Number of children: I have been married for 22 years and have four sons.
Number of children in/or graduated from district schools: 3 currently enrolled–a junior, freshman, and 3rd grader. And one who graduated.
Children in private or charter schools: 0.
Current job: Orthodontist and local business owner
School organizations you belong or have belonged to: My kids have attended Greenfield and Highland Park Elementary, Greenfield and Highland Junior Highs, Highland High and Gilbert Classical Academy and I have been involved with PTSOs, booster clubs and other organizations at each school.
At the district level I currently serve on the Master Capital Planning Committee and served on surplus space and curriculum adoption committees.
Other organizations you belong to: I am very active in church, service, and dental organizations, have coached youth sports and served several years as scout leader
Education background: I grew up in Mesa receiving a great education from Mesa Public Schools. I earned a degree in business management from BYU and DDS degree from Pacific. Following graduation I taught at Pacific for 2 years while earning a masters in education and completing the coursework for an EdD. I then earned a certificate in orthodontics and masters in science.
Why are you running for the governing board?
I am running to make Gilbert Public Schools the best choice for parents in our community and the gold standard for education in Arizona. Together we will do that by putting students first and focusing on academic excellence and student achievement, listening to and working with parents, respecting and supporting teachers, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency, keeping politics out of the classroom, improving school safety, enhancing career and technical education opportunities, and preparing students for lifelong success. I want every Gilbert Public Schools graduate to feel they received the very best preparation for their post high school goals.
What number of school board meetings have you attended or watched online in the last 12 months?
More than 10
Have you ever run for an elective office before? If so, when and for what?
I have not run for an elected public office before. I have run and won elections for state and national education and dental organization leadership positions.
What topics will you bring to the forefront and how do you plan to tackle them as a board member, if elected?
We will focus on academic excellence and student achievement so every GPS graduate is prepared for their post graduation goals. As a board member I will focus on both the big picture and small details to create a culture of excellence that prepares students for their chosen tract in high school. This starts at the K-2 level and continue through high school. We need to expand accelerated programs to prepare students for honors and AP coursework, improve communication on and access to career and technical opportunities, and ensure that we have robust fail safes in place to help catch up students that are behind and not just keep advancing without mastering competencies.
Other topics of focus will include listening to and working with parents, respecting and supporting teachers, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency, keeping politics out of the classroom, improving school safety, enhancing career and technical education opportunities, and preparing students for lifelong success.
Are you in favor of retaining school resource officers on high school and middle school campuses? Why or why not?
I am in favor of retaining school resource officers and feel they play a vital role in school safety and discipline, helping teachers focus on teaching and students on learning.
Are you satisfied with the district’s policy on cell phone use by students on campus? If not, what would you like to see?
I agree with a no cell bell to bell policy and want to see it enforced district wide. Cell phones can be a major cause of distraction, discipline problems, and feelings of loneliness and low self esteem amongst students.
Do you favor the district policy to allow and educate students to use AI? If yes, what fail-safes would you suggest while introducing AI literacy?
Best practices for AI is an important topic for all organizations and individuals worldwide. We need to prepare students for the future and agree we should be educating students on how to utilize AI. I will study recommendations on fail-safes and engage with parents through town hall meetings and other conversations on the best way to use AI in schools.
Would you support budget overrides and site sales to provide funding for the district?
Overrides are the system AZ has for local control of investing in education. Public school funding is complex with many sources at the federal, state and local level contributing usually with restrictions on how it can be spent. I believe changes at the state level are needed and will advocate accordingly.
Public schools, and all institutions receiving taxpayer funds, need to be transparent and responsible to ensure money is used wisely to earn the public’s trust. As a volunteer on the GPS Master Capital Planning Committee and as a candidate, I have spent a lot of time studying school finances and pledge to go line by line through the entire budget to make sure every dollar is allocated in a way that maximizes student learning and achievement.
Once that trust is earned, voters need to decide what type of schools they want in their community. With current state funding, if we want schools that provide an excellent education through rigorous academics in a safe environment with thriving art, music, and extra curricular programs, reasonable class sizes, and great teachers that are compensated fairly, we have to invest through overrides.
I support the site sales as a prudent and responsible way to raise needed funds for the district.
What is your take on school vouchers and participating families? Should it be a practice that public schools continue to follow?
I believe in school choice and parents playing an active role in the education of their children. Academic excellence and student achievement increase the more parents are involved and engaged. I will work my hardest to make Gilbert Public Schools the very best choice for all parents in our community and surrounding areas.
90% of teachers in the USA spend their own money on school supplies in order to set their students up for success. On an average, teachers spent over $850, with only a $300 deduction limit in the 23-24 academic year, according to a study by My eLearning World. What measures would you propose to ease this burden on the teachers in your school district?
Teachers should not have to spend their own money on school supplies. We need to focus funding on classroom spending to set teachers and students up for success. I will work with district leaders and principals to approve a budget that includes needed supplies. If teachers choose to spend their own money, the deduction limit should be increased.