Gilbert Public Schools has three at-large four-year terms up for grabs in the Nov. 5 election.
The lone incumbent on the ballot, Sheila Uggetti, died Sept. 15, and though she remains on the ballot, she no longer is considered a candidate by Mariopa County elections.
Candidates Shana Murray, Rose Parker and Ann Stevens failed to respond to multiple requests from the Gilbert Independent to answer questions about their candidacy.
Why are you running for the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board in 2024?
Jesse Brainard: I am running for the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board to bring a unique perspective rooted in my deep connection to our community and educational system. I have lived in our community my whole life. As a GPS student from PreK-12 with an IEP/504, I know firsthand the students’ experience in our schools. It has been 20 years since a former student has served on the Governing Board.
Not only is GPS where I have learned, but it’s a second home. My mom has been a teacher in the district for 24 years, which has allowed me to understand the impact of policies on students and teachers.
I want to be an ear as well as a voice for those who need better representation and support. I also want to make sure we maintain the culture that makes GPS great and ensure that our policies are crafted with a clear, informed perspective.
Blake Robison: I am running to make Gilbert Public Schools the best choice for parents in our community and the gold standard for education in Arizona. Together we will do that by putting students first and focusing on academic excellence and student achievement, listening to and working with parents, respecting and supporting teachers, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency, enhancing career and technical education opportunities, improving school safety and preparing students for lifelong success. I want every Gilbert Public Schools graduate to feel they received the very best preparation for their post high school goals.
What is a decision or direction where you feel the board, or at least one member, made the right choice within the past two years?
Brainard: One impactful decision was the addition of 12 full-time art teachers to elementary schools. This allows students to get art once every week rather than every other. Other districts were already doing this. I think it was a good action to strengthen our own art education. Also, it prevents loss of prep time for our educators. As someone deeply involved in the arts during my time at GPS, I appreciate this step. I am committed to supporting academic excellence and strong arts programs as a board member.
Robison: I agree with the decision to start using the Trust instead of ASBA for help with our policies and receiving regular updates on outside policies that affect GPS. This move saves money for our schools and results in better legal advice for the board as it makes important decisions. As a business owner, I have years of experience making these types of money saving decisions that improve quality at the same time. As a board member, I will focus on the same as we enact policies to make Gilbert Public Schools the gold standard for education in Arizona and nationally.
What is a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years?
Brainard: There isn't a specific decision or direction with which I would strongly disagree. However, I believe there is always room for more discussion and analysis of important issues. For example, more extensive conversations about allocating resources or strategies for improving mental health support would be beneficial.
Robison: I think the board and district should revisit the GPS grading policy to ensure it is fair, effective, timely, and consistent. Parent feedback and teacher input need to be part of the process. When a policy is adopted, it needs to be clearly communicated to students, parents, teachers and administrators and consistently implemented district wide. Grading should help create a culture of academic excellence by giving students timely feedback on their mastery of content and motivation to continue learning. Students need to be given the opportunity to learn and grow and our grading policy should enhance, not hinder, that process.
What is a topic or problem the board should address more visibly?
Brainard: There are several issues that should be discussed more visibly including teacher retention, student safety and supporting students in special education. However, one topic that needs more discussion is student mental health. In today’s world, students face different types of pressures, including social media, cyberbullying, and increases in adverse childhood experiences.
It’s crucial to enhance our focus on student mental health support. During my time at GPS, many of my peers faced significant struggles with this. I believe we can do more to ensure students get better support. Engaging with parents, mental health professionals, teachers, and students is essential to address this issue. Reducing the stigma and providing tools for success should be a topic that is more visibly addressed.
Robison: The board needs to create a culture of excellence in Gilbert Public Schools so that every GPS graduate is prepared to achieve their post-graduation goals. We need to help students be their best by expanding accelerated programs to prepare them for honors and AP coursework, improving access to career and technical opportunities, and ensuring that we have robust fail safes in place to help catch up students that are behind and not just keep advancing without mastering competencies. We need to engage parents more to achieve this–the more parents are involved in their children’s education, the better the outcomes.
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).
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