The Mingus Union High School District Governing Board conducted interviews with seven candidates for the position of district superintendent on Feb. 9. 

On Jan. 26, the board reviewed the Community Superintendent Search Survey administered by the Arizona School Administrators and the 17 applications for the position that the board had received.

Candidates

• David Beery, director of Student Intervention, MUHS: Beery has been a teacher at MUHS since 2014 and currently teaches economics, U.S. government and psychology. Beery is also the head varsity boys’ basketball coach and assistant girls’ basketball coach. Beery received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in history from Montana State University in Bozeman.
• Regina Gee, principal of MUHS: Gee graduated from Yavapai College in 2003 with an associate’s degree in elementary education and later earned a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University. She is also a certified principal, superintendent, K-12 teacher and reading specialist. Gee has been the principal of MUHS since 2012.
• Deana DeWitt, former assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Sedona-Oak Creek School District: DeWitt spent nine years as an elementary educator for the CottonwoodOak Creek School District, was an adjunct faculty instructor at Northern Arizona University, taught English at MUHS and is the co-owner and business manager of DeWitt Excavation, Inc. DeWitt was the assistant superintendent at SOCSD from 2015 until December 2023.
• Jaime Festa-Daigle, assistant superintendent of the Lake Havasu School District: Festa-Daigle received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, social studies and English as a second language from Grand Canyon University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. Festa-Daigle has worked with the Lake Havasu Unified School District since 2001 and is currently the director of student achievement.
• Melody Herne, Ph.D., superintendent of Salt River Schools for the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community: Herne was previously an education data specialist at Salt River Schools. Herne has worked in many positions in education, including as a teacher, principal, curriculum developer and research statistical analyst. She announced Nov. 3 that she would not be seeking to renew her contract and would leave the district in June 2024.
• Kevin St. John, interim superintendent of the Show Low School District: St. John began his career in education in 1985 as a social studies and health enhancement teacher. He has over 14 years of teaching experience and 20 years in educational leadership. St. John received a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Montana College and a master’s degree in education from Montana State University. 
• Mindy Westover, assistant superintendent of the Tolleson Union School District in Litchfield Park. She had previously worked 24 years on campus as a teacher and later as principal of Copper Canyon High School in Glendale.

Update:

On Saturday, Feb. 10, Mingus Union High School District Governing Board President Lori Drake announced via a press release that the board voted to select Herne as the superintendent.

“The MUHS Governing Board is excited to welcome Dr. Herne to the Mingus Community,” the press release stated. “The Governing Board will be entering into contract negotiations with Dr. Herne and a contract is expected to be approved by the Board at its March 14 regular meeting.”

Herne’s pending start date will be Monday, July 1.