Amanda Wade elected Higley school board president for 2026

By Tom Blodgett
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Amanda Wade was reelected president of the Higley Unified School District Governing Board on Tuesday, assuming leadership as the district confronts enrollment declines and significant budget decisions in the year ahead.

Wade was elected on a 3–2 vote during the board’s annual organizational meeting with Anna Van Hoek, who also had been nominated, and Sara Jarman dissenting. The board then selected Jarman as vice president on a 4–1 vote, with Van Hoek dissenting, completing the governing board’s leadership for 2026.

Board Member Scott Glover nominated Wade, who also served for 2025. Wade, who makes all the motions as president, later moved for the vote on herself, an action which she said she did not like doing.

Board member Van Hoek nominated herself for the presidency but a vote on it was not taken as the motion on Wade came first as a result of her being nominated first.

“From the beginning, I’m focusing my work on transparency and accountability and on ensuring that the board decisions are grounded in clear and accurate information,” Van Hoek said. “Decisions are made to ensure the public has clear understanding.”

She also emphasized fairness and leadership rotation over the course of board members’ terms.

“Leadership roles should be accessible to all board members during their service and the healthy board benefits from a shared responsibility and perspective,” Van Hoek said.

After Wade’s election, the board moved to vice president nominations. Wade nominated Jarman, who accepted and expressed appreciation for the district and the role.

“I have so much gratitude for this district,” Jarman said. “I appreciate you guys.”

The new president and vice president assumed their roles immediately following the votes.

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Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert

tblodgett@iniusa.org

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).