Advisory Councils
The following Advisory Councils are convened by the State Superintendent to inform the work of our department. Each advisory council has a unique membership, although every council includes educators, as well as one high school student and one college student. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
African American Advisory Council
The African American Advisory Council is made up of community members from across Arizona and staff within the Arizona Department of Education. This Advisory Council discusses issues important to the African American community and advise the State Superintendent and the Department of Education about the department’s policies. The council also collaborates with experts and various stakeholders to advance the council’s priorities and goals.
| Dr. April Coleman | Classroom Teachers' Association President, Phoenix Union High School District |
| Dr. Centae Richards | Prescott College |
| Dr. Dawn Demps | University of Arizona College of Education |
| Dr. DeMarcus Jenkins | University of Arizona College of Education |
| Devin Del Palacio | Tolleson Union High School District |
| Dr. Quintin Boyce | Roosevelt School District |
| Hansley Mussotte | Arizona Department of Education |
| Jimmy Hart | Tucson Unified School District |
| Kareem Neal | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Kenneth Mims | Arizona State University |
| Laura Lee | Arizona Department of Education |
| Lloyd Hopkins | Million Dollar Teacher Project |
| Yolanda Wheelington | Phoenix Elementary School District |
| Zel Fowler | Arizona Alliance of Black School Educators |
| Deanna Lemorin | |
| Felicia Durden | Arizona Department of Education |
| Ernest Rose | Wilson School District |
| Michael Franklin | Chandler High School |
| Shereka Jackson | Future Stars AZ |
| Kema Charles | Lights Camera Discover |
| Darryl Gooden | KEEPING TEACHERS TEACHING FOUNDATION |
| Kim LeSage | Arizona Department of Education |
| Dr. Tara Armstead | |
| Sherri Jones | Florence Unified School District |
- Strategic Funding for African American students and communities.
- College Student Advisor Alex Butler traveled to Washington, D.C. in 2019 to advocate for Pell Grant Recipients.
Equitable and Inclusive Practices Advisory Council
The Equitable and Inclusive Practices Advisory Council is made up of community members from a wide variety of perspectives and organizations related to education. This Council is focused on creating equitable and inclusive schools and education spaces across Arizona. The Advisory Council also discusses issues important to their communities and advise the State Superintendent and the Arizona Department of Education about the department’s policies. The council also collaborates with experts and various stakeholders to advance the council’s priorities and goals.
| Dr. Carrie Sampson | Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College |
| Daise Robledo | Arizona Department of Education |
| David Hernandez | Cartwright Elementary School District |
| Dr. Adama Sallu | Chandler Unified School District |
| Dr. Clifford Moon | Tempe Union High School District |
| Dr. Lenay Dunn | WestED |
| Dr. Rose Owens-West | WestEd |
| Duane Sheppard | Yuma Elementary School District |
| Haley Honeman | Arizona Department of Education |
| Janelle Wood | Black Mothers Forum |
| Dr. Joseph Martin | Northern Arizona University, College of Education |
| Julio Rubio | Carl Hayden High School |
| Lorenzo Lopez | Tucson Unified School District |
| Dr. Melanie Bertrand | UA School of Education |
| Meleika Wadley | Roosevelt Elementary |
| Nora Ramirez | AZ Association of Teachers of Mathematics |
| Raquel Alvara | Arizona Department of Education |
| Tami Staas | Arizona Trans Youth and Parent Organization -Executive Director |
| Tim Valencia | City of Phoenix |
| Sara Ben Abdallah | High School |
| Karasi Colter | High School |
| Maria Krivosik | High School |
| Blaine Martinez | High School |
| Theo Stillwagon | Tempe Elementary School District |
| Nate Rhoton | one-n-ten |
| John Tulinao | Amberlea Elementary School |
| Yvonne So | OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates Greater Phoenix |
- Supporting the LGBTQ community in schools.
Indian Education Advisory Council
The Indian Education Advisory Council is mandated by law and is made up of educators, community members and parents in the Native American Community. The Advisory Council discusses issues important to the Native American community and advise the State Superintendent and the Department of Education about the department’s policies. The council also collaborates with experts and various stakeholders to advance the council’s priorities and goals.
| Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood | White Moutain Apache Tribe |
| Jacob Moore | ASU |
| Derrick Leslie | White Moutain Apache Tribe |
| Bradley Pico | Blue Ridge Unified School District |
| Lemual Adson | Shonto Preparatory |
| Melodie Lopez | Indigenous Strategies |
| Brian Garcia | National NALSA |
| Rafael Tapia | Partnership With Native Americans |
| Hans Klose | AZ State Board for Charter Schools |
| Jolyana Kroupa | Phoenix Indian Center |
| Deborah Dennison | San Carlos Unified School District |
| Kimberly Daingkau-Begay | Amphitheater Public Schools |
| Roxanne Thomas | Tempe Unified School District |
| Annabell Bowen | ASU |
| Frances Benavidez | Tohono O'odham Nation |
| Esther Nystrom | Mesa Public Schools |
| Debra Toya | Mesa Public Schools |
| Lynnann Yazzie | PUHSD |
| Lynette Stant | 2020 Arizona Teacher of the Year |
| Chairman Jon Huey | Yavapai-Apache Nation |
| Conucilwoman Wi-Bwa Grey | Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community |
| President Jonathan Nez | Navajo Nation |
| Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma | Hopi Tribe |
| Freda Joe | Navajo Technical University |
| Chairwoman Sherry Cordova | Cocopah Tribe |
| Chairman Terry Rambler | San Carlos Apache Tribe |
| Maxine Roanhorse-Dineyazhe | BIE Education Resource Center – Phoenix |
| Jeremy Garcia | UofA |
| Daniel Sestiaga | Tohono O’odham Community College |
| Constance Onsae | Tucson Unified School Distict |
| Cordero Holmes | Student Representitive |
| Kristin Key | Student Representitive |
| Atalaya Lucero | Student Representitive |
| Dayhenoa Yazzie | Student Representitive |
| Winona Thirion | Maricopa Community College |
| Tia Gramzinski | Chandler Unified School District |
| Helen Thomas, M.Ed. | Tempe Unified School District |
| Maria Dadgar | ITCA |
| Brittani Roy Didi | Arizona Department of Education |
Latinx Advisory Council
The Latinx Advisory Council is made up of community members from across Arizona and staff within the Arizona Department of Education. The Advisory Council discusses issues important to the Latinx community and advise the State Superintendent and the Department of Education about the department’s policies. The council also collaborates with experts and various stakeholders to advance the council’s priorities and goals.
| Dr. Lupita Hightower | Tolleson Elementary School District |
| Panfilo Contreras | Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AZALAS). |
| Raquel Alvara | Arizona Department of Education |
| Vince Yanez | Helios Education Foundation |
| Cesar Aguilar | Arizona Student Association |
| Emily O'Neil | Arizona Department of Education |
| Marisol Garcia | Arizona Education Association |
| Martin Perez, Jr | Carl Hayden Community High School |
| Maria C. Federico Brummer | Tucson Unified School District |
| Oscar Hernandez Ortiz | Arizona Bar Foundation |
| Rosanne Yniguez | Maricopa Community College |
| Michelle Doherty | 2017 Arizona Teacher of the Year |
| Anaiis Ballesteros | All In Education |
| Sylvia Symonds | ASU |
| Amalia Nevarez | High school |
| Halianna Piller | College |
| Ivan Quintana | College |
| Claudio Coria | Phoenix Union High School District |
| Dr. Jose Leyba | JG Consulting |
The Latinx Advisory Council developed a Translation Best Practices & Tips document for schools and districts.
The Latinx Advisory Council developed a document describing various roles at schools and the pathways to those opportunities for the Arizona education community.
- Post-secondary attainment
- Recruitment & retention of Latinx educators
- Policies that affect the Latinx community
- Technology: building access & skills in the Latinx community
Rural Advisory Council
| LeAndrea James | Tsehootsooi Middle School |
Sharon Toadecheenie | Window Rock Unified School District |
Shanna Johnson | Mohawk Valley School District |
Peter Dwyer | Red Rock Elementary |
Gina Thompson | Yuma Union High School District |
Crystle Nehrmeyer | Oracle School District |
Dr. Melissa Sadorf | Stanfield Elementary School District |
Jill Broussard | Pinal County |
Monica Timberlake | Quartzsite |
Andy Wannemacher | Aguila Elementary School District |
Vanessa Arredondo | ARSA |
Edgar Moreno | Grand Canyon University |
Glen Lineberry | Arizona Student Opportunity Collaborative |
Sarah Richardson | Arizona Department of Education |
Dr. Mary Ellen Halvorson | Tri City College Prep |
- Increasing student access to opportunities and learning
- Recruiting and retaining staff in rural schools
- Supporting rural schools in navigating education industry processes and trying innovative solutions
Student Advisory Council
Learn more about the Student Advisory Council by visiting their webpage.
In addition to the Student Advisory Council, the various Councils choose one high school and one college student to serve on the African American Advisory Council, Latinx Advisory Council, Indian Education Advisory Council and the Equitable and Inclusive Practices Advisory Council. These councils are comprised of teachers, education stakeholders, business leaders and community members in addition to the appointed students.
The Advisory Councils discuss issues important to students and communities in Arizona and advise the State Superintendent and the Department of Education about the department’s policies. The Student Advisors will share the perspective and experiences of students in their community with the State Superintendent and will influence the councils’ policies and initiatives, which have statewide impact.
The Student Advisors will be full members of the Advisory Councils, serving a one-year term, with an equal voice and vote. The Student Advisors will share the perspective and experiences of students in their community with the State Superintendent and will influence the councils’ policies and initiatives, which have statewide impact. The representative will also have the opportunity to connect the work of the councils and the Department of Education to their community. Meetings take place near the capital and will have a virtual attendance option.
Each applicant must be currently enrolled as a full-time student in Arizona with good academic standing. Students in high school, community college, or a four-year post-secondary institution are all eligible to apply.
Selection Process
Applications are due by Tuesday, March 22, 2022. After an initial review of applications by ADE Employees and Community Members, applications will be evaluated, and qualifying candidates will be asked to participate in an interview on either Saturday, April 9th, 2022 and Sunday, April 10, 2022. Please save both dates. Applicants will then be notified if they are invited to serve on the council.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 5 PM on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. For further information, email [email protected]
