sherri Ybarra

|26.6%