Walden, Rachel

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Mesa Unified School District
Phone:
(480) 789-1789
Age:
44
Occupation:
Homemaker, previously had a 13 year career at Vanguard
Education:
B.S. Magna Cum Laude ASU (Psychology), M.A. ASU (History)
Biographical Info:

I have been a resident of Mesa most of my life and came from the Mesa public school system. I received a Bachelor of Science with honors in psychology at ASU and attended ASU for my post-graduate work in history. I worked for the university as a research and teaching assistant and received a fellowship to go to England to study. I am a first generation college graduate.

I had a 13 year career at Vanguard. I worked to create policies to gain efficiencies and navigate government regulations.

My husband and I have been blessed with a happy and healthy daughter who is in first grade. When my daughter was born I took a hiatus from full time work so I could enjoy being a homemaker with my family. I have 19 nieces and nephews, most of whom were born and raised in the east valley.

I am a Precinct Committeeman. I have been the Treasurer on my H.O.A. board for the last three years. I have spent many years doing volunteer work for the children and youth in my church and served as President over both groups.

My husband Rob and I have been married for 16 years. He works in the military defense industry.

Statement:

I am running for the Mesa Governing Board to restore patriotism and academics to the classroom. When my daughter was approaching the time to start kindergarten I was increasingly concerned about what kind of friends she would have and what the future voters in this nation would be like. So many children are coming out of our schools woefully unprepared for the real world. We see young people that are unable to appreciate the sacrifices of the people who came before them and do not understand how lucky they are to be in America.

As far as academic achievement in the classroom, the majority of our children are failing in math and English language arts. These subjects are the primary drivers of all future learning. Our children need to master these fundamentals to help them be confident and self reliant adults.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Requiring 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 they find offensive to their personal, moral, or religious beliefs S* The right to direct the moral, educational, and social well being of children belongs to the parents and not the government.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects O* The districts need to learn to operate within their means.
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, vouchers, or education savings accounts to enable children to attend any public, charter, private, homeschool, or online academy S* I support this so long as it does not drive up the cost of education.
6. Requiring full-day kindergarten for all students O* A multi year study was done and found that there was zero difference between children who went to half day kindergarten or full day.
7. Mandating sex education classes for 5th-12th grade students O
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. masters degrees) S
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room that aligns with their gender identity 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. Increasing academic (curriculum) transparency by requiring each public school to post online for parents and the public a list of all instructional materials being used in the classroom. S* I lobbied for SB1211