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 with no internet access. My office immediately mobilized, and partnered with businesses and nonprofits to provide internet access, computers, and tablets to families. We worked with the Phoenix Chamber Foundation, Data Doctors, School Connect and others to help provide laptops to kids and their families. Today we face the next big problem: how to bring students back to in-person learning. Students need their teachers. Student instruction held exclusively online is not good enough, especially for kids in grades K-6. We need in-person learning as soon as we can while keeping students, teachers and staff safe. My office has been coordinating with county health leaders, school districts, and other community leaders to identify the best practices possible for school openings.