Rooks, Heather

Running For:

School Board

District:

Peoria Unified School District

Age:

37

Occupation:

Mom/wife

Education:

High School and some college

Family:

Wife and 4 children

Religion:

Christian

Biographical Info:

Heather Rooks is a wife, mother of four, longtime Peoria community member, and passionate advocate for children and families. A graduate of Sunrise Mountain High School, Heather grew up in the Peoria Unified School District and later attended Glendale Community College, where she studied education for three years.

Statement:

My advocacy began with a deeply personal experience involving my own child with a disability. When my child was denied a mask exemption at school, I knew I had to speak up. That experience became the beginning of a much larger mission: helping families have a voice in their children’s education and ensuring children are protected, supported, and given every opportunity to succeed. I later joined with fellow parent advocate Devon Updegraff-Day to co-create West Valley Parents Uniting, bringing parents together to advocate for parental rights, transparency, educational choice, and accountability in public education. Through attending Peoria Unified School District board meetings, researching public records, and working directly with families, we became a strong voice for parents who wanted greater involvement in the decisions affecting their children.

Over the years, I have also worked alongside certified and classified school employees on issues affecting students and classrooms. I have helped many parents stand strong for supporting for their child’s education. My advocacy has included supporting academic excellence, pro-American curriculum, parental rights, school safety, special education, students with disabilities, and the dedicated employees who serve them.

I believe parents should be respected as the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives and that every child deserves a safe school and a quality education. I am committed to helping families navigate their children’s educational needs, protecting children, strengthening academics, supporting teachers and staff, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are responsibly managed and directed toward the classroom.

As a Peoria School Board member seeking re-election, I will continue to stand for parental rights, protecting children, academic achievement, transparency, and fiscal accountability—always putting students and families first.