Q&A: Get to know Mesa USD Governing Board candidates: How they rate superintendent
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Early voting
Early voting for the General Election begins on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and ends on Friday, Nov. 4. In-person early voting at Mesa City Plaza is not available this election year; however, the City Clerk’s Office will be providing a secure ballot drop box in the Mesa City Plaza lobby, 20 E. Main St., 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday beginning Oct. 12 and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Maricopa County Election Department will offer “vote anywhere” Vote Centers, which allow voters to choose from any open location, instead of one assigned location. Voters can go to https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/where-to-vote.html to find the nearest location.
Seven candidates for two Mesa Public Schools governing board seats have filed signatures to be on the ballot at the Nov. 8 election.
According to the Maricopa County school superintendent’s website, the candidates are: Ray Deer, Chris Hamlet, Marcie Hutchinson, Jacob Martinez, Ed Steele, Rachel Walden and J. R. Wright.
MPS is the largest public school district in Arizona and has six high schools, nine junior high schools, 50 elementary schools and 17 choice and success schools.
As the election nears, the Independent is conducting Q&As with each candidate to get their opinions on various topics.
In this, the fifth installment, we ask candidates, “The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?”
As the election gets closer, keep an eye on yourvalley.net/mesa-independent for more from the Q&A series.
For the following, candidates Jacob Martinez and Ed Steele didn’t respond to emails.
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J.R. Wright
J.R. Wright, 49, owns Larry John Wright Advertising. He has a bachelor of arts degree in communication and an MBA from Arizona State University.
The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?: In my interactions with Fourlis, she is definitely committed to our district and has the skillset to raise the level of education throughout the district. She’s very hands-on and I believe in her approach. I look forward to working with her more closely and evaluating the results.
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Ray Deer
Ray Deer, 49, is an associate judge for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, presiding primarily over civil court and civil family court.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from California State University at Long Beach; and a master of arts degree in education from National University.
He is on Facebook at Ray Deer for Mesa Unified School District Governing Board 2022.
The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?: At this moment I cannot properly provide a performance evaluation for Fourlis. As a school board member, I will ensure the public that I will strive to ensure that the superintendent is fulfilling the school board’s policies and direction with fidelity.
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Chris Hamlet
Chris Hamlet, 47, is a contract courier. He is an Arizona native, born in Phoenix and raised in Globe. He left Globe at 18 years old and spent five-plus years out-of-state serving in the U.S. Army as an airborne medic and orthopedic specialist. Once back in Arizona after service, he moved around the West Valley for a few years until he permanently moved to Mesa in 2005 and has been in the district for 17 years now.
He has an associate degree of applied science in electronics and computer technology from DeVry University; and a bachelor of science degree in technical management from DeVry University.
The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?: It is not appropriate for me to rate Fourlis’ performance at this time. Performance-based evaluations are typically based on measurable goals. As such, it seems that the well under 50% range of recent literacy and math scores would be enough of a performance evaluation without my interference.
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Marcie Hutchinson
Marcie Hutchinson, 68, is a retired teacher from Mesa Public Schools (28 years); and a retired director of K-12 Initiatives, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at ASU (seven years). She has a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education from State University of New York at Oswego; and a master of arts degree in history from Arizona State University.
The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?: Fourlis is an effective superintendent in service to Mesa Public Schools. She is smart — an expert in curriculum seeking the best practices to engage our students in purposeful learning. She is personable — accessible to students, parents, employees and community members. And she works tirelessly to meet the strengths and needs of every student to prepare them to seize life’s opportunities.
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Rachel Walden
Rachel Walden is currently a homemaker and volunteer, but her previous career was at Vanguard where she managed the institutional business for some of the largest and most recognizable employers in the country. She attended Mesa Public Schools and graduated from Mesa High School. She went to ASU for both a bachelor’s degree and graduate school.
The school board evaluates the superintendent. How do you rate Dr. Andi Fourlis’ performance as superintendent: Exceeds, meets, approaches, or far falls below the level of performance required and why?: I cannot honestly or sincerely rate the superintendent at this time since I do not have access to the confidential data that needs to be considered for such a rating. If elected to the school board, I would be part of the group that manages and evaluates the superintendent. I do not believe as a candidate that it would be right for me to form any kind of advanced bias for or against a district employee that I will be responsible for managing.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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