INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's new state superintendent of public instruction isn't afraid of ruffling a few feathers.

Republican Tony Bennett supports controversial vouchers that force public and private schools to compete for state money. He likes the nearly taboo idea of small school districts exploring consolidation. And he says schools need to be creative with the money they have rather than asking taxpayers to shell out more cash.

Bennett hopes his aggressive leadership style will bring quick changes to the Indiana Department of Education — but don't expect his most contentious ideas to be top priorities.

Bennett, who beat Democrat Richard Wood in Tuesday's election, says issues like vouchers aren't even on his radar screen right now, and that local school districts should make the call on consolidation. Bennett is more focused on creating an ambitious plan for January, when he takes the spot that's been held for 16 years by outgoing GOP schools chief Suellen Reed.

"We are going to model at the Department of Education a culture that basically says to anyone who will listen that Indiana's education program will be the best in the United States," Bennett said. "Anything less than that, we're not going to settle for."

Bennett — superintendent of the Greater Clark County Schools district in southern Indiana — plans to review all the state's education regulations and see if he can "uncuff the hands of our administrators" by eliminating some of them. Bennett will also spend the first months of his tenure working with the Legislature, which will attempt to create a balanced two-year budget despite a sagging economy.

Dan Clark, deputy director of the Indiana State Teachers Association, said he hopes to work with Bennett to find efficiencies without increasing class sizes or cutting teacher salaries and benefits.

"We've had several conversations with him, and he's very open to listening and very open to working with other people," Clark said.

A few of Bennett's goals mirror those of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. Both want to expand full-day kindergarten and put more money in the classroom, and both support a proposal they say will restore discipline to classrooms.

Some consider Bennett in lock step with Daniels. In February, Daniels introduced Bennett at a dinner as the person likely to be the next state schools chief — even before Reed officially announced that she wasn't running for a fifth term. Daniels said that wasn't an endorsement, although he later endorsed Bennett.

Reed did what she thought was best for children, regardless of the political consequences, said Terry Spradlin, who worked at the Department of Education under Reed and is now with Indiana University's Center for Evaluation and Education Policy.

That sometimes put her at odds with fellow Republicans, and she often worked well with Democrats. She was considered by many to be the most nonpartisan state officeholder in Indiana.

Bennett, a former science teacher and basketball coach, is more likely to consider political ramifications of his efforts, Spradlin said.

"I think he will be much more likely to advocate the governor's agenda fully versus having an independent voice that would put politics second," Spradlin said. "There will be close coordination between the governor's office and the state superintendent."

Bennett said his good working relationship with Daniels will be an asset, and he wants to bring the same brand of "can-do" leadership to the Department of Education that Daniels brought to the governor's office.

"He wants the same thing for our educational system that I want," Bennett said.

Bennett also wants to work closely with local school superintendents and teachers. The Department of Education should be a resource for schools, not just a regulatory agency, he said, and should help districts and their students succeed.

"I want Indiana's schools to compete with schools anywhere in the country and anywhere around the world," he said.