Pima County schools chief candidate Margaret Burkholder is back in good standing as her teaching certificate has been renewed.
Burkholderโs new certificate was issued Thursday, making her eligible again to become Pima County schools superintendent should voters so choose on Nov. 8.
Burkholderโs license expired last week, something she was not aware of until contacted by the Arizona Daily Star on Monday.
The renewal process normally takes four weeks, according to the Arizona Department of Education. But Burkholder submitted her documentation through the Vail School District, where she serves as a governing board member but not as a teacher.
Asked why school district resources were used to help renew the certification of a non-employee, Vailโs Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Cervantez said the district routinely sends documentation to ADE for staff members, applicants and for Vail community members.
Burkholder lives in the community and reached out to the district for information on the process. Cervantez extended the offer to include Burkholderโs documentation in a batch of mail that was going out on Tuesday.
The normal turnaround for certifications sent to ADE by the Vail School District is within five business days, Cervantez said.
โThere wasnโt any special treatment or extra resources expended, it was part of a courtesy,โ Cervantez said. โWeโre not going to use taxpayer money to offer personal favors to individuals.โ
Six years ago, long before she was running for county school superintendent, Burkholder took advantage of that service, as well, the candidate said.
Cervantez said the district also recently assisted a Benson teacher who lives in the Vail School District with the process.
Had Burkholder been elected to the county School Superintendentโs office before her certification was renewed, a voter could have contested the election.
Burkholder is running against Democrat Dustin Williams.
