School board vacancy attracts familiar faces

Five people have applied for the vacant position on the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board, including some former candidates.

The seat came open with the resignation of Leslie Carlyle-Burnett. The appointment is made by Pinal County Superintendent Jill Broussard and will run through the next available election, in November 2016.

• Joshua Judd, a former Marine military policeman and educator in another district, has three children enrolled at MUSD and has been an active advocate for education issues.

• Rhonda Melvin, a homemaker with an associate’s degree in early childhood development, was a candidate in the 2014 school board election. Her three children attended MUSD.

• Marlene Pearce is a parent who sought an appointment to a vacancy on the city council in 2012. She is executive assistant for Pinal County Supervisor Anthony Smith.

• Leon Potter ran for the school board in 2012 and is a former member of the Maricopa City Council. A tax advisor, he has children in the district. He is president of the Maricopa Rotary Club.

***ADVERTISEMENT***• Jaysie Sheppard is a former teacher who was also a candidate for the school board in the last election. She played professional basketball in the WNBA and is president of the ministry TPA HOOPS.

Interviews will take place next Tuesday, according to Brenda Katterman, administrative clerk III at the County Superintendent’s Office. Pending a background check, the successful applicant could be announced by the end of next week.