Meet the MUSD School Board candidates: Anderson, Knorr, Jordan, Armstead-Payton

 

This year, the terms end for three members of the Maricopa Unified School District, and all three are seeking re-election. Four candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Torri Anderson has been on the board a decade, and AnnaMarie Knorr for almost seven years. Jim Jordan was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy this year, and Tracie Armstead-Payton is a newcomer to Maricopa with school-board experience in the Midwest.

Here is an introduction to the candidates and their platforms. In future weeks, InMaricopa will talk to the candidates about current issues and challenges.

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Torri Anderson

Residence: Anderson Palmisano Farm
Age: 59
Occupation: Former teacher
How many years in Maricopa? 49 Years
Hometown: Maricopa
Family: Married to Kelly Anderson with 3 sons; Calder, Ian and Jackson
Education: B.A. – Education/Kinesiology, K-12 Physical Education; Arizona State University; 20 hours graduate work; Administration, Budget Maintenance, Planning and implementing student IEPs, Adventure programming, Diversity & Tolerance within the classroom
Political experience: Elected to serve as MUSD Governing Board Member; Elected to serve ASBA as Pinal County Director; Elected to serve ASBA as Exec Committee; Chaired ASBA Legislative Committee
Public service: Against Abuse Incorporated Board of Directors; Advocate for the establishment of La Casa de Paz, Maricopa Domestic Violence Shelter; Community Advocate
Work experience: Self-employed adventure programming teambuilding workshops; Arizona State University teaching assistant; Maricopa USD #20; Gilbert USD
Do you have children/grandchildren attending MUSD schools? Kelly, myself and all 3 boys have attended MUSD schools; our youngest just graduated class of 2020. I also have several nieces and nephews who attend MUSD schools.

Why are you running for MUSD Governing Board?

I am so proud with what Maricopa USD has accomplished in the past 10 years. As a graduate of Maricopa High School, it has been rewarding to watch my sons attend MUSD schools and gain a passion for knowledge. Every teacher and staff member contributed to their strong educational foundation, preparing them to become successful young adults.

I have always been an active community member, who gets involved when passionate about creating positive change. I will continue to be invested in our School District, not settle for mediocre and set high goals for excellence. Our students and community deserve an equitable, world-class education. I know a strong public-school system will support a healthy foundation for the future of our great City.

I understand the governing board creates policy and budgets. The school administration manages the staff and implements the policies into each school. It is essential for me to listen learn and respect what the administration, parents and community members feel are important issues for our district. Everyone has a voice, and it is vital for our stakeholders to express their ideas for effective change.

It has been my honor to serve this community, as a teacher, parent and Governing Board Member. I will continue to advocate at the state level, as an executive committee member for the Arizona School Board Association. These relationships built throughout the state have helped me provide a vital perspective when making budget or policy decisions.

Why should you be re-elected?

I believe we have three issues we need to continue to address as a district:

Improve Community Perceptions – it is important to foster positive community relationships. This can start from the example set by the governing board. A school district can improve student achievement through community support. But I also realize community respect is not an entitlement but is earned through positive choices.

Retaining Teachers – it is important to support our students through effective long-standing teachers and sensible class sizes.

Responsible Budget Decisions – the COVID pandemic may affect state and federal funding. MUSD will continue to have difficult budget decisions to make. It is important to listen to all the ideas and opinions and at times “agree to disagree,” but always focused on providing an equitable education for all our students.

I am dedicated to this community and hope you will give me the opportunity to continue to serve the Maricopa Unified School District. I will do my best to continue to serve with integrity and a love for our community.

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Tracie Armstead-Payton

Residence: Senita
Age: over 18
Occupation: Human resources director
How many years in Maricopa? 2.4 years
Hometown: Highland Park, Michigan
Family: Married 24 years, one adult child who has completed her Master of Business Administration and three teenagers in high school.
Education: Bachelor of Science, Michigan State University; Master of Arts, University of Phoenix
Political Experience: I previously served as a board member in my hometown for over three years. My role as a school board member was to establish and approve policies for staff and students that would be implemented by the Superintendent of Schools. My other roles were ensuring the district was fiscally responsible with all revenue streams, approving educational programs to help close achievement gaps, and most importantly, ensuring that both staff and students had the tools they needed.
Public Service: Meals on Wheels Volunteer; Block Club Chairperson; Library Steering Committee Chairperson; School Finance Committee
Work Experience: Currently I work in the Human Resources field for a nonprofit organization. My prior experience included working as a project manager for an automobile company.
Do you have children/grandchildren attending MUSD schools? No, my last three children have been in their same school system since 2010. When the decision was made to move to Maricopa, over two years ago, we as a family discussed the matter and decided it was in the children’s best interest to remain in their current district since they already had established relationships with their peers and teachers. Also, they were receiving supplementary educational services at the time and to interrupt the progress they were making if they transferred schools we believed would not be fair to them.

Why are you running for school board?

My objectives as a candidate for MUSD school board are to:

• Help increase parent participation
• Promote equity for all students
• Enhance diversity on the school board
• Manage school growth
• Ensure fiscal responsibility
• Remove barriers that do not foster educational growth
• Ensure that both students and staff are safe on any MUSD site

Why should you be elected?

I love helping students succeed and develop into productive, contented, and satisfied citizens. Their energy and excitement motivate me to want to do more to be a positive, admirable, and respected role model for them. My deepest hope is that students come back into their Maricopa communities and contribute in any positive way they can. I want students and staff to say Ms. Tracie on the school board listened to us and helped us! I want to be their advocate in as many ways as I possibly can.

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Jim Jordan

Residence: Sorrento
Age:73
Occupation: Retired
How many years in Maricopa? 9
Hometown: Winslow
Family: I have a wife and 3 adult children and 2 grandsons
Education: I have a master’s degree in Business
Political experience: I ran in two campaigns for State Representative in Kansas. I have held a leadership position in a political organization.
Public service: I voluntarily transport food and clothing to missionaries in Mexico. Currently, I serve on the MUSD 20 School Board. In addition, I am a member of the City of Maricopa Transportation Advisory Committee. I also coordinate Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes.
Work experience: For many years I served as a pastor in the Kansas District of The Wesleyan Church. I also was a substitute teacher. I have worked for the State of Kansas. I have worked for the 2015 Maricopa Special Census.
Do you have children/grandchildren attending MUSD schools? My children are all adults and I have two grandchildren in Kansas.

Why are you running for MUSD Governing Board?

MUSD 20 has many good programs that I am excited about. The administration is continually looking for areas to improve, and I want to support those efforts. There are many difficult decisions that must be made in the future pertaining to students, staff and facilities. I want to continue to use my experiences in life to support this school system.

Why should you be elected?

I believe in Excellence in Education. We have an obligation to prepare students for success in life. Financial literacy is one area that is often ignored but is critical for success. Students need to be educated in the use of money so they do not experience financial failure. I want to see young people get that kind of knowledge before they graduate from Maricopa High School.

I have a sincere passion to make MUSD 20 outstanding. I believe that MUSD 20 can become the No. 1 school system in Arizona. Yes, this is a high bar to reach for but why have any lesser goal? As we work to become No. 1 in the state, we will inspire other K-12 schools in Arizona. I also believe that MUSD 20 Sports can achieve that No. 1 level in our State. Go Ram Nation!

To Maricopa voters, parents, MUSD 20 administration, teachers, MUSD 20 Governing Board Members, staff and students: I invite you to join me in this quest and work to make MUSD 20 the No. 1 school system in Arizona. Let us make Maricopa proud.

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AnnaMarie Knorr

Residence: Cobblestone Farms
Age: 40
Occupation: Government Affairs
How many years in Maricopa? 15
Hometown: Buckeye
Family: I have four children – Robert (14), Jake (11), Averie (8) and Juliette (5)
Education: BS Business Management from Arizona State University
Political experience: I am currently president of the Governing Board.
Public service: This is my seventh year on the Board.
Work experience: I have held a job since I was 16 years old. Most recently, I was the AZ Government Affairs Manager for an agricultural association representing farmers.
Do you have children/grandchildren attending MUSD schools? Yes, all four of my children will be attending MUSD schools this fall.

Why are you running for MUSD Governing Board?

I am running for another term on the Board because we have achieved a lot in recent years, but there is still work to do. School finance and the District budget is complex. I have studied it for years and I want to use my knowledge to continue to improve upon our progress to make Maricopa the best district in the state.

We are in the process of building a new school site because Maricopa High School is over capacity. There are so many different aspects that must be considered to ensure that the new school is a place where we are proud to send our students.

Why should you be re-elected?

Our children are the most important part of our lives. I want the very best educational opportunities, not just for my children, but for every child in Maricopa. The children we are educating today are tomorrow’s leaders, business owners and future employees. I want to ensure that they have a solid K-12 foundation to achieve their dreams and make the world a better place.