Sandoval Barrera, Damian

Meet the Candidate

Running For:

School Board

District:

Phoenix Elementary School District

Education:

Bachelor's of Political Science

Religion:

Christian

Biographical Info:

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. My parents, immigrants from Mexico, worked hard my father as a mechanic and my mother working in a small corner store enrolled me into public school so that I can have more opportunities than they ever had in their life. I went to Lowell School from K-8th learning from great teachers reading, writing and arithmetic.
The librarian Mrs. Baron had a phrase that I love and still live by which is “Readers are leaders & Leaders are Readers.” I enjoyed taking classes with Mrs. Sumida, Mrs. Montero, Mr. Ross, Coach Pilot, and so many more teachers that taught me not only the subjects of math, science, and language arts but also life lessons to interact and become a respectable man before people.
During High School I received the James Foley Scholarship (a former teacher of Lowell School who was a journalist who was murdered and sacrificed his life to help people) to further my education and get my high school diploma. I went to college and received my B.A in Political Science.
Today, I look at the Phoenix Elementary school district with so many fond memories like soccer games, carnivals, playground games of tag, conversations over lunch and School Assemblies for awards that I want to be able to continue that legacy for years to come within our community.

Statement:

My name is Damian Sandoval Barrera. I have proudly called Phoenix my home for over 20 years, growing up near Harmon Park & going to Lowell School.
Faith, family and connection are important to me, and I’m excited to continue building relationships with my neighbors here in Phoenix.
Over the coming months, I’ll be serving in my role as an appointed governing school board member of Phoenix Elementary School District #1. But more than anything, I want to be a resource, a friendly face, and a community connector for my neighborhood.
I believe strong communities are built through relationships neighbors knowing neighbors, supporting local families, and helping one another succeed.
Do you own a small business? Work for one of our schools? Volunteer in the community? Have a passion project or ministry you care deeply about?
I want to listen and learn how you have been benefiting the community. One of my goals is to help connect families with local businesses, projects, and schools in our own neighborhood. I want to help give back to the people who have invested their talent, time, and treasure building me into the man I am today.
In a world where so many people feel disconnected and discouraged, I want to build our community through conversations, friendships, and showing up for one another, so that our families can produce a community that celebrates the achievements of their children.

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*	The District's responsibility is first and foremost to the Parents and Families that entrust their children to the District.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs.	S*	Parents have complete control and discretion to the education of their child. I believe and trust that almost all parents and families want what's best for their kids.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects.	O*	Increasing taxes should always be a last resort. The District should look and seek for different streams of revenue and present that to the taxpayer before going and demanding more money from the hard working fathers and mothers in the community.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs.	S*	Parents must be involved in the education of their child.
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.	S*	In supporting parents to have the ability to use funds to decide where their children go for their education, does not mean that as a school board member I relinquish the responsibility of providing quality education in public schools. In fact this becomes an incentive to compete against other programs to show that public schools are capable of having the same academic achievement as any private school.
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*	I support parents being informed about what is taking place within their children's education. I support more communication between parents and teachers.
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).	S*	We have to be careful with how we define "merit." Does not loyalty also qualify as merit on the part of the teacher? There needs to be a discussion between the parents & families with the district about how to properly assess if a teacher is succeeding or needs improvement in the classroom.
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*	The more communication regarding a child's education given to a parent is a healthier community. I want all parents to be involved & have the ability to easily access & enjoy dialogue with the schools regarding the curriculum and instructional materials being used to educate their children. If a parent is able to explain what their child is supposed to be learning in the classroom, then they will be able to help and support the growth of their child in their education.