What We Have Accomplished!
Mental Health
Student Representation and Equity
Awards and Recognitions
- Passed the most comprehensive mental health policy in AZ encompassing suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
- Reduced the student-to-counselor ratio to around 1:400 across the district
- Doubled the amount of Care 7 Youth Specialists at every school in the district
- Established critical support teams and community partnerships to connect schools with outside resources for students and staff in need, such as Care Solace
- Included vital ESSER-funded mental health resources into the budget to ensure continuity at all schools
- Passed resolutions to prioritize mental health across departments and officially recognize Septemeber as "Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month"
- Led a governance restructure for the Governing Board focused on student outcomes, including the establishment and alignment of Board and District goals, data-monitoring calendar, and policy to focus discussions during meetings
- Revamped the Superintendent and Board self-evaluation tools to be more measurable and accountable to student outcomes and aligned across the district
- Reporting regular updates and information to staff and the community on Governing Board activity to increase transparency and accountability for the Board
- Revamped communications protocol to be more responsive and aligned with community and district needs
- Facilitated a transparent, robust, and fiscally responsible search process to identify and appoint Tempe Union's next Superintendent, Dr. Stacia Wilson
- Annually raised all staff salaries, with a focus on classified staff, making Tempe Union one of the highest-paying districts in the state to ensure recruitment and retention of qualified staff
- Continuously passed fiscally sound annual budgets that included stakeholder input along the way and set Tempe Union up for short and long-term success
- Successfully passed Bond, Maintenence and Operations, and District Additional Assistance overrides, providing necessary funding to address facility issues that include health and safety, preventative maintenance, fixture and equipment replacement, building additions and modifications, and energy savings
- Established critical partnerships and relationships with local businesses, organizations, and municipalities to provide opportunities and resources to students at all campuses
Student Representation and Equity
- Increased offerings of dual enrollment and AP to ensure equitable access for all students and school sites
- Established the first Yaqui 1 and Yaqui 2 language courses at Marcos De Niza High School in collaboration with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe
- Passed resolutions officially recognizing key dates such as Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, and more
- Included student representation on key committees to integrate students in the decision-making process of the Board and District
Awards and Recognitions
- Lou Ella Kleinz Excellence in Governance Award: The highest award given to an Arizona school board that demonstrates outstanding education leadership and effective governance (2022)
- Total Boardsmenship Award: Awarded to the Board for our commitment to board development and continuing-education attainment (2023)
Let's continue the work for...
Mental Health
Mental Health is my top priority and what made this campaign a reality. After going through my own struggles in high school and losing a close friend to suicide, I got involved in our district to bring change. As a part of a generation that is going through unique challenges, I understand what our students are going through.
I will establish proper resources are available to students with a balance between social needs and career/college readiness and work with closely with counseling departments to make sure their needs are met. Since personally writing and introducing a resolution calling for more support, the district has hired a coordinator of social emotional wellness. I will implement programs to reduce the stigma around mental health and create a safe learning environment for all students while reducing the student to counselor ratio in our schools.
I will establish proper resources are available to students with a balance between social needs and career/college readiness and work with closely with counseling departments to make sure their needs are met. Since personally writing and introducing a resolution calling for more support, the district has hired a coordinator of social emotional wellness. I will implement programs to reduce the stigma around mental health and create a safe learning environment for all students while reducing the student to counselor ratio in our schools.
Teacher Retention
As a graduate of our schools, I know that our teachers are the backbone to our schools. They are on the frontlines, investing in the future. For the past several years, our teachers have spoken up asking for change. My teachers are the reason I am able to be where I am today - they fought tooth and nail to give me the best possible education, and I am running to give back to them. I will create strong incentive programs to increase teacher retention, offer competitive compensation and benefits, and create transparency around our compensation system.
Student Representation
I will work to ensure students' interests and concerns are properly heard and considered at the board level. As a part of a generation that is going through unique challenges, I am ready to bring a fresh perspective to the board. All parts of our community must have a voice on our school board.
During my time as a student, I worked to create a Student Advisory Committee so that students could voice their concerns to the board. I will continue this work to ensure students' needs and concerns are taken seriously at both the individual school and district level by creating Student Advisory Committees at all seven of our schools.
During my time as a student, I worked to create a Student Advisory Committee so that students could voice their concerns to the board. I will continue this work to ensure students' needs and concerns are taken seriously at both the individual school and district level by creating Student Advisory Committees at all seven of our schools.
Transparency and Community Involvement
For too long, our schools have been systematically underfunded so it is important that every dollar is going to our students, teachers, and staff. It is important that we not only be transparent about our operations and decision, but also actively seek out community involvement. I will work to create transparency around our financial activity as well as increase community involvement in our decisions. As a board member, I will actively meet with community members, staff, students, and other stakeholders.
School Equity
I will ensure that all students have the same opportunity to have a fair and equitable education. With the changing demographics of our district, new leadership that recognizes and can bring representation to the table is key. One-size fits all solutions no longer can satisfy the needs of all our students, teachers, and families. COVID-19 has shows the urgency we must have to increase equity in our schools. We must use funds from relief programs such as the Elementary Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund to invest in 1:1 laptop services for our students.
I will also create equal access to the AP and dual enrollment program to all seven schools in the district. Currently, these courses are disproportionally offered in better off areas. By expanding this program we create a pathway that makes college more affordable and accessible to every student.
I will also create equal access to the AP and dual enrollment program to all seven schools in the district. Currently, these courses are disproportionally offered in better off areas. By expanding this program we create a pathway that makes college more affordable and accessible to every student.
Fully Funded Public Education
I will support allocations to fully fund our classrooms and provide adequate pay to our teachers and support staff. Our teachers, staff, students, and families have spoken - I will stand up for them on the board. As a board member, I will actively fight to fully fund our public school districts. As a school board, we are in a unique position to advocate on behalf of our entire Tempe Union community to ensure we have adequate funding to reduce class sizes, increase teacher compensation, keep our buildings and technology up to date, and offer an equitable education to all students.