The midterm elections brought three new community leaders to the governing boards of the Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix Elementary School districts in downtown Phoenix, and they were all mothers of color.
The new board members expressed hopes to draw on their diverse backgrounds in creating more inclusive schools.
Here’s a snapshot of the newly-elected women who will serve as downtown’s school leaders:
Naketa Ross — Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board
Naketa Ross’ main platform while running was providing students with a safe, equitable learning environment.
As a child, Ross spent time in the foster care system and said many youth often experience levels of trauma within the system that contribute to the high percentage of students who come from foster care in Phoenix schools.
“Ensuring that we are setting up our students to feel safe and understanding is what they need,” Ross said.
Ross’ passion for enacting positive change in PUHSD started when she brought her now 16-year-old daughter to a school in the district.
She said she hit several roadblocks during the enrollment process, causing her daughter to miss a whole week of school.
After hearing of others who also struggled with enrollment, Ross realized she couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. Instead, she decided to run for the board where she could make real change.
Ross laid out her first task on the governing board: listening, saying she wants to know about the students’, teachers’ and community’s concerns, needs and wants for next year.
After speaking with parents and students, the main concern that came up was discipline of students. Parents said students who have been punished for incidents in the past have more severe punishments in the future without taking into account things like past trauma or family instability.
She said she wants to convey to the board that background plays a vital role in how students are treated. She hopes to put policies in place that better support students to be successful.
“I want to make sure that our students are heard and working to create an environment of support, which trickles down to the staff,” Ross said.
Ross is most excited about supporting and serving as a role model to students in PUHSD.
“Most of our children in school don’t know they can aspire to do these things,” Ross said.
Elora Diaz — Phoenix Elementary School Board
Talent, community engagement, and equity were Elora Diaz’s focal points during her campaign.
Diaz aims to bring in and retain the best teachers to educate Phoenix Elementary students. She also wants the community to feel supported and heard in order to cultivate crucial relationships between the board and students’ families. Lastly, she believes there should be equal opportunities for education for all.
Before taking any actions, Diaz wants to analyze data in order to understand the scope of the district and meet with key stakeholders and parent groups, teacher unions and administrations to get a better sense of their priorities.
Diaz also plans to approach the governing board with an open mind by observing what has worked well for other districts and adapting their strategies for other implementations.
She said her most significant support for anything in her life has been her family.
“From the time I was a little girl, my grandparents and mom would always bring up college, so I always knew I was going to go,” said Diaz, a first-generation college graduate.
As a former teacher, she said she knows the students are affected not only by educators but all school staff. She decided to run for the governing board after realizing being a teacher wasn’t going to be enough for her.
“I was only able to affect what was in my four walls, and I wanted to make an impact that affected as many students as possible,” Diaz said.
Diaz gave birth to her first child five weeks ago, and it has already helped shape her understanding of education.
“If this isn’t good enough for my son, then I’m not doing a good job,” she said.
Carmen Trujillo — Phoenix Elementary School Board
Carmen Trujillo said she believes elementary school is the foundation for the rest of students’ lives and career. She hopes to advocate for school safety and sustainability, adding her aim to have more parent involvement so she can build long-lasting relationships and trust between the community and board.
Trujillo is a social worker who focuses on developmental disabilities — a role where she said she pushes for positive change every day.
Inclusion will be of significant importance to her during her tenure on the board, she said. As a hispanic woman, she sees the value of having representation on the board and making sure that the community “feels comfortable in their skin.”
Trujillo said her grandmother’s lasting legacy inspires her passion for making these changes in the community.
“My grandmother was the neighborhood activist who raises awareness about issues in the community,” Trujillo said.
Her grandmother pushed for adequate housing conditions while working for the City of Phoenix and helped develop a ranch market, among other accomplishments.
Trujillo said the most valuable lesson her grandmother taught her was: “Don’t hide in your kitchen or on your couch. Go out and advocate for your community.”
Contact the reporter at egraves5@asu.edu.
