This week I had the pleasure of reading “The Cool Bean” with Ms. Emhardt’s first grade class at Lattie Coor School. In an effort to promote literacy, and through a grant from the Arizona Department of Education, I regularly read to young students. I then provide a copy of the book to each student, with a few extras for the …
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This week I visited our state’s capitol with students and teachers who are a part of the Jobs for Arizona Graduates (JAG) program. State Representatives Marcelino Quiñonez, Justin Wilmeth, and I shared with students experiences that shaped and guided us to our respective roles in state and local government. JAG’s mission is to “help young people stay in school and …
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A few short months ago I appointed Becky Proudfit to the Peoria Unified School District School Board. Last week, her peers voted her Board President. She is a mom of four children, two of whom attend Peoria Unified schools. Like most of my appointments, Mrs. Proudfit is a parent to children who attend district schools. More than ever, it is important …
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Since being elected Maricopa County School Superintendent in 2016 I have appointed over 90 governing board members to school board vacancies throughout Maricopa County. A lot has transpired since then, but there is still much to do to improve our public education system. While the education landscape looks very different in 2023, quality leadership in education is still very important …
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I am always reading and researching what works (and doesn’t) in education. This year I spent quite a bit of time listening to, and talking to others about a podcast called Sold a Story: https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/ The podcast is absolutely worth listening to, and compares the research around phonics with a Whole Language approach as ways to teach children how to …
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Recently I wrote about the decision my wife and I made to send our youngest children to in-person instruction. Although the learning benefits played a factor in that decision, it was ultimately a mental health decision. Our young children were struggling with social isolation and feeling academically unsuccessful. There seemed to be more tears than laughs, and more meltdowns than …
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If I were to ask my six-year-old son what job he wants to do when he grows up, I would be shocked if he said, “I want to be an oil rig technician.” He doesn’t know any oil rig technicians. I don’t think he has ever even seen an oil rig or comprehended what it was if he has. However, …
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This past week my wife and I decided to send our two youngest children back to in-person instruction. We made this decision after our third grader told my wife and me that she doesn’t think she is smart enough for online learning. Our kindergartener launched his academic career on a laptop, pretty disengaged with learning and critical interactions with his …
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In August of 2020 The Arizona Republic asked the Maricopa County School Superintendent candidates a series of questions. What additional support would you provide parents and students through the pandemic? The biggest impact of COVID-19 on education is unpredictability. When Governor Ducey announced statewide school closures and in-person education went online, the first big problem was how to help families …
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In August of 2020 The Arizona Republic asked the Maricopa County School Superintendent candidates a series of questions. What additional support would you provide teachers through the pandemic? During the pandemic my office has provided support for teachers and districts throughout the county. For example, I am actively working with county public health leaders, to distribute COVID protection equipment to …
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I was born at Good Samaritan Hospital at 12th St and McDowell in Phoenix. As a student, I attended schools in the Cartwright, Alhambra, Washington, and Glendale Union High School Districts. I also attended Glendale Community College and the University of Arizona. I have a B.A. in Spanish and a M.A. in Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham