Carney, Amy

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Scottsdale Unified School District
Age:
55
Occupation:
Writer / Creative Entrepreneur
Education:
B.A. in Government with an Emphasis in Public Administration, Grand Canyon University — In Progress
Family:
Married to my husband, Keith, for 28 years. We are the proud parents of six children, all educated in SUSD schools, and recently welcomed a son-in-law and daughter-in-law to our growing family.
Religion:
Christian
Biographical Info:

Amy Carney is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and longtime advocate for strong families, engaged parents, and quality education. She is the author of Parent on Purpose and 100 Questions for Mom, and her work focuses on encouraging parents to lead their families with purpose and intention.

As a longtime Scottsdale Unified School District parent, Amy’s experience raising and educating her six children in SUSD schools helped shape her commitment to public service and her belief that parents should have a meaningful voice in their children’s education.

Amy is an advocate for foster care and adoption in Arizona, after adopting two sons from Arizona’s foster care system. She currently serves on the Ambassadors of Hope Advisory Board for Hope & A Future, supporting its mission to help children and families impacted by foster care.

Amy is completing her fourth year on the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board, where she has consistently advocated for academic excellence, parental involvement, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and policies that put students first. She is seeking re-election in November to continue providing experienced, principled leadership and strengthening SUSD schools for students, families, staff, and the entire community.

Statement:

I was elected to the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board in November 2022, and I am running for a second term because I believe our schools need proven, experienced leadership that puts students and families first. As a longtime SUSD parent and current board member, I bring firsthand knowledge of our schools, strong relationships throughout our district and community, and four years of governing experience.

I want to continue advocating for academic excellence, parental involvement, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and safe, strong schools that prepare every student for life beyond the classroom. I believe governing board members should listen to parents and teachers, ask difficult questions, protect taxpayer dollars, and remain focused on what best serves students. I am seeking another term because there is more work to do, and I am committed to providing the steady, principled leadership our students, families, staff, and community deserve.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Requiring district and charter school officials, including teachers, to inform parents about their child’s social, mental, emotional, or physical health. S
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs. S
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. -* My position on any tax increase would depend on the specific proposal, demonstrated need, impact on taxpayers, and how the additional funding would be used.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. S
5. Allowing all parents to use tax credits and publicly funded empowerment scholarship accounts to enable their children to attend any private, homeschool, or online academy of their choice. -* I respect parents’ educational choices, but as a governing board member, my focus is ensuring our public schools provide an excellent education for families.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. O
7. Acquiring parental consent for school faculty and staff to refer to students by pronouns that do not align with the student’s birth sex. O
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. master’s degrees). -* I support competitive teacher compensation that rewards excellence and experience, but believe compensation decisions require fair, transparent, measurable criteria and fiscal responsibility.
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room based on self-identification rather than biological sex. O
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. O
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom. S