Aversa, Alan

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Phoenix Union High School District
Phone:
(520) 261-2584
Age:
37
Occupation:
teacher
Education:
Bachelor of Science, University of Arizona, 2008
Biographical Info:

S

Statement:

As a school board member, I will promote STEM programs and ensure taxpayer money is spent efficiently and only on what will improve instructional quality.

We need to foster a love of books in our students. Their inability or unwillingness to read good books cover-to-cover, which results in an apathy for learning, is the biggest issue facing K-12 students in Arizona.

I will work for increasing teacher pay and decreasing the number of non-essential administrators.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Requiring school officials, including teachers, to inform parents about their child’s social, mental, emotional, or physical health S* Parents are their children's primary educators and should be informed about everything relating to their children's education.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons they find offensive to their personal, moral, or religious beliefs S* Parents have inalienable rights over the education of their children, as the Supreme Court case against compulsory public education, Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), established.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects O* More money is not the solution. We've already seen how increased funding doesn't yield increased educational quality. The funding schools already receive needs to be spent more wisely and efficiently. School spending must be 100% transparent.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. S* For the same reasons given in my comments to #1 and #2 above.
5. Allowing all parents to use tax credits, vouchers, or education savings accounts to enable children to attend any public, charter, private, homeschool, or online academy S* Again, for the reasons I gave in my comments to #1 and #2 above. Vouchers should not be seen as a threat to public education but as an incentive to improve it.
6. Requiring full-day kindergarten for all students O* This should be left at the parents' discretion, not required.
7. Mandating sex education classes for 5th-12th grade students O* It should not be required against the parents' wishes. If it is taught, human embryonic and fetal development should be included in the curriculum.
8. Allocating teacher pay raises based upon merit rather than providing uniform salary schedule increases based upon years of teaching or additional credentialing (e.g. masters degrees) O* "Merit" is hard to measure objectively.
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room that aligns with their gender identity O* For the same reason given in my comment to #10 below.
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. O* Such rhetoric and ideologies deserve no place in our schools, will not prepare our students for the workforce, nor give them the knowledge and skills necessary to be our future leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
11. Increasing academic (curriculum) transparency by requiring each public school to post online for parents and the public a list of all instructional materials being used in the classroom. S* For the same reason I gave in my comment to #1 above.