McCulloch, Carrie

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Cave Creek Unified School District
Phone:
(602) 380-3301
Age:
48
Occupation:
Alternative Dispute Resolution Specialist
Education:
B.S. Elementary and Special Education, M.Ed. Educational Leadership
Biographical Info:

As a mother of three boys, Carrie McCulloch and her husband Bryan have been Cave Creek Unified School District parents since 2008. Carrie has been a dedicated educator since 1999, serving her community in roles such as general education teacher, special education teacher, assistant principal, special education coordinator, university faculty associate professor, and alternative dispute resolution specialist. Carrie McCulloch was touched by so many amazing families while employed in the Cave Creek Unified School District for over 20 years . Carrie is known for advocating for students and her love and commitment to the community.

Statement:

My name is Carrie McCulloch, and I am running for the Cave Creek Governing Board because of my unwavering passion for improving our schools. Having two graduates of Cactus Shadows and one currently at Lone Mountain, I have a vested interest. With over 25 years of experience as an educator, including over 20 in Cave Creek, I have instructed almost 1,000 students in the community. I understand the challenges we currently face, such as staff retention, financial disparities, and declining student numbers. My goal is to create a transparent and accountable district that supports teachers and prioritizes students. My campaign is driven by my passion as a professional and parent to keep students as our top priority.

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* Open communication and collaboration between school staff and families are essential to supporting student success. Open communication promotes trust, keeps families aware of how to support the students at home, and promotes prompt responses before situations escalate. By working together, parents and staff create an environment that enhances students' growth.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs. S* First and foremost, educators should be teaching the state standards. However, if a situation arises, parent input is invaluable. Parents should have a voice in their children's education. It is equally important to trust and respect the expertise of educational professionals. Parents and educators should work together to create educational opportunities that support students' growth, prepare them for the future, and respect diverse viewpoints. By collaborating, students receive a well-rounded education while acknowledging the important role parents play in their learning journey.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. -* Passing overrides and bonds is essential for improving our schools. Overrides can enhance teacher salaries, reduce class sizes, and support extracurricular activities. Bonds can fund the renovation of outdated facilities and help purchase dependable buses. Examining the distribution of state funds can help address inequities and ensure that more funds remain within our district. With more financial support, we can create a better educational environment for our students and a stronger, more equitable school system.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. S* Schools should be teaching state standards that are available online for parent review. It is important for staff to follow these educational standards to help maintain academic rigor. Balancing state standards with family values can occur when parents play an active role in decision making. By working together parents and staff can create an environment conducive to learning.
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. -* Parents should have the choice in selecting the best educational environment for their children. However, all educational institutions need to be held to the same standards.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. O* Sexually explicit images and themes do not belong in school classrooms and libraries. However, the stakeholders should decide specific criteria to what books fit the values of the community.
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. -* Acquiring parental consent for school faculty and staff to refer to students by pronouns that do not align with the student's birth sex requires a careful balance of parental rights with student needs. Clear guidelines need to be created that promote the well being of the child while ensuring parents have the ultimate decision.
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) -* Teachers deserve recognition and fair compensation for all of their hard work. They often go above and beyond the basic requirements of their jobs. While merit-based pay has the potential to incentivize performance and reward excellence, it can also have negative consequences. Pay is one of the top reasons educators are leaving the profession and it is an issue that must be addressed to retain and attract talented teachers. It is important to ensure a work-life balance that supports teachers as the professionals they are.
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. -* Creating policies that ensure every person feels comfortable in their surroundings is essential for creating a positive school environment. Establishing private areas for students and staff who may not follow their biological sexual orientation to maintain personal needs is one way to promote the safety and comfort of everyone.
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. -* Teaching the state standards is essential in our schools. The state standards provide a framework for students to be successful as adults. Within the standards challenges can be addressed through differentiated instruction. Any teachings that go outside of the state standards would need to be reviewed by stakeholders to ensure the community would support the material.
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom. -* Posting curriculum and instructional materials online promotes open communication and collaboration between families and educators. There are challenges such as time restraints with the approval process, but a culture of professional trust can make this easier. By the community and staff working together, we can ensure that students receive a strong education that meets state standards and addresses their individual learning needs.