Following an executive session, the Peoria Unified School District governing board convened a special board meeting to announce the finalists for the district’s superintendent search.

The following finalists, appearing in alphabetical order, will be invited to interview with the governing board and stakeholder interview teams Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 9 and 10:

Dr. Alexa Cunningham 

Dr. Cunningham currently serves as superintendent of Salt Lake City School District in Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to her appointment in 2016, Dr. Cunningham served as superintendent of Tolleson Union High School District from 2011-2016 and assistant superintendent of educational services in the Agua Fria Union High School District from 2006-2011. Dr. Cunningham worked in the Peoria Unified School District from 1989-2006 as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. She serves on the board of directors for Cognia Utah. Dr. Cunningham has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University, a Master of Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and an Ed.D. from Arizona State University.  

Dr. Jason Reynolds 

Dr. Reynolds currently serves as the deputy superintendent of Peoria Unified School District. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Reynolds served as assistant superintendent of leadership and secondary instruction within the Paradise Valley Unified School District from 2015-2019. Dr. Reynolds started his career in the Paradise Valley Unified School District in 1997, where he has also held positions of director of curriculum and instruction, principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Dr. Reynolds is president of the Arizona School Administrators Association, Educational Services Division. He has his Bachelor of Arts degree from Central College, Master of Education and Ed.D. both from Northern Arizona University. 

Dr. Arsenio Romero 

Dr. Romero is currently serving as superintendent of the Deming Public Schools in Deming, New Mexico. He also serves as the lead performance coach for the New Mexico Public Education Department. Prior to serving as superintendent, Dr. Romero served as assistant superintendent of the Roswell Independent School District. Dr. Romero was a teacher and principal at Las Cruces Public Schools in Albuquerque from 2001-2014. Dr. Romero was awarded the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. Dr. Romero has a Bachelor of Science degree from New Mexico State University, a Master of Educational Leadership from University of New Mexico and an Ed.D. from New Mexico State University.

Dr. Scott Menzel 

Dr. Menzel currently serves as superintendent of Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to his appointment in 2011, Dr. Menzel served as superintendent of Livingston Educational Service Agency and Whitmore Lake Public Schools. In 2019, he received the Outstanding Superintendent Communicator Award from the Michigan School Public Relations Association. He has his Bachelor of Arts from Vanguard University, Master of Arts from the American University and Ed.D. from Eastern Michigan University.  

In addition, a Community Forum will take place Monday, Dec. 9 that will provide staff and the community an opportunity to learn more about the candidates and share their feedback. Details on this forum will be made available shortly and will be available on the district website at peoriaunified.org/superintendentssearch.

The Governing Board may make a decision in the superintendent search process by Monday, Dec. 16. 

Superintendent Mrs. Linda Palles Thompson announced her intent to retire earlier this school year on June 30, 2020. The Peoria Unified Governing Board has contracted with McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, a third-party search firm, to conduct a search to fill this vacancy.