Our Mission

To advocate for a quality and affordable education from preschool to post-secondary for all residents of the City of Tucson and Pima County.

Our Goals

We pursue our vision and mission by focusing on the following goals:

Voice

To equip students, families, educators, business and community leaders with information that will empower them to advocate for the educational welfare of the citizens of the City of Tucson and Pima County.

Community

• To form strategic collaborations with individuals and organizations to advocate for all levels of education – pre-kindergarten to post-secondary.
• To engage youth and families in advocating for education.
• To recognize individuals and groups within the community who demonstrate exemplary service to students and to education.

Future

• To promote graduation from high school as a first step toward an enriched future for students and a realistic sense of their place within the community.
• To guide students through various pathways to higher education and prepare them to contribute to a dynamic, highly skilled workforce.

Programs

To offer programs that prepare students for their future:

• Youth Advisory Council/Tucson Teen Congress-Youth Leadership & Civic Engagement
• Key to Employment – Industry & Academic Symposium & High School Internship Information Service for High School Students
• Regional College Access Center -Higher Education Pathways Advising and Planning

Appointed by the chair of Pima County Board of Supervisors

George Favela (Past Chair)*, Parent
Paul Lovelis (Chair)*, Social Service Agencies Serving Children/Youth
Nicole Pargas, Health Care Community
Betty Villegas, Pima County Board of Supervisors
James Wiltbank, Religious Community

*Executive Board Members

Appointed by the Mayor and Members of the Tucson City Council

Kendra Davey, Libraries/Museums/Arts
Daniela Figueroa, Social Service Agencies Serving Children/Youth
Ricardo Hernandez, Parents
Camiliano Juarez, Parks/Recreation/Housing
Vacant, Member, Tucson City Council

Community Representatives

Monica Brinkerhoff (Secretary)*, Early Childhood Education
Buck Crouch, School Governing Board Member, AZ School Boards Association
Kendra Davey, At-Large Appointee, Pima County Library
David Doré, Ed.D., Pima Community College
Leslie Ferre, Teacher, Grades 5-9, AZ Education Association
Steven Freeman, Disabled Community, MEC Appointee
Cathy Duarte Gastelum, Ph.D., Executive Director, MEC, Ex-officio Member
Daniela Gallagher, Business Community, Sun Corridor
Javier Herrera, Hispanic Community Forum
Steve Holmes, School Superintendents Collaborative
Teri Bohr Laguna, Teacher, Grades K-6, AZ Education Association
Jon Lansa (Treasurer)*, Educational Foundations
Alexander Lewis, Native American Community, Tucson Indian Center
Elayna Mack, Youth Representative, MEC Youth Advisory Council
Rafael Meza*, Accredited Private Institutions Representative
Clarisa Nido Building Principal, AZ School Administrators
Samia Palmer Youth Representative, MEC Youth Advisory Council
Daisy Rodriguez Pitel, Ph.D. (Vice-Chair)*, Pan-Asian Community Forum
Rex Scott (Appointments)*, At-Large Commission Appointee
Jennifer Sprung Teacher, Grades 9-12, AZ Education Association
Kasey Urquidez, Ed.D., University of Arizona
Kathy Prather, Business Community, Sun Corridor
Dustin Williams, Pima County Superintendent of Schools, Ex-Officio Member
Vacant, Hispanic Community Forum
Vacant, Tucson Urban League

*Executive Board Members