Basic biographical information:
- Name:Β Gina Mehmert
- Office they are seeking:Β Catalina Foothills School District Governing Board
- Age:Β 51
- City of residence:Β Tucson
- Occupation:Β Head of Global Marketing Operations with AWS (a division of Amazon)
- Education:Β I hold a BSc in Journalism from Northwestern Universityβs Medill School of Journalism and an MBA in International Marketing from the University of Bristol (UK).Β
- Previous elected office:Β n/a
- Other relevant qualifications: 13 years as a classroom and campus volunteer with our CFSD schools, including three years as President of Orange Grove Middle Schoolβs Family Faculty Organization (FFO) and one year as Past President. Corporate professional development courses including βActivating Strategy and Cultureβ and βAdvocating Gender Equity and Inclusionβ
1. What do you see as the most important issue to address and how would you address it?
We face many issues, including voucher expansion, post-pandemic learning recovery, a national teacher shortage, and more. I look forward to partnering with my colleagues to mitigate these risks. I also look forward to progressing other goals, including advocating for more mental health support for our students and faculty; fostering an inclusive environment for students, teachers, and staff; and renewing and strengthening the relationship between the board and our community.
With that said, one of the most pressing issues we face is the need to continue to innovate our curriculum. Per the World Economic Forum, 85% of the jobs available in 2030 donβt even exist yet. This means that almost all of our students currently in middle school will be entering a job market that today we canβt even envision. Thus, itβs crucially important for us to recognize our responsibility not only to provide an innovative curriculum but also to develop our students as critical thinkers, social and emotional learners, and extraordinary problem solvers. This is why ongoing curriculum innovation and technology investment are so important.
The Governing Board plays a pivotal role in this. School Board members are responsible for approving curriculum materials and as such they play an important role in curriculum development. Within CFSD, we have a strong track record of developing an innovative curriculum that gives every learner the opportunity to thrive. Curriculum changes and additions are available to the public for review and comment before adoption.
Our Boardβs prioritization on curriculum innovation is evident across all of our eight schools. Examples include Chinese and Spanish immersion, K-12 robotics, AP classes, award-winning fine arts, and computer science. Even so, I see great opportunity here for continued innovation. I look forward to bringing my experience - spanning 25 years with some of the worldβs most iconic brands, including HP, GE, and AWS - to help identify additional ways we can prepare our students for life beyond Catalina Foothills School District.
2. Why should voters choose you, rather than other candidates?
Iβm a district mom, a dedicated school volunteer, and a marketing professional. I'm naturally a collaborator, a communicator, and an inspirational leader.
My professional experience and my experience as a dedicated school volunteer ensure Iβm well prepared to serve on the school board. During my career, I've held marketing leadership roles with global brands like HP and GE. Iβve gained experience relevant to serving on our school board, including working with Boards of Directors to set goals, track progress, and foster accountability. My career has also enabled me to learn how to bring together diverse perspectives to find common ground.
Additionally, I have significant experience as a dedicated volunteer with our CFSD schools, starting when our oldest son began kindergarten 13 years ago. After many years as a classroom volunteer, I shifted my focus to Orange Grove Middle Schoolβs Family Faculty Organization and was President for three years followed by a year as Past President.
Iβm running together with Amy Bhola and Amy Krauss for CFSDβs Governing Board because I believe every student deserves an equal opportunity to thrive - regardless of race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, zip code, or physical or academic ability. My goal as a future school board member is to help foster an inclusive environment in each of our schools - an environment where every student, every parent, every teacher, and every staff member feels seen, heard, and engaged.
Our three opponents are endorsed by Purple for Parents, which is a spinoff of Patriot Movement AZ, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center designates a hate group. On their original website, they promised to βabandon diversity, equity and inclusionβ and βrefocus capital (to) students who reside within the Catalina Foothills school districtβ - effectively defunding open enrolment students (see Internet Archive.) Since then, they have scrubbed their website and added a statement saying they welcome everyone to CFSD. This strikes me as disingenuous given their previous statements and their allegiance to Purple for Parentsβ platform (as stated in Desert Leafβs October edition).
Electing me, Amy Bhola, and Amy Krauss will ensure our district continues to thrive - for all students. We are the #1 non-selective district in the state. Our students excel not only academically but also artistically and athletically. I look forward to bringing my experience and dedication to the CFSD Governing Board as we work together to continue to fulfill our mission.
3. Could you please provide a list of the people and organizations that have endorsed you?
I have not sought political endorsements because school district governing board elections are non-partisan. However, LD18 Democrats is supporting a number of non-partisan school board candidates, including my slate (Amy Bhola, Amy Krauss, and Gina Mehmert). Endorsements by our 100+ individual supporters are listed on our campaign website, www.thrive4cfsd.org, which is updated regularly. I also encourage readers to watch the many video testimonials weβve received at www.thrive4cfd.org/testimonials.
For ease of reference, that list currently includes:
Aardvark Printing & Marketing
Tiila Abbitt
Deborah Ahler
Dana Adler
Kelly Aliperti
Miranda Anderson
Rebecca Bahling
Barber Family
Celia Bavier
Beckett Family
Joy Bulger Beck
Maya Benita
Tracy Benson
Khush Bhola
Blakely Family
Sally Bockisch
Sally Boeve
Kim Bourn
Kathleen Bowman
Boyce-Monahan Family
Jessica & Martin Brandt
Brody Family
David Buckingham
Shelly Burgoyn
Peter & Jenny Burrows
Jim Calle
Bruce Chalk & Randi Steiner
Chan Family
Carrie Clancy
Holly Clark
Jacqui Clayton-Chinnock
Collier Family
Katie Collopy
Jayne & Dan Cooper
Allison Corkey
Carmine & Priscilla Cornelio
Holly Crawford
David Cross Family
Nathaniel Cross
Jennifer Danilowitz
Jenny Dessent
Kimberlyn Drew
David Dwyer
Eddy Family
Karen Floyd
Terry Fortunato
Autumn Foster
Ehud Gavron
Andrea Gerlak
Jacob Gordon
Samuel Gordon
Kristin Green
Pam Grissom
Liz & Eric Groskind
Anne & Lukas Gruber
Diana & Larry Haas
Doug & Lalita Hadley
Noor Haghighi
Heidi Hamann
Hamilton Family
Marla Harris
Jennifer Harris
Laura Hisey
Hook Family
Marc & Brooke Hopkins
Michael Insel
Eileen & Todd Jackson
Elizabeth King
Rev. Canon John & Kathy Kitagawa
Jennifer Kovatch
Jennifer Kozik
Allen Krauss
Kruk Family
Natalie Kujawa
Frank P. Leto
Randi Levin
Kristen Lin
Laura & Tom Logue
Russell Long
Richard Lougee
Lori Lundberg-Leung
Steven & Nancy Lynn
Jim & Elysa Mackie
Ian & Jennifer McDowell
Carol McGonigle
Laura Meinke
Suzi Messing
Kristin Michels
Zachary Michels
Noah Mickey-Colman
Mary Mokhtarian
Teresa Moreno
Walter B. Nash
Molly & Jeff Ocampo
Monisha Patel
Jay & Dinah Peskoe
Jennifer Peters
Jean Popham
Maria Porter
Melanie Powis
Jane Prescott-Smith
Cynthia Reynolds
Mary Lou Richerson
Sally Rider
Amber Rodriguez
Monica Rosenbaum Bergman
Aaron Rottenstein
Mark Rubin-Toles
Emilie Rubio
Cary & Christina Sandman
Schmidt Family
Rex Scott
Nicolette Vidal Seckeler
Dev & Olivia Sethi
Tracy Shake
Maj. Gen. Don & Rose Shepperd
Jim Shiner
Neda Shirazi
Gayle Siegel
Carole & John Siegler
Edward & Sherri Silverberg
Keri & Jeff Silvyn
Sally Simmons
Janni Lee Simner
Michael P.P. & Dianne J. Simon
Virge Simpson
Bruce Skolnik
Yvonne So
Kate Spaulding
Melissa Spiller-Shiner
Katie Stellitano
Betsy Strange
Jeff Timan
Joshua Tint
Kim Tucker
Angelo Vangos
Jeri Weeks
Krista Westmoreland
Nicole & Chad Whelan
John Williams
Cyndy Wilson
Megan Winter
Ray Wong & Liz Pulcini
Helena Yip & Steve Wang
