Arizona taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. Our current Superintendent conceals records surrounding Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) spending. In fact, he is being sued for withholding this information from Arizonans; I will prioritize transparency with your taxpayer dollars. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:

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• Create an ESA dashboard for transparent access to expenditures made with your tax funds.

• End the automatic approval of ESA expenditures of $2,000 or less, which have cost the state over $124M.

• Establish rigorous audit protocols to ensure every tax dollar is spent for the intended purpose of educating Arizona’s students.

As a mom, I understand the pivotal role that parents play in their children’s education. Families and the communities that surround our students deserve to be heard, listened to, and offered a seat at the table, no matter their socioeconomic status or location. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:​​

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• Launch an “On The Road With Ruiz” listening tour to meet with families around the state and hear their concerns. 

• Expand accessibility of Department of Education meetings, and open up advisory committee positions to parents and students.

• Create outreach initiatives in historically underserved communities so that every family has their voice represented.

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Arizona public schools serve all of our students. No matter their ability or background, every Arizona student deserves access to a high-quality education and the chance to succeed. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:​​

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• Expand access to early learning opportunities, such as literacy and universal pre-K.

• Strengthen CTE and dual enrollment pathways by partnering with our labor unions.

• Ensure students are safe and secure by increasing access to mental health professionals, free and reduced lunches, and enrichment activities.

• Support dual language learners through robust immersion programs.

• Broaden tutoring and after-school programs for students who need extra support.​

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For years, our public schools have remained strong in the face of social, cultural, and political attacks towards our teachers and administrators. Despite this, polling shows that Arizonans overwhelmingly trust in our schools and their dedicated educators and want them to have more resources. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:

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• Celebrate the excellence in our public schools and use my office to highlight the achievements of staff and students.

• Restore a climate of respect to the noble profession of teaching and end the baseless attacks on our schools.

• Serve as the “Advocate-in-Chief” for our public schools day in and day out.

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Arizona has long ranked among the worst in the nation for per-pupil spending. When we appropriate resources to K-12 schools, every child regardless of zip code should have access to a high quality education that leads to an abundance of opportunities. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:​

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• Advocate for increased funding for our public schools at the state legislature.

• Reign in the universal ESA program that defunded $1B from public education.

• Return to an emphasis on academic success, rather than political agendas, partisan policies, and frivolous lawsuits.

• Support rural and urban school districts alike to ensure their unique needs are accounted for, rather than ignored.​​​​​​​​​​​

As an educator of 35 years, I understand the challenges both in and outside of the classroom here in Arizona. Our current Superintendent uses his position and our resources to sow mistrust against educators. It’s time to flip the script. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will:​

• Address the teacher shortage by restoring respect and trust towards educators because nobody wants to work for a bad boss.

• Partner with community colleges and universities to create teacher recruitment pipelines and retention programs that provide incentives, mentorships, and support.

• Advocate for increased teacher compensation so that our hardworking educators know they are valued.

• Work with County Superintendents and rural districts to reinstate professional development opportunities that have been abandoned under the current administration.​​