Age: 64
Time in the Verde Valley: “I was born and raised in Prescott, and moved to Cottonwood 48 years ago.”
Background: “Real estate broker in the Verde Valley for over 35 years.”
Q: Why are you qualified to serve on the board?
A: First elected to the Mingus Union Governing Board in 2018, served as vice president twice and president three times, served on MUHS committees, including the Textbook Selection Committee, Teacher Salary and Benefits Committee and the Bond Override Committee.
Q: What are three specific items or policies that you are running on?
A: “Continuing the excellent education that Mingus provides our students; protecting and promoting our students’ critical thinking skills; and keeping the students — all of the students — safe, educated and fed.
“ Protecting and promoting and preparing all of our students.
“Critical thinking results from allowing students of all ages to associate with people who are different from them.”
Q: How would you work to improve teacher recruitment and retention?
A: “I listen with respect to our highly-educated teachers and staff. I have strong relationships with Mingus students, teachers and staff. I believe I have an accurate picture regarding what goes on at Mingus. “Research overwhelmingly proves that a four-day school week — with the same amount of classroom time as a five day week — improves student performance, raises morale in the staff and is often a deciding factor in a highly qualified teacher’s decision about where to apply.”
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 one of the two Mingus Governing Board members who voted to send the bond override to our voters. “Our voters have never turned down a bond override and I have faith that they would not have turned down the last one.”
