Age: 68
Time in the Verde Valley: “Cottonwood for two years, and in Northern Arizona for 17 years.” n Background: “I taught middle school [five years] and high school [17 years] social studies in public schools. Since 2007, I have been a professor in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University.”
Q: Why are you qualified to serve on the board?
A: “My background as a public school teacher positions me to understand high school students, school culture and processes, and the role/importance of content expertise. “My advanced studies, Ph.D., in curriculum and educational leadership and my university teaching experience position me to understand the field of teaching and learning, curriculum development and implementation, the complexities of adolescent learning and development and the preparation required for students to be successful in higher education contexts. Attended Mingus Union Governing Board meetings over the past 18 months and served on the English Textbook Selection Committee in spring 2024. Served for three years on the Governing Board of Haven Montessori School in Flagstaff.”
Q: What are three specific items or policies that you are running on?
A: “1. Supporting the public educators and leaders at Mingus Union High School who offer students an excellent education. I believe in the importance of supporting our public school educators. “
2. School and classroom cultures that support all students and offers a curriculum that is engaging, relevant and functions to develop skills of critical thinking and analysis … “I believe in the development of critical thinking and oppose the banning of curricular material that ‘offends’ some citizens and, thereby, ‘dumbs down’ the education of all. “
3. School culture and curriculum that embraces democratic values. This includes the learning about our collective responsibility to the core tenets of democratic life, consideration and care for that which we hold in common, and the importance of evidence and reason in determining truth.”
“I believe in democracy and the idea that public schools are essential to the maintenance and health of democratic life. Democratic well-being requires valuing difference, engaging and processing complex and controversial knowledge, working toward inclusion and respect for all voices and identities, and embracing the hopefulness of respectful dialogue. Central to inclusion, respect, and hopefulness is the embrace of truth over lies, a belief in the common good over personal advantage, and an understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice.”
Q: How would you work to improve teacher recruitment and retention?
A: “Respect for the work of teachers and educational leaders would go a long way toward retention. When Mingus High School teachers continue their careers at Mingus, the students, families and community at large benefit. Experienced teachers exhibit deeper and more complex understanding of curriculum, pedagogy, and instruction.”
Q: Last year the board voted to suspend a capital bond. Moving forward would you be in favor of a capital bond override? Why or why not?
A: “I was supportive of the proposed capital bond override last year and would be supportive of a similar proposal. Unfortunately, a majority of the Mingus Governing Board voted to not put the proposal to a vote of the community”
