ASU alum selected for Truman Democracy Fellows program

​As president of the Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) Governing Board, Armando Montero counts the adoption of a comprehensive mental health policy among his greatest achievements.
Montero graduated Arizona State University in May with degrees in political science, economics and mathematics (statistics), with honors from Barrett, The Honors College. He was a Truman Scholar last year.
In 2020, at the age of 19, he was elected to the TUHSD Governing Board on a student-centric platform that included mental health advocacy. He now works as a senior planning analyst in the ASU Office of the Senior Vice President while serving as president of the school board.
“Mental health was one of the defining issues that led me to run for the board,” said Montero, who chaired an advisory committee of students, teachers, families, administrators and community partners that wrote the district’s mental health policy.
The policy, adopted by the board in 2021, focuses on resources and processes for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention (interventions for bereaved survivors, community members and health care providers), making it “likely the most comprehensive mental health policy in the state,” Montero said.
“We have reduced the student-to-counselor ratio to close to 1-to-400, doubled the number of CARE 7 specialists at each school, established critical partnerships with organizations such as Care Solace, established cross-departmental, multi-tiered support system teams, created programs to reduce the stigma, and so much more. While we still have a lot of work to do, this has been a tremendous starting point and put Tempe Union on the map as a statewide leader in mental health,” Montero said.
With this experience in his hip pocket, Montero is participating in the Truman Democracy Fellows program for Truman Scholars who are interested in pursuing electoral politics.
He was recently selected for the program, which helps participants of all ages and political affiliations develop knowledge of key issues and challenges surrounding electoral politics, build community with other fellows who are actively planning to run for office, and become better prepared to succeed in the political arena. He will use what he learns in the program to inform his decision of whether to run for school board reelection or seek a higher office.
The program includes discussions on topics related to running for office, such as cultivating donors and raising funds, working with party leaders, navigating election law, running a campaign, building coalitions and balancing personal life with public office.
“I’m honored and incredibly excited to be selected to participate in the Truman Democracy Fellows program this year. After being selected as a Truman Scholar last year, the people that I have had the opportunity to meet, connect with and learn from have been invaluable, and I know this program will provide unique opportunities to connect with others from across the country who have been elected to public office and are considering running (for office),” Montero said.

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