By Stacy Mantle
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Paradise Valley Unified School District voters will choose two new governing board members this November after Board President Tony Pantera and board member Sandra Christensen opted not to seek reelection.

The election marks a significant leadership transition for the five-member governing board. Current members Dr. Amanda Lim, Anne Greenberg and Jessica Wani will continue serving terms that expire in 2028, while voters will select two new members to help oversee district finances, establish policy and hire and evaluate the superintendent.

Candidate filings remain subject to Arizona's statutory challenge period through July 20, and write-in candidates may still file before the deadline.

Three candidates filed to run for the two open four-year seats before the July 6 filing deadline: Kea Carota, Catherine Barrett and Richard "Rick" Ross.

Kea Carota

Carota enters the race as a longtime Paradise Valley Unified parent volunteer, her website reporting she has spent approximately 14 years working alongside students, teachers and school staff.

On her campaign website, Carota says her priorities include supporting strong public schools, improving student achievement, investing in teachers and staff, maintaining safe learning environments and ensuring fiscal responsibility. She submitted 958 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, the highest total among the three candidates.

Catherine Barrett

Barrett filed her nomination paperwork before the July 6 deadline and submitted 616 petition signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Catherine Barrett, M.Ed., serves as Associate Superintendent for Academic Achievement, overseeing programs including Title I, English Language Learners, Character Education, 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Indian Education, among other academic initiatives.

She brings 23 years of classroom experience and has been recognized as an Arizona Master Teacher, Professional Development Specialist and a Silver Apple Award recipient in 2001. Barrett earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Education degree from Northern Arizona University.

Richard "Rick" Ross

Ross brings decades of educational experience to the race.

According to his campaign website, Ross spent 25 years as a classroom teacher and eight years as a school administrator, with a total of 34 years connected to Paradise Valley Unified schools.

Ross' campaign is centered on academic excellence, supporting educators, student success and collaborative leadership. He submitted 773 petition signatures, along with supplemental signatures, to qualify for the ballot.

The election guarantees at least two new members will join the five-member governing board, marking the district's largest leadership transition since the current board majority was seated.

Exisiting board members

Current board members Dr. Amanda Lim, Anne Greenberg and Jessica Wani remain in office through 2028.

Candidate filings remain subject to Arizona's statutory challenge period through July 20. Write-in candidates may also file before that deadline.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.