I can’t believe it, Secular Fam, but there are less than three weeks until the 2024 election. My ballot came in the mail Monday, and I took about 15 minutes to get both pages filled in. I opted to follow many of Vic Aronow’s recommendations on the judges and ballot initiatives, and I already received notification that the county has my ballot.
The last few weeks, I’ve struggled to get out a new Substack because I’ve been sick. Trust, there has been no shortage of idiotic behavior at school board meetings and candidate shenanigans off- and online. A friend in Scottsdale told me that the school board race there has resulted in dozens of signs being stolen, destroyed, or defaced, and the level of unfounded attacks on social media is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
A group of bigots participated in a candidate event earlier this month. A teacher exodus is taking place in the Liberty School District, apparently due to district leadership. A former board member from Litchfield Elementary School District lost his lawsuit against the district. The sign shenanigans are happening in Pima Countyas well, and I swear to the lordT, if I never see a political sign for the rest of my life, I’ll die happy.
Perhaps it’s my proximity to the West Valley, but Peoria (PUSD) continues to provide such spectacular displays of what is on the line for school districts throughout Arizona that my eye continues to be pulled in that direction. There was a regular board meeting in PUSD last week, and a candidate forum this week. I’m really hopeful that after November 5, 2024, I can finally quit PUSD, but for now…
JEANNE CASTEEN has a bachelor’s degree in human communication and history from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at ASU and a master’s in education, also from ASU. Jeanne has over 11 years of experience teaching in Maricopa County’s public schools. In 2011, Jeanne completed the Emerge Arizona program and in 2012 became a school board member of the Creighton School District. She served as Board President from 2016 through 2020. In 2020, Ms. Casteen ran for Maricopa County School Superintendent, and came within 12,000 votes of winning. She has been awarded the Arizona School Public Relations Association Award for Excellence in Advocacy and Political Contributions to Education as well as the Arizona School Board Association’s All-Arizona School Board Member Award.
Author: Jeanne Casteen, Secular AZ Executive Director
JEANNE CASTEEN has a bachelor’s degree in human communication and history from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at ASU and a master’s in education, also from ASU. Jeanne has over 11 years of experience teaching in Maricopa County’s public schools. In 2011, Jeanne completed the Emerge Arizona program and in 2012 became a school board member of the Creighton School District. She served as Board President from 2016 through 2020. In 2020, Ms. Casteen ran for Maricopa County School Superintendent, and came within 12,000 votes of winning. She has been awarded the Arizona School Public Relations Association Award for Excellence in Advocacy and Political Contributions to Education as well as the Arizona School Board Association’s All-Arizona School Board Member Award. View all posts by Jeanne Casteen, Secular AZ Executive Director →
