State Superintendent Race: Interview With Tom Torlakson Friday, October 17, 2014 | Sacramento, CA Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Tom Torlakson has been the Superintendent of Public Instruction in California since 2010. In those four years he’s appealed a court ruling striking down teacher tenure laws and has overseen the state’s implementation of the education standards known as Common Core. Torlakson began his career as a teacher and has served as a California state senator and assemblyman.