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Dr. Terry Leyba Ruiz Dr. Terry Leyba Ruiz is a career educator, executive leader, and passionate advocate for public education. Her journey began as a student in the Roosevelt Elementary School District and continued through Northern Arizona University before concluding with a doctoral degree in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University. Terry has

Berdetta Hodge Berdetta Hodge has been a resident of the city of Tempe for over 40 years. She was raised in Tempe and graduated from Tempe public schools. From a young age, Berdetta sought to become a transformative leader in our city. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. She has

Dr. Stephen Neal Jr. Dr. Stephen Neal Jr. is a native of Arizona and a proud education professional with 35 years of experience. Dr. Neal emphasizes compassion, integrity, accountability, open dialogue, and trust as a devoted Christian, husband, father, son, and community servant. He is a candidate for Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction for

Dr. Marvene Lobato Dr. Marvene Lobato has served as a public educator for 40 years in Arizona and Colorado. Her experience in public education includes the following positions: Elementary Teacher, Elementary Principal, Director of Elementary Education, Business Manager, Executive Director for Business Services, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services and Superintendent. She earned her Bachelor of

Dr. Michael Butts Dr. Michael D. Butts has served as a teacher and school administrator for the past 9 years in Osborn and Agua Fria Union High School districts while also serving on the board of the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented Children and currently as an elected member of the Roosevelt School Board.

Renaldo Fowler Renaldo is a Senior Staff Advocate with Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) where he has been employed since 1984. Renaldo joined DRAZ following his graduation from Arizona State University and has worked in the disability advocacy field for four decades. He has been a voice in the state regarding racial discrimination, bias discipline practices,

Herbert Washington Herbert Washington is the Harvey K. Smith Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Boys Choir. A proud alumnus of the Phoenix Boys Choir, Mr. Washington’s deep connection to Arizona’s choral pedagogy shapes both his approach to music education and his leadership within the choir. He is widely recognized for his dynamic teaching

Monica Gilfillan Monica Gilfillan, M.S.Ed. is a dedicated lifelong educator,passionate education reform advocate, and strategic leader committed to transforming education and the future of work through innovative solutions and meaningful partnerships. As a Senior Account Executive at MagicSchool, she helps K-12 educators harness the power of AI-driven tools to streamline instruction, enhance learning outcomes, and