Here are brief biographies and answers to Chandler Indpendent questions from Chandler Unified School District Governing Board candidates.

There will be three total at-large four-year terms up for grabs in the Nov. 5 election. Initially, seven candidates submitted the minimum 400 signatures to be on the Nov. 5 ballot, but Omar Farooq Chaudhry has since withdrawn his petition.

We’ve listed the full Q & A responses in alphabetical order by last name. We’ll publish Leanna DeKing’s Q & A responses once received; we’ve attached her bio to the bottom of this story.

Barb Mozdzen’s name is starred with an asterisk as the lone incumbent.

Eloyce Gillespie

Eloyce Gillespie

Gillespie’s children attend schools in the district. One of her adult children, as well as nieces and nephews, are CUSD graduates.

Gillespie has a master’s degree in educational leadership. She says her role in school finance best prepares me to lead CUSD because funding touches all facets of schooling.

Why are you running for Chandler Unified board in 2024? I want to see continuous and consistent improvement in the district. We need students to be confident in present and prepared for the future.

This means that as a board member, I have to be accountable to the community, students, staff and families and all parties must be able to trust that I will make the best decisions for everyone. Stakeholders have to be comfortable in sharing with me compliments and concerns and, they must be confident that I will do what is best for the district.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board or at least one member made the right choice within the past two years? The decision to have the district be more transparent with the community around funding.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years? The situation with the young girls in high school and the teacher I believe should have been addressed differently. Community members, students and parents were speaking out and constantly asking the board how the situation would be resolved. I realized there were confidential details, but a series of prepared statement could have eased tensions.

What’s a topic or problem the board should have addressed more visibly within the past two years? Title lX. The Board needs to show coordinated leadership and develop a plan in partnership with all stakeholders and let the families, the community and most of all, the students know how children are going to be protected in school restrooms.

Ryan J. Heap

Ryan J. Heap

Heap is a fourth-generation Arizonan and an aerospace electrical engineer by trade. He has a master’s in signal processing / digital communications from Arizona State University.

Heap says he and his wife moved to a home in Gilbert because it was within CUSD boundaries. Their oldest son graduated from CUSD last year and the other three are current students.

What occupation or role best prepares you to be a school board member? I have a masters in Science, Electrical Engineering and my profession is Design Verification Engineer. I see massive opportunities with apprenticeships, internships and partnering with the growing silicon industry.

Why are you running for Chandler Unified board in 2024? CUSD has had several consecutive years of declining enrollment. CUSD needs a school board who can objectively assess where the budget is spent and invest in curriculum and programs that will help reverse the enrollment decline and give its students a clear vision of their path forward.

Three areas I intend to focus: 1) safety and accountability 2) partnering with parents and 3) focus on academics and vocations.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board, or at least one member, made the right choice within the past two years? I applaud Mr. (Kurt) Rohrs and his efforts to highlight and expand CUSD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years? Ms. (Patti) Serrano’s abstaining vote on a SRO contract that was all but paid for by a grant is glaring considering the involvement of CUSD students in the Gilbert Goons.

What’s a topic or problem the board should have addressed more visibly within the past two years? New Title IX resolutions were added by the (U.S.) Dept. of Education on 4/19/2024 and went into effect on 8/1/2024. This has not been on any CUSD board meeting agenda and no changes have been made to CUSD policy. Can boys use girls bathrooms? Can boys enroll in girls P.E. classes? Will non binary kids feel sexually discriminated with existing bathrooms labeled as girls/womens and boys/mens? Do schools now need to have single stall unisex bathrooms?

Claudia Mendoza

Claudia Mendoza

Mendoza is the principal of Sousa Elementary School, part of Mesa Public Schools. She’s an El Paso native who attended New Mexico public schools growing up bilingual.

Mendoza has a bachelor’s from New Mexico State University and a master’s in educational leadership from Arizona State University and is pursuing her doctorate from ASU.

She says she has 28 years of experience in “K-20 education, having held leadership roles at the K-12 and university levels. She and her husband raised two children who attended CUSD schools, namely Santan Elementary, Santan Junior High and Perry High, with both going on to pursue degrees at ASU.

Why are you running for Chandler Unified board in 2024? To advocate for student-centered leadership, expand teacher resources and embrace diverse perspectives within CUSD. My 28 years of experience in education have equipped me with the knowledge and passion to help our schools thrive.

I am committed to ensuring every student in our district has access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed and that our schools reflect the diversity of our community and world as a whole.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board, or at least one member, made the right choice within the past two years? The board’s decision to expand resources in Title I schools, such as Galveston, will help the surrounding communities to enhance educational opportunities for our students.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years? The board should address the gaps in student success among underrepresented communities, such as ELA achievement. As a board member, I plan to address these gaps through a holistic viewpoint.

What’s a topic or problem the board should have addressed more visibly within the past two years? Despite the board including Culture into its Journey 2025 strategic plan, they have not released much information about how they plan to embrace a diverse, inclusive environment for our students.

I hope to bring my expertise as a principal to openly address our efforts to create inclusivity, as well as expand our professional development in diverse backgrounds. When our students feel welcomed and accepted for who they are, they succeed.

*Barb Mozdzen

Barb Mozdzen

Mozdzen is a retired legal assistant who has served on the board since first being elected in 2008. She was reelected in 2012, 2016 and 2020, with her current term expiring in December.

Mozdzen’s children attended CUSD schools, including Shumway and Sanborn elementaries, Andersen and Willis junior high schools and Chandler High School.

She has a bachelor’s of science degree and has volunteered with PTO and booster clubs. Mozdzen has also served on several nonprofits’ boards of directors.

Why are you running for Chandler Unified board in 2024? To ensure all students receive a high-quality education, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, career, and life.
My priorities include expanding innovative programs for students and families, providing future-focused, student-centered leadership, and mentoring a governing board with limited experience.

I am committed to making decisions that are equitable, efficient, fiscally responsible, and data-driven, ensuring our schools continue to thrive and meet the needs of all students.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board or at least one member made the right choice within the past two years? Working with the community to bring the partnership with Hope Institute into CUSD to provide timely referrals to mental health professionals for teen suicide prevention.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years? The board missed an opportunity to improve teacher retention by implementing earlier, comprehensive strategies like mental health resources, smaller class sizes, and flexible work arrangements to reduce burnout.

What’s a topic or problem the board should have addressed more visibly within the past two years? The board should have made college and career readiness a more visible priority by actively promoting efforts to expand dual enrollment programs, offer more career and technical education (CTE) courses, and strengthen partnerships with local businesses and colleges.

Increased communication with students, parents, and the community about these initiatives would have highlighted the district’s dedication to preparing students for life beyond graduation and its commitment to equipping students with the skills needed for future success.

Zeyna Pruzhanovsky

Zeyna Pruzhanovsky

Pruzhanovsky has taught for seven years at Blackwater Community School in the Gila River Indian Community and for 10 years overall.

She has a business degree from the University of Kansas and a 2014 master’s from Arizona State University.

Pruzhanovsky grew up in the Chicago area. She and her husband of 25 years, Val, chose to live in Chandler to raise their family. Their children have attended CUSD schools.

Pruzhanovsky has been a CUSD parent volunteer. She says she’s attended all CUSD board meetings since April 2023.

Why are you running for the Chandler Unified board in 2024? As a 10-year educator, I understand the needs of the classroom and the importance of parent connections.

I am running to preserve the excellence in academics in CUSD education for children, no matter their background. As an educator, I understand the needs of teachers and will represent them on the board. As a parent, I understand the importance of strong connections with educators and staff.

I understand the need to expand workforce development goals and broaden students’ horizons for their futures as outlined by the Portrait of a Learner (enrollment, enlistment, employment or entrepreneurship).

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board, or at least one member, made the right choice within the past two years? The transparency granted by committees, such as the Teen Violence Committee on which I serve, has opened up the board to community input and successful community solutions.

What’s a decision or direction where you feel the board should have gone a different direction or given a topic different consideration, within the past two years? The change of mathematics curriculum at CTAs was not communicated effectively to families. As a board member, I plan to emphasize clearer communication regarding the process of curriculum changes.

What’s a topic or problem the board should have addressed more visibly within the past two years? The board can encourage students to support each other with positive interactions, addressing bullying and creating a positive work culture within staff and the student body. With the Teen Violence Advisory Committee, we are exploring community-based solutions to make safety a priority in our learning communities.

These problems are not isolated to one community and will take a wider effort to support our students. Thus, all solutions must consider a holistic view of children.

Leanna DeKing

Leanna DeKing

DeKing had a bachelor’s degree in government/public law from Claremont McKenna College and a master’s in educational leadership and counseling psychology from Northern Arizona University.

DeKing was the Arizona Department of Veterans Services’ director of the State Approving Agency for the State of Arizona for eight years. She’s currently a policy administrator with the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

She also worked as the director of special education for The Leona Group, Dr. William Coats’ charter school organization. She also has a background in broadcast radio.

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