Candidate Questionnaire: Kathleen Richards

Kathleen lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and 2 children.

Kathleen is an experienced teaching artist and nonprofit administrator. She currently serves as a substitute teacher through ESI and has worked in education for over a decade. Additionally, she has spent several years in professional fundraising from both grants and individuals.

Kathleen Richards’s campaign for school board member is her first run for public office.

Candidate website

Believes in offering curricula that reflect the knowledge and needs of 2024 and beyond, and emphasizes teaching students to be responsible and safe technology users.

Advocates for teaching students to be responsible and safe technology users.

Believes in offering curricula that reflect the knowledge and needs of 2024 and beyond.

Advocates for a clear, and universally enforced policy regarding cell phones on campuses.

Believes students should learn to use AI responsibly and well.

- Advocates for teaching students to be responsible and safe technology users.
- Believes in offering curricula that reflect the knowledge and needs of 2024 and beyond.
- Advocates for a clear, and universally enforced policy regarding cell phones on campuses.
- Believes students should learn to use AI responsibly and well.
- Supports HUSD parental rights policies.

School Curriculum

Supports a budget continuation to provide funding for the district.

- Supports a budget continuation to provide funding for the district.

School Facilities & Resources

Facebook

Advocates for more parent accountability in the schooling of their children.

- Advocates for more parent accountability in the schooling of their children.

Student Wellbeing

Advocates for teacher retention initiatives.

Advocates for easing the burden for teachers who spend their own money on school supplies.

- Advocates for teacher retention initiatives.
- Advocates for easing the burden for teachers who spend their own money on school supplies.

Teachers

Supports data-driven student retention initiatives.

Believes Arizona has not figured out how to make voucher systems work for students and families.

- Supports data-driven student retention initiatives.
- Believes Arizona has not figured out how to make voucher systems work for students and families.

Access to Education

Kathleen Richards

Kathleen Richards lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her husband and 2 children.

Kathleen Richards is an experienced teaching artist and nonprofit administrator. She currently serves as a substitute teacher through ESI and has worked in education for over a decade. Additionally, she has spent several years in professional fundraising from both grants and individuals.

Kathleen Richard’s campaign for School Board Member in Higly Unified School District is her first run for public office.

Supports budget overrides and bonds to provide funding for the district.

- Supports budget overrides and bonds to provide funding for the district.

Believes protecting schools is a community effort and encourages public involvement in safety measures.

Believes in supporting child well-being through community involvement, and as a volunteer with the HTA Drama Club, has been recognized for service at HTA and Cooley ECDC.

Believes retaining the best teachers is a top priority.

Believes teachers should feel "respected and valued" and supports understanding reasons for teacher attrition to improve retention.

Believes in the enduring role of teachers in education.

Endorsed by the Higley Education Association, the professional organization representing Higley Unified School District teachers and staff.

Believes their experience as a teacher and nonprofit administrator makes them "the most qualified" to guide schools into the future.

Believes in the importance of experienced educators, saying, "I currently serve as a substitute teacher through ESI and have worked in education for over a decade."

Believes maintaining academic excellence requires intention.

Believes "our students deserve the best possible education."

Believes quality academics are crucial for student success.

Believes in prioritizing funding for public schools over tax breaks for private school vouchers.

Supports access to public schools and accepts donations to fund campaign materials.

Believes Arizona's diverse educational options, including district, charter, and private schools, require understanding family preferences and reasons for student transfers to maintain competitiveness and improve district success.

Supports public education and opposes school vouchers.

As of September 23, 2024, Kathleen Richards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- School board members set district policy, encourage parent involvement, establish budgets, and determine educational goals for your local school district.
- This position is voluntary. School board members are not paid a salary.

Oversees the local schools' policies and budget.