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Opinion

Stephan: Restoring confidence, collaboration to SUSD board

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For several years, the SUSD Governing Board engaged in highly divisive practices and hired and supported a corrupt superintendent despite opposition by the teachers’ association and parent groups, who had to fight tooth and nail to uncover and reveal to the public what was really going on in SUSD.

Despite the positive leadership of Dr. Kriekard, much of the damage that the previous administration did remain, and three Governing Board members responsible for the debacle continue to block necessary reforms today.

If we want our educational system to work to its full potential, we need to replace these inexperienced, out-of-touch ideologues with former educators, who know the problems that SUSD faces from personal experience.

Fortunately, we have the ability to do just that this November.

Julie Cieniawski is the right choice for SUSD Governing Board member.

I had the pleasure of working with Julie when she served our district’s students and teachers as the president of the Scottsdale Education Association, and when she fought for improved funding for our state’s students and improved conditions for our teachers as a member of the AEA board of directors, and as a grass-roots organizer and supporter of pro-education measures like Prop 123, the Invest in Ed initiative, and district overrides.

She is one of the hardest-working people that I have ever known.

Julie Cieniawski constantly looks for ways to bring people together, to find common ground, to explore and find practical methods for dealing with the problems that face all educators.

She is honest, professional, and cares more about providing a high-quality, collaborative educational system built on the principles of respect and cooperation than anyone I have ever met.

I have never known a person with greater dedication to and compassion for our state’s students and teachers than Julie, nor anyone more suited to leading SUSD to its full capacity.

Please do your part to restore confidence, collaboration, and experience to the SUSD Governing Board by voting for Julie Cieniawski this November.

Editor’s Note: Ian Hammond Stephan, M.Ed. is a Scottsdale Unified School District educator.