Ballotpedia, Gretchen Jacobs

Gretchen earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and her law degree from Santa Clara University. She serves on several boards, including Junior League, First Things First Scottsdale Region, and Autism Care & Treatment Today. She lives with her husband Tom and 2 daughters.

Gretchen is the founder and president of Arizona Governmental Affairs. She has previously worked as an attorney. 

Gretchen Jacobs's campaign for school board member is her first run for public office. 

Advocates for the needs of students who learn differently, including those who are gifted or have special needs.

- Advocates for the needs of students who learn differently, including those who are gifted or have special needs.

School Curriculum

Candidate website

Believes in repurposing existing funds to prioritize increasing teacher salaries.

Believes in repurposing existing funds to prioritize increasing teacher salaries to increase retention and recruitment rates. 

Supports prioritizing funding for classrooms and resources that will benefit students and teachers.

- Believes in repurposing existing funds to prioritize increasing teacher salaries to increase retention and recruitment rates. 
- Supports prioritizing funding for classrooms and resources that will benefit students and teachers.

School Facilities & Resources

Supports background checks to ensure student safety.

- Supports background checks to ensure student safety.

Student Wellbeing

Supports revising SUSD's policy on teacher seniority to recognize breaks for child care without penalizing educators' pay and status.

Supports higher pay for teachers over administrators.

Believes the highest-paid employees should include teachers instead of just administrators. 

Opposes mandating all Arizona school districts to join the state health insurance plan.

- Supports revising SUSD's policy on teacher seniority to recognize breaks for child care without penalizing educators' pay and status.
- Believes the highest-paid employees should include teachers instead of just administrators. 
- Opposes mandating all Arizona school districts to join the state health insurance plan.

Teachers

As of September 18, 2024, Gretchen Jacobs’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

Facebook

Gretchen Jacobs

Gretchen is the Founder and President of Arizona Governmental Affairs. She has previously worked as an attorney. 

Gretchen Jacobs' campaign for school board is her first run for public office. 

Believes Arizona universities could obtain better health insurance at a lower cost without state health insurance program mandates.

Believes community connection enhances understanding, support, and collaboration.

Supports Arizona State University and University of Arizona's exit from the state health insurance plan to save $30 million annually.

Believes in community involvement through hosting neighborhood meet-and-greets, word-of-mouth, and donating to support campaign goals.

Believes school districts should have the option to join the state health insurance plan.

Believes the state health insurance trust fund should not be used to cover state budget deficits, as it leads to higher premiums.

Believes teachers are "most critical to a school’s success."

Believes recruiting and retaining teachers is "paramount" and supports various strategies to achieve this goal.

Supports providing "meaningful support for teachers."

Supports access to quality education for all students.

Believes access to education is crucial for children.

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

Believes transparency into the budget will allow for repurposing funds to address financial inequities.

- 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.