Barrett, Catherine

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Age:
53
Occupation:
Associate Superintendent Academic Achievement ADE
Education:
M.Ed Administration Leadership
Family:
Daughter of a veteran
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Biographical Info:

Catherine Barrett is a dedicated Arizona educator and education leader with more than 25 years of experience serving students, teachers, and families. She has taught in Arizona K–12 classrooms, including Title I schools, and has served at the Arizona Department of Education as an Associate Superintendent focused on academic achievement.

A Master Teacher and Silver Apple recipient, Catherine brings practical classroom experience and statewide education leadership to her work. She is passionate about strong academics, teacher support and retention, school safety, transparency, and ensuring parents have meaningful educational choices.

Catherine is running for the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board to bring experienced, collaborative, and student-focused leadership to the district.

Statement:

I’m running for the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board because my community called me to action. Parents knocked on my door, shared their concerns, and asked me to step forward and serve.

I listened—and I answered.

This campaign is truly grassroots, built on conversations with parents, educators, and community members who want strong academics, safe schools, teacher support, transparency, and meaningful choices for families.

I’m running to bring my 25+ years of education experience to the governing board and make sure the voices of the community are heard where decisions are made.

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. S
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. S
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). S
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