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 …
Continue reading
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, …
Continue reading
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 …
Continue reading
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 …
Continue reading
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 …
Continue reading
In August of 2020 The Arizona Republic asked the Maricopa County School Superintendent candidates a series of questions. What will you do over the next four years to attract and retain great teachers? I launched the Teacher Retention Project in the Fall of 2018. I surveyed thousands of Maricopa County teachers to determine what parts of the profession gave them …
Continue reading
In August of 2020 The Arizona Republic asked the Maricopa County School Superintendent candidates a series of questions. What do you believe is the county superintendent’s most important role, and how will you serve that role? The most public facing role of this office is appointing school board members when there is a vacancy on a school board. Over nearly …
Continue reading
In August of 2020 The Arizona Republic asked the Maricopa County School Superintendent candidates a series of questions. How would you improve the financial accountability of schools and governing boards? The first tool I have as County School Superintendent is to appoint fiscally responsible school board members in the event of a vacancy. In education, fiscal responsibility means focusing our …
Continue reading
These answers were originally submitted to the Arizona Republic on July 20, 2020. What do you believe is the county superintendent’s most important role, and how will you serve that role? The most public facing role of this office is appointing school board members when there is a vacancy on a school board. Over nearly four years, I appointed 40 …
Continue reading
I was asked the other day about how much education money comes from the Federal Government to Arizona. This is a snapshot of monies from the United States Department of Education (USDOE) to the State of Arizona. Grants and programs change (K-12 ed is expected to receive $87 million fewer dollars in 2020). But this information should get you in …
Continue reading
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