Wayne Godfrey Sanstead (born April 16, 1935) served as the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1985 to January 1, 2013, and from 1972 to 1981 as the 31st lieutenant governor of North Dakota.

Early life

Sanstead was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on April 16, 1935, to Godfrey A. and Clara (Buen) Sanstead. Sanstead married Mary Jane Bober on June 16, 1957. They have two children, Timothy Wayne & Jonathan Paul.

Education

In 1957 Sanstead received his B.A. from St. Olaf College, and in 1967 his Master of Arts in Speech from Northwestern University. Stanstead earned his doctorate in secondary education from the University of North Dakota.

Political career

Sanstead was the longest serving chief state school officer in the United States. Previously, Sanstead served eight years in the North Dakota House of Representatives (1965–1970), two years in the N.D. Senate (1971–1973), and as the 31st Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota serving under Governor Art Link (1973–1981).