Purcell, Sarah

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Queen Creek Unified School District
Age:
51
Occupation:
Information Management
Education:
Bachelors Degree in Information Systems
Family:
Married with three grown children
Religion:
Latter Day Saint
Biographical Info:

Born and raised in Mesa, I attended Mesa Public Schools before earning my degree in Information Systems from Brigham Young University. After beginning my career in the technology industry, I stepped away to raise my children and discovered a passion for education while working as a substitute music teacher. I earned my Arizona teaching certificate through Rio Salado and completed the state requirements for a music endorsement, later teaching music at several schools within Queen Creek Unified School District. I remain Arizona Elementary Education Certified through 2032. Following the COVID pandemic, I returned to the technology field and now work in Technical Training. My husband and I are celebrating 30 years of marriage, and this year our oldest daughter was married. Our family has proudly called Queen Creek home for the past 20 years.

Statement:

I decided to run because I have spent over 15 years in this district as both a teacher and a parent, and I have watched it transform over time. I want to use that real-world experience to help guide us into the future. Watching our rapid growth and financial hurdles create uncertainty made me realize we need leadership that plans responsibly and communicates clearly. Our community deserves leaders who listen, ask the tough questions, and make decisions based on what is best for students rather than politics.

I am running to restore trust, support our hard-working teachers, and make sure every dollar directly benefits our kids. Queen Creek is growing fast, and I want to help build a district where parents feel heard, teachers feel valued, and every student gets the chance to succeed.

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* I worked closely with families to ensure their beliefs were respected in every aspect of performing and listening to music and art.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. S* I support funding schools through taxes when each project is approved directly by voters and never implemented without their consent.
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 support school choice, with strong accountability and clear guardrails to ensure ESA funds are used responsibly and transparently.
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. S
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). O* Evaluating teacher merit is highly subjective, with too many variables. I would be concerned pay tied to merit would result in teaching to the test, or to impress parents or students.
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