Your Vote Can Help Restore All K-12 Schools!
A major part of Arizona Women of Action’s mission is restoring education, and 1.1 million children are enrolled in AZ public schools. Over the past year, we’ve been focused on recruiting, mentoring and guiding strong parents and grandparents to run for school board in their district. Please look at our voter guide to see who we recommend in your district.
But you can impact schools even beyond your district. The office of Maricopa County School Superintendent is responsible for overseeing all the school districts in Maricopa County and appointing school board members when there’s a vacancy. Arizona needs a superintendent who understands that our education system must focus on high-quality education, academic excellence and parental transparency.
We believe Shelli Boggs is the right person for this critical job, and she tells our readers specifically WHY this office makes such a huge impact on our Arizona students and families. Here’s our Interview with Shelli Boggs, candidate for Maricopa County School Superintendent:
Q: Tell us who you are and why you’re running.
A: I am a lifelong Arizonan, dedicated educator, proud mom and a “Mimi” to eight grandbabies. I attended public schools in Maricopa County, as did my children, and I now have school-aged grandbabies. My father retired from Mesa Public Schools after over 30 years as a teacher and coach. My brother has worked in the unified districts for 25 years as a teacher and a principal. For the past 20 years, I have been active in the education arena in Maricopa County, serving as a classroom teacher, school board member and education advocate. I have experienced our county’s schools through many different lenses. My passion for education and family drives my mission to ensure every child in Maricopa County has the opportunity to succeed. My commitment to students and teachers shines through in my work on the EVIT (East Valley Institute of Technology) board, where I've led efforts to cut costs and increase teacher pay by 40%.
I am running for the office of Maricopa County School Superintendent to bring a much-needed course correction. Students should come first, with a focus on academics over politics. Our schools should respect parents, encourage their involvement and repair parent/teacher relationships. This office must support our teachers and provide them with the tools they need to be successful. Our district and charter public schools must compete to become the first choice for Maricopa County families. With dropping standards, radical politics in classrooms, and a lack of accountability in education leadership, I am committed to bringing experience, record of success, and proven leadership to the office of Maricopa County School Superintendent.
Q: Voters need advice--what qualities make for the best school board candidates?
A: Voters should look for candidates with real-world experience and a track record of supporting education—not just those who check boxes with degrees but lack hands-on knowledge. A strong candidate will have the skills needed to understand policy, navigate school finances, communicate diplomatically, and bring valuable life experience. Experience with fiscal responsibility, firsthand understanding of community needs, and a commitment to protecting parental rights in education are all essential.
Q: How exactly do school boards affect the everyday policies, curricula and funding that shape our kids’ schools?
A: School board candidates have a significant role in shaping educational policies and funding by listening to the community's needs and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: directly to classrooms. They can prioritize funding for essential academic programs, back-to-basics learning, and ensure transparency so that taxpayers see where and how funds are used. School board members can stand against unnecessary spending on administrative overhead, putting funds toward hiring high-quality teachers and improving educational materials. By pushing for clear educational standards and making sure that classrooms stay focused on academics rather than political agendas, they can create an environment where both teachers and students thrive.
Q: AZ parents have become very concerned about low academic performance, lack of transparency and parent’s rights at schools. How should school boards respond to parents?
A: One of the most urgent issues is ensuring that every student meets fundamental academic standards, especially in math and English, where we’re seeing far too many students fall behind. We must support teachers who want to teach thoroughly but face administrative pressures that limit them. Parents and teachers alike are frustrated with a system that’s focused more on bureaucratic red tape than on delivering quality education. Candidates must be willing to roll up their sleeves and push for reforms that eliminate distractions, streamline processes, and place a laser focus on academic excellence, discipline, and a strong partnership between parents and schools.
Q: Are there specific examples of school board members making a powerful impact for good at their district schools?
A: One of the greatest honors in my career has been working with many outstanding school board members who have positively impacted their districts. However, as a school board member myself, I would like to highlight the success I am most proud of: HopeTech. This initiative, which I envisioned in 2019, provides foster youth who have aged out of the system with a safe environment where they can complete their education and receive career training. I knew how to bring this idea to life and worked tirelessly with our state legislature to secure a $10 million appropriation to make it happen—a huge success for our kids and our community. Today, HopeTech, EVIT’s residential community, offers apartment-style housing and resources, giving foster youth a supportive home as they pursue independence and a brighter future. Programs like this, rooted in conservative values of independence, responsibility, and opportunity, show how school board members can positively influence lives and support students in practical, lasting ways.
Under my leadership, EVIT nearly doubled enrollment, reduced administrative costs, and provided a 40% raise to teachers—all without raising taxes. I will bring this same commitment to efficiency and accountability to the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s office, ensuring that every taxpayer dollar directly benefits our schools.