Another Arizona teacher to run for public office overseeing schools

PHOENIX – Another teacher who was inspired to become politically active because of the Red for Ed movement is running for Maricopa County school superintendent.

Jennifer Samuels, a middle school Scottsdale teacher, released her official announcement video announcement Monday, but kicked off her campaign Saturday.

It’s the second attempt at public office for Samuels, a Democrat who ran for the Arizona House less than a year ago.

“I’m running for my students and for all students,” Samuels said in the video, “so they can become whatever they aspire to be” and called the education system “profoundly broken.”

Her latest try at elected office focuses on the school issues that were part of her previous campaign: better access to mental health professionals for students, smaller class sizes and repairs to infrastructure.

The office provides services supporting school governing board elections, bond and override elections, appointments, school finance, and maintains home school and private school records.

Samuels, a mother of three, originally planned to run for office in 2020, three years after she had gone through 70 hours of candidate training geared especially toward women.

She pushed her timetable up after attending a nightlong Senate budget debate at the Arizona State Capitol last spring.

Her campaign site noted a good leader was transparent and accountable and that more student-centered people should have seats on governing boards.

Educators walked out of classrooms for six days in the spring of 2018 to protest low pay and school conditions.

Gov. Doug Ducey eventually approved a proposal giving teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.

Follow @KTAR923