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.
We kick off the Q&A series by asking candidates, “How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?”
As the election gets closer, keep an eye on yourvalley.net/mesa-independent and the print edition of the Mesa Independent for more from the Q&A series.
For the following, candidates Jacob Martinez and Ed Steele didn’t respond to emails.
***
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.
How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?: I am a former middle school teacher for Mesa Public Schools and for the Los Angeles Unified School District. I taught middle school for nearly 12 years. I am also a former substitute teacher and a teacher’s assistant. This experience will assist me to know the needs of both staff and students.
I hold a master of arts degree in education; therefore, I am academically and professionally trained regarding the teaching profession.
I am a former school board member for Salt River Schools. I was the school board secretary and the vice-chairman. I have experience in participating in open public meetings. I know the role of the school board member. If elected I will be able to begin with the concept, “Hit the ground running.”
As an associate judge for just over nine years I am professionally trained to be a fact finder. If elected, I will be able to approach all issues in an unbiased and impartial manner.
My wife and I have two sons attending schools at Mesa Public Schools and two sons who graduated from Mesa High School. Therefore, I have a vested interest to ensure that Mesa Public Schools are running efficiently and effectively.
***
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.
How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?: It is essential to have a child in the district in order to know what is happening at the grassroots level in the classroom; without that, a critical piece of the puzzle is missing for a few other candidates. I currently have my second child attending Mesa High School and have a thorough understanding of what is being taught to our children as my son and I cover his work on a daily basis and have done so for several years now. Having a child in the district also gave me the opportunity to serve on the School Improvement Advisory Committee during his junior high years, which was invaluable in order to understand the inner workings of how the board and superintendency impact our children.
I realized, way too late, that I had failed my daughter and had fallen asleep at the wheel while I allowed Mesa Public Schools to “educate” her. It was at that point, approximately five years ago, that I vowed not to fail my son the same way. As a result, since then, I have become thoroughly entrenched in the district policies and curriculum and understand exactly what is needed to help our children succeed.
***
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.
How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?: I am experienced. I have taught history and directed interdisciplinary programming at the secondary and university levels. I am currently serving on the Mesa Public Schools governing board.
I am committed to public education. Every kid deserves a great public education in a safe and healthy school. Every student must be engaged in meaningful real-life learning that meets their strength and need. Every student deserves to be served by professional educators and dedicated support personnel in a fully funded school.
I am collaborative. The most effective governing board member works collaboratively in the best interest of our students. Listening to the perspectives of parents, students, community members and educators leads to better decisions. An effective board member works with governing board colleagues and the superintendency to set sound educational and fiscal policies. An effective board member strengthens community partnerships to align community resources and talents to meet students’ strengths and needs. We must bring all members of this community to the table to listen, think, share, and act together for the good of our schools.
***
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.
How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?: I am prepared because I have a unique background in both academic achievement and career experience. At ASU I was hired by the university as a teaching assistant and research assistant. At Vanguard I learned how to gain efficiencies in administration, develop policy and procedures, and was beholden to government regulation and legislation. I frequently worked with legal counsel and auditors.
I have a special interest in curriculum. I studied Spalding phonics and taught my daughter to read when she was 5.
***
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.
How are you better prepared to be a school board member than your opponents?: My biggest strength is the fact that I’m a personal byproduct of Mesa Public Schools. I graduated from Westwood in 1990. Four of my children have graduated from MPS and I still have three enrolled at Emerson Elementary and Westwood. My business degree — an MBA from Arizona State — as well as running and owning my own business gives me a lot of experience in financial matters, looking at and evaluating budgets, and making sound decisions that will maximize our taxpayer dollars.
My marketing/advertising background will help me promote all the great things that are happening in Mesa Public Schools.
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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here