Lee & Bales: PVUSD Superintendents share message with PV voters

As former superintendents, we appreciate that Paradise Valley Unified School District voters not only support PVUSD by approving bonds and overrides but also through their choices for Governing Board members. By and large, the community has elected individuals who have spent years volunteering in our district, learning about the opportunities and issues PVUSD faces, helping create solutions focused on students in a collaborative, nonpartisan manner. This year, you have a clear choice to do so again, and we encourage you to elect Anne Greenberg, Jessica Wani and Amanda Lim.

We have worked tirelessly with Anne Greenberg, an award-winning writer and business owner, and her diligent board service is an asset needed now more than ever. PVUSD has consistently benefited from her professionalism, knowledge, strategic thinking, and willingness to listen and learn as she leads. An attorney specializing in family law championing children, Jessica Wani worked closely with us through United Parent Council and district committees, and she has staunchly advocated for increased education funding. Her enthusiasm for the PV district and community is unparalleled. All three candidates are proud products of K-12 public schools, but Amanda Lim is actually a PVUSD graduate. We have been inspired by her journey as a student with a learning disability who is now a successful biomedical researcher thanks to the foundation built in our schools, schools she and her husband have chosen for their children.

These three will steadfastly work with all stakeholders, not create division with inflammatory scenarios of nonexistent problems. It is frankly alarming that the other candidates have demonstrated an extraordinary lack of understanding of the district and community as well as the state of public education and funding in Arizona.

We urge you to vote for Greenberg, Wani, and Lim – qualified and passionate leaders who won’t play politics with PVUSD.

Jim Lee and Troy Bales are former superintendents of Paradise Valley Unified School District. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.