Four running for two seats on Queen Creek Unified board

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Queen Creek Unified School District governing board.

Samantha Davis, who currently serves as president of the board, is running for reelection. She has been on the governing board since 2018.

Current board member Kelli Anderson will be running for her first full term after being appointed in 2025.

They are being challenged by Michael Romero and Sarah Purcell.

Monday was the deadline for candidates to file the signatures needed to be placed on the November ballot.

During her time as a board member, Davis helped establish norms and protocols to ensure efficiency and oversight. The Arizona School Boards Association has shared the Queen Creek Unified School Board norms and protocols with school boards across the state as an example of board excellence.

An Army veteran, Anderson, who homeschools her children, was appointed to the QCUSD board by Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs after controversial former member James Knox resigned in January 2025. Anderson is serving out Knox’s term, which ends in December.

Following Knox’s resignation, Purcell was one of three candidates chosen by a district team made up of Davis, QCUSD Superintendent Perry Berry, a teacher and members of the community to fill the vacancy. She was ultimately not selected by Boggs. Purcell taught at Gateway Polytechnic Academy and Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary and worked for Gilbert Public Schools.

Romero taught at Tempe High School from 2007 to 2015. He was chair of the school’s career and technical education department and served as an adviser to DECA, which aims to create future business leaders.

The election takes place on Nov. 3.

Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org. Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.