Six candidates are running for three seats on the Higley Unified School District's governing board in the Nov. 3 general election.
Two of the seats carry regular four-year terms. The third is a two-year seat added to the ballot after board member Scott Glover resigned July 20; without his departure, only two seats would have been up this fall.
In the four-year races, board president Amanda Wade and fellow incumbent Anna Van Hoek face challenger Michelle Morris.
Wade has been on the board since January 2023. She taught for 10 years and holds a master's in secondary education. In her candidate statement, she said her goal is "to provide the best educational experience" for every Higley student, pairing a challenging curriculum with a safe, respectful environment. Her priorities include recruiting and keeping strong teachers, protecting programs such as art, music, physical education and libraries, and supporting override and bond measures.
Van Hoek, also first seated in January 2023, said her first term has focused on financial oversight, transparency, parental rights and accountability. She pointed to her work in finance, contracts and compliance as preparation for weighing complex budget and operational questions. If re-elected, she wrote, she will keep pushing for transparency, fiscal responsibility and independent governance in the interest of students and taxpayers.
Morris moved into the district in December 2022 and has more than 30 years of accounting experience. She and her husband have four daughters; the oldest is a Williams Field High graduate and the other three attend Higley schools.
