Higley USD board candidates discuss building trust

By Tom Blodgett
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Twitter: @sp_blodgett

This is the eighth in a series of questions asked of Higley USD Governing Board candidates. Voters will decide among these four candidates for the two open four-year seats on the board. 

What will you do to build relationships and trust with teachers and administrators? 

Brooke Garrett, homemaker, volunteer 

Because I have been heavily involved in the schools for the past 10 years, on several committees, focus groups, class volunteer, boosters, and PTO presidents at a variety of levels, I already do have a working relationship with many of our teachers and administrators. Having five children in the school district has put me in touch with a wide variety of teachers and administrators. Focusing on the positive things we see happening in our district and the work we see them doing – I am here to support teachers, not vilify them. Clearly communicating expectations and boundaries will also be critical to earning their trust and working together. 

Roy Morales, operations support manager 

A key action item is to focus on the positive strengths of teachers and administrators. Board members should listen and ask as many questions to gain understanding of their needs and concerns. A good amount of reflection and reinterpretation of their concerns will establish trust with them. In addition, school board members should be humble in accepting that they are not always the smartest person in the room and genuinely seek recommendations from a diverse audience. On the flip side, board members need to be candid with teachers and administrators, even in times of disagreements, when speaking on behalf of their constituents. Honesty is the best medicine for trusting relationships. I will work hard to follow these attributes with our partners. 

Anna Van Hoek, financial and accounting analyst 

Teachers and administrators are members of the HUSD family. I welcome communication and dialogue. Respect will be the foundation of relationships that I build. 

Amanda Wade, stay-at-home mom, applying to school 

As a former teacher I think my ability to understand the difficulties that administrators and teachers face in today's classroom is a huge advantage when it comes to building relationships with teachers and administrators. Understanding the full plates our education staff have and knowing what it feels like to juggle the tremendous weight that is education today will help me to build trust with our schools' staff and I hope puts me in a position to have the board work with education staff to create the best educational environment for our students. 

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert
@sp_blodgett

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).