Governing BoardQUESTION & ANSWER

What unique learning opportunities or experience have they had?

Why do you choose SUSD for your student(s)?

LH: We chose SUSD because of the strong academics and close community connections.

ZL: We chose SUSD because we believe in public education and SUSD has a strong reputation for providing a quality educational experience. Additionally, many of our family friends’ children attend SUSD schools, or work for SUSD, and they highly recommended the district.

AC: My husband and I have chosen SUSD to educate our six children because we enjoy being involved and invested in our community and supporting our neighborhood schools.

How does SUSD benefit your student(s)?

LH: We can say with confidence that our daughter's admission into an Ivy League school is a direct result of the quality education she received in the International Baccalaureate program at Desert Mountain and the outstanding teachers along the way. Both of our students are beneficiaries of SUSD's commitment to the whole child.

ZL: Our daughter has benefited the most from having amazing teachers in SUSD. Each of her teachers have been talented, dedicated, and caring. They have partnered with us as parents to help our daughter grow academically and social-emotionally. Additionally, we are grateful for the highquality school administrators within SUSD and the many opportunities that have been provided to engage families. SUSD offers many extracurricular activities and school events which have also been a great benefit to our daughter and our family.

AC: SUSD offers a variety of opportunities for students of all ages, interests, and academic levels, so our children have been able to be involved in many different offerings. Also, many wonderful teachers, school staff, administrators, and coaches have positively influenced our sons and daughter through their time at SUSD. It’s been a joy to team with so many of them through the years.

LH: I think it is important to give yourself a gut check on how fortunate we are to live in a district that can offer the breadth of opportunities that SUSD offers. It is up to each of us to protect and ensure those opportunities remain available for future generations.

ZL: Masterpiece Art, Girls on the Run, Orchestra, field trips such as AZ Science Center, MIM, OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale Museum of the West, many elective options at Cocopah, and multiple school and PTO-sponsored events outside of the regular school day.

AC: One of our sons is studying disease and public health in college, thanks to developing that interest in the Science Olympiad club he was involved in, in middle and high school. He’s also still playing saxophone which he started playing at Cherokee Elementary in the 4th grade. He also was able to take many AP classes in high school that catapulted him ahead in college, too. He’s a perfect example of all you can get out of a public-school education!

How does your role as a parent influence your work as a Governing Board member?

LH: I have a built-in focus group anytime I want. They do not shy away from telling me their perspective. I value that independence in thought, engagement and frankly, it oftentimes adds a missing perspective - the student - to my analyses.

ZL: It influences it a great deal. I am on the Board because I have a vested interest not only for our community, but for my own child. When reviewing policies, allocations of resources, etc. I always consider how decisions will impact students and their families, knowing that the needs of children vary across our district.

AC: I think it’s important to have parents on the Board who have been invested in our schools through the years. Because of my involvement, I have built good relationships in our community and want to work together to strengthen our schools so more families choose SUSD for their children’s education like I have.