Valarie Wilson says she is running to become the Democratic nominee for state school superintendent because her experience gives her insight into what the job requires.

Wilson will be running against five other Democrats in the May 20 primary. She is a former City Schools of Decatur Board of Education member and has served as president of the Georgia School Boards Association. She is a member of the Decatur Education Foundation and the Decatur Arts Alliance. She works as Executive Director of the nonprofit Atlanta BeltLine Partnership.

Decaturish.com asked her about her decision to enter the race.

“Public schools are at a critical juncture in Georgia,” she said. “My decade of service to the City Schools of Decatur and then the Georgia School Boards Association has afforded me a unique, classroom level view of our school systems. I am seeking the opportunity to bring that perspective to serving students across Georgia. I look forward to the campaign and engaging citizens across the state.”

Here are the other state school superintendent candidates that will be on the May 20 primary ballot.

Democratic Primary

Alisha Thomas Morgan

Jurita Forehand Mays

Marion Spencer “Denise” Freeman

R. “Rita” Robinzine

Tarnisha L. Dent

Republican Primary

Allen Bowles Fort

Ashley Bell

Kira Willis

Mary Kay Bacallao

Michael “Mike” Buck

Nancy Jester

Richard Woods

Sharyl Dawes

T. Fitz Johnson