UPDATE: Due to a family emergency for the School Superintendent, the board interviews originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, for the Mingus Union High School District Governing Board were rescheduled. Updated deadline for receipt of letters of interest and resumes has been extended to Friday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m. Superintendent Steve King will interview candidates at Mingus Union High School on Monday, Feb. 2. The appointment should be announced by Wednesday, Feb. 4, and be valid from the time of taking the oath of office until Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026.
Yavapai County School Superintendent Steve King announced a vacancy on the Mingus Union High School District Governing Board, effective Jan. 7.
The opening was created due to the resignation of board member Ashley Koepnick.
Koepnick said in her resignation she made the decision after the recent birth of her fourth son.
“I have given careful consideration to my ability to fully meet the responsibilities of this role,” she wrote. “At this time, my family requires my full attention, and I believe it is in the best interest of both my family and the district that I step down from my position.”
“We are grateful for the work and dedication Ms. Koepnick gave to Mingus Union High School District #4,” Superintendent Melody Herne, Ph.D., wrote in a recent email. “The process to fill the vacancy is handled by the Yavapai County superintendent’s office.”
If you are interested in filling the vacancy, send a letter of interest and a resume to Audrey Isley, Education Elections Coordinator, 2970 Centerpointe East, Prescott, AZ 86301, or email her atAudrey.Isley@yavapaiaz.gov.
Candidates should include personal information, why they would like to be a board member, residence and mailing addresses and home and work phone numbers.
Candidates may include letters of recommendation or support if they wish.
To be eligible to hold this seat a person must be a registered voter within the school district, a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years of age, have no lost their civil rights or have had them restored, have continually resided within the school district for at least one year immediately preceding taking office. Candidates or their spouses may not be employed by the district, or working for the district on a third-party contract.
Deadline for receipt of letters of interest and resumes is Friday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m.
King will interview candidates at Mingus High School on Monday, Jan. 26.
King said he’s “looking for a person dedicated to the community that values schools … willing to put in the hard work on multifaceted issues, who gets along well with other board members and the superintendent.” The ideal candidate is a “person of good will.”
The appointment should be announced by Wednesday, Jan. 28, and will serve though Dec. 31, 2026. If the appointee wishes to continue beyond that date, they will need to run for the seat in the 2026 election cycle for a new term beginning in 2027. Call Audrey Isley at (928) 442-5138 or email Audrey.
Isley@Yavapaiaz.gov if you have any questions.
King’s Yavapai County Education Service Agency stated it greatly appreciated the service Koepnick provided to the school district and the community.
