The four Democrats running for the state school superintendent's job have all taught school, but their backgrounds differ widely beyond that.

With few differences on the issues, the candidates are playing up their varying backgrounds as they vie for the Democratic nomination in the June 3 primary for superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent heads the state Office of Public Instruction.

Rep. Holly Raser of Missoula, who has been teaching for 27 years at Target Range School, said she has the edge because of her current connection to today's schools and her legislative experience. None of the other candidates for state superintendent has taught for that long.

"Schools have changed," Raser said. "No Child Left Behind? I taught under it. The way kids are now? The social changes? The responsibilities of classroom teachers are far greater in terms of the parenting aspect."

She touted her eight years in the Montana House where she has worked on school funding and other education issues.

"I'm running to make a difference, the same reason that I became a teacher, the same reason that I became a legislator," Raser said.

"I believe that the superintendent needs to be somebody closely connected to schools," Raser added. "In the days of school funding and school policy, they also need to be closely connected to the Legislature to be able to accomplish what needs to be accomplished."

Sen. Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow points to his combination of 17 years of teaching in Glasgow and Columbia Falls and his 14 years in the Legislature.

"I care very much about the educational system in the state of Montana and our future and how we can improve on the educational system of Montana," Kitzenberg said.

His 14 years in the Legislature are the most of any superintendent candidate this year, he said.

"I just think it's imperative that you have legislative experience and that you build up relationships with legislators from both parties," he said. "You have to have had some success in the Legislature. You should have gotten some things done, which I have."

Kitzenberg said he's running for state superintendent because it combines "two of my passions in life: politics and education. When you can combine those two, it's not a job, it's an opportunity."

The superintendent must bring options for school funding to the Legislature, and Kitzenberg said he will.

Neither Denise Juneau or Claudette Morton has had legislative experience but they can point to other kinds of leadership posts they've held.

"What sets me apart is my administrative experience at OPI," said Juneau, director of OPI's Indian Education Division. "I know the people who work there. I know the business of the office. Through the work, I've traveled the state and visited the schools of Montana, and that's given me a bird's eye view."

Juneau said she has "a long family tradition" of involvement in Montana public education and public service. Her parents have been teachers and administrators. Her dad, Stan, is on the school board, and her mom, Carol, is a state senator.

What spurred her to run is what Juneau called the "anti-public education rhetoric among certain legislators last session. It sort of seemed like a personal affront to everything I've stood for and everything my parents stood for."

Juneau cited her diverse educational background: a bachelor's degree from Montana State University, a master's degree in education from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Montana. She has taught in North Dakota and Browning.

Morton said she's running because some people asked her to seek the office.

"When I thought about it, I thought it was time for me to run because I have worked at the local, state and national levels," she said. "I think it's important to have a strong leader in that position."

Morton is the executive director of the Montana Small Schools Alliance. With bachelor, master and doctoral degrees from the University of Montana, Morton taught schools in Glasgow for a decade, was an OPI curriculum specialist, was executive secretary of the state Board of Public Education and was a professor and an administrator at the University of Montana-Western.

As a candidate, Morton said she brings a belief in collaboration, or working in groups to find solutions no one could come up with individually, and her institutional memory from working with state government since the 1980s.

"I know the things the state has done, the governors, the Legislatures, OPI," she said. " I have the big picture view."

The candidates were asked to name their top two priorities if elected. Here are their answers:

n Juneau. She said the superintendent must serve as students' and schools' chief advocate and fight for competitive teacher salaries and adequate funding for a broad range of programs so students can meet their potential. Juneau wants to create a positive perception of public education, saying, "Public education really is the bedrock of democracy It's really true undergirding of everything we do as a society."

n Kitzenberg: He pledged to lead efforts to develop a better school funding formula that doesn't rely so much on enrollments. Kitzenberg serves on a panel that hired consultants to examine all Montana school facilities, with lawmakers setting repair and replacement priorities. Kitzenberg wants to see the Land Board develop Otter Creek coal leases and use some of the money for school funding and facilities.

n Morton: "My first priority is the funding," she said. "We have to come up with a formula that represents the definition from the last lawsuit and fund that formula adequately." Morton favors educating the whole child. "By that, I mean we have to quit teaching to a couple of tests and teach arts and humanities, including writing and critical and creative problem-solving," she said.

n Raser: She listed school funding as her top priority, saying, "We need to make sure we keep schools whole and move forward, maintaining (budgets), and, if we're lucky, to add to school budgets."

Raser said she would push for looking at long-term solutions. "It seems every two years we come in with a short-term Band-Aid," she said. "We need to get all parties involved."

Other parties

The winner of the Democratic primary for superintendent of public instruction will face two opponents in the November general election.

The Republican on the ballot will be Elaine Sollie Herman of Helena, a retired teacher who taught in Washington, California, Montana and Guam, while her husband was in the military. She is a former partner of Wealth Management Investments. Herman has run for the superintendent's job previously.

Also on the ballot will the Libertarian Party candidate, Donald J. Eisenmenger of Helena. He is retired and worked as a clinical associate for the Chicago Institution for Rational Living and as a staff psychologist and acting director of psychology at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital.

Since neither Herman and Eisenmenger has a primary opponent, their candidacies will be covered in the fall, along with that of the Democratic nominee.

Candidate profiles

Denise Juneau

Office sought: Superintendent of public instruction.

Office salary: $99,274 annually.

Political party: Democrat

Age: 41

Birthdate and place: Born in Oakland, Calif., April 5, 1967. Moved to Montana in 1969.

Home: Helena. Originally from Browning.

Occupation: Division administrator at the Office of Public Instruction.

Family: Parents, Stan and Carol Juneau. One brother, Ron, his wife, Evelyn, and their three children, Sara, Kylee, and Lakota.

Education: Graduated from Browning High School. Bachelor's degree in English from Montana State University. Master's degree in education from the Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. Law degree from the University of Montana School of Law.

Past employment: Educational support staff, Browning schools; high school teacher in New Town, N.D., and Browning; instructional specialist at the Office of Public Instruction under Superintendent Nancy Keenan; law clerk for Montana Supreme Court Justices Jim Regnier and Brian Morris; associate attorney for Monteau and Peebles.

Military: None.

Political experience: None.

Web site: www.juneauforkids.com/.

Sam Kitzenberg

Office sought: Superintendent of public instruction.

Office salary: $99,274 annually.

Political party: Democrat. Switched from Republican before the 2007 Legislature.

Age: 60.

Birthdate and place: July 25, 1947, in Williston, N.D., although his parents lived in Plentywood, where he was raised.

Home: Glasgow. Occupation: Management analyst for the Montana Department of Revenue.

Family: Wife, Ronnie, and two sons, Mark and Josh, and two daughters, Samantha and Jory.

Education: Graduate of Plentywood High School, 1965; bachelor's degree in education, University of Montana, 1969.

Past employment: Librarian in Glasgow, 2005-06; taught English at Glasgow High School, 1991-2004; taught school in Columbia Falls, 1969-72. Also has sold shoes in Williston, N.D., and Missoula, worked as billboard salesman in Billings, sold radio and television advertising in Missoula.

Military: None.

Political experience: Elected as Republican to state Senate 2000 and 2004. Elected as Republican to Montana House 1994, 1996 and 1998. Lost races for Republican nomination for the eastern district congressional seat in 1974 and 1976. Lost race as Republican in 1971 to be Flathead County delegate to 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention. Lost race as Republican for state House from Flathead County in 1979. Elected governor of Montana Boys State in 1964 and elected as one of two Montana delegates to Boys Nation.

Web site: www.samforsuperintendent.com/.

Claudette Morton

Office sought: Superintendent of public instruction.

Office salary: $99,274 annually.

Political party: Democrat.

Age: 68.

Birthdate and place: Jan. 21, 1940, in Billings.

Home: Helena.

Occupation: Executive director of the Montana Small Schools Alliance, a non-profit organization that helps small schools meet state and federal mandates in educationally sound ways, since 1996.

Family: A mother and grandmother, she is married to her high school sweetheart, George Miller.

Education: Graduate of Billings Senior High School, 1958; bachelor's degree in theatre with an English teaching major, 1963, master's in theatre, 1964; and doctorate in education administration and curriculum and supervision, 1990, all from the University of Montana. Morton currently holds Montana educator certifications in English, speech, journalism, drama, 5-12; curriculum supervision, K-12; secondary principal, 5-12; and school superintendent, K-12.

Past employment: Professor and administrator at the University of Montana-Western, 1990-1996; executive secretary, Montana Board of Public Education, 1986-90; curriculum specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, 1978-86; English teacher in Glasgow, 1968-78. Prior to that, she filled a number of professional and education positions in Montana, Texas, and Germany, as well as working as an instructor and adjunct professor in four universities and colleges. Morton has been a presenter at conferences, seminars, and workshops in 40 states, China, Scotland, and Canada.

Military: None.

Political experience: Democratic precinct committeewoman, Beaverhead and Valley counties; Democratic Central Committee secretary in Beaverhead and Valley counties; Democratic Vice Chair, Valley County.

Web site: http://claudettemorton.com/.

Holly Raser

Office sought: Superintendent of public instruction.

Office salary: $99,274 annually.

Political party: Democrat.

Age: 55.

Birthdate and place: May 25, 1952, in Long Beach, Calif. Moved to Montana in 1975.

Home: Missoula.

Occupation: Teacher at Target Range School in Missoula for 27 years.

Family: Divorced. Two daughters, Caitlin and Alyssa.

Education: Graduated from Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1969. Received bachelor's degree in education from the University of Montana in 1980 and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from UM in 1992.

Past employment: She has taught different grades at Target Range School for 27 years.

Military: None.

Political experience: She was elected to the Montana House in 2000 and was re-elected in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Web site: www.hollyraser.org/.