OKLAHOMA CITY — Retired Edmond dentist Janet Barresi on Tuesday announced that she is running for state superintendent of public instruction.

State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, a Democrat who has held the post since 1990, announced earlier this year that she would not run for a sixth term.

Barresi, 57, founded two charter schools, including the state’s first. She served as a speech pathologist in Harrah and Norman public schools before running a family dental practice for 24 years.

Barresi said the educational bureaucracy has tried to maintain the status quo, which has failed children.

She said she supports all types of school choice because it promotes competition.

“Nationwide, school consolidation has never been shown to produce improved academic results,” Barresi said. “I think what I am going to be focused on is reducing the administrative costs, and that is going to begin with the State Department of Education and building in cost efficiencies.”

Randall Gorman, an Achille social studies teacher who lives in Colbert, is also running as a Democrat.

Lisa Pryor, former chairwoman of the State Democratic Party and now an assistant state superintendent, said she has not decided if she will run for the post.

State Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, is also considering running.