Conn, Linda

Meet the Candidate

Running For:

School Board

District:

Prescott Unified School District

Phone:

(714) 865-5525

Age:

Occupation:

Retired 1. Public School Educator & 2. Law Enforcement-911 dispatcher

Education:

Master's Degree--School Counseling-Guidance & Multiple Subject teaching credentials

Biographical Info:

Education:
-Bachelor’s Degree, Criminal Law/Administration of Justice CSUF-1977
-California Teaching Credential-Multiple Subject/CBEST CSULB-1987
– Master’s Degree, School Counseling LaVerne University-2005
-Thesis: Escalating Aggression in School-Age Children (focused on effective anti-bullying programs/curriculum)
-Both renewed credentials current for next 5 years, to 2028/renewable indefinitely.
Career/Professional Experience:
1989-2013 Educator School Counselor
-25 yrs public education K-12 classroom credential/-elementary instruction/all inner-city, underprivileged-area assignments, all bilingual-multicultural populations
-School counseling-middle school-age inner city high crime areas of Long Beach, CA.
1972-1989 Law Enforcement
-18 yrs Law Enforcement-911/police dispatch, jailer/station officer status
-CAL/PAL volunteer (California Police Athletic League) working with neighborhood teens to establish positive interactions between Police and Community.
-Rape crisis counseling/volunteer status (public service)
Volunteer Service:
Elected PUSD Governing Board Member to 2022-2024
—Board of Directors The Ranch at Prescott Homeowners Association 2023-current
—Board of Directors Yorktown Homeowners Association 17 yrs/elected official (positions: Vice President, Secretary, Member-at-Large) dealing with all things related to running the HOA. (Huntington Beach, Ca)
-Disaster Service Worker / Orange County (Ca) working in conjunction with Red Cross/FEMA/OCSD. Local disasters including wildfires, earthquake preparedness, community awareness
Prescott Civic Organization Volunteer 2019-2021
-Ambassador, Prescott City Hall-Volunteer
-Ambassador, Yavapai Republican Headquarters-Volunteer
Organizations: (California & Prescott)
-RWOP-Republican Women of Prescott 2019-24
-Yavapai Republican Committee, Precinct Co-Captain 2021-24
YRMF, associate member 2022-24
-GMRW-Granite Mountain Republican Women 2021-23
-PVRW-Prescott Valley Republican Women 2022

Statement:

As a dedicated school board member, I have been committed to improving academic achievement for all our students. While the 47% who are proficient in grade-level skills deserve our attention, I am equally passionate about the 53% who are struggling with grade level skills. My focus extends beyond honors classes and early college programs-I strive to provide valuable resources that benefit high-achieving learners and those facing challenges alike. I’m working tirelessly to recruit community volunteer tutors to work hand in hand with the classroom teachers. By carefully selecting curriculum options within our budget, addressing chronic absenteeism, and enhancing classroom management, I aim to create a supportive environment for both students and teachers. Let’s work together to elevate education for everyone.

Endorsements:

AZ Women of Action

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*	Its crucial to empower parents with information about their childs well-being in school. By keeping parents informed, we honor their right to make informed decisions and foster a collaborative environment that benefits students.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs.	S*	Parents have the ultimate power to guide what their child is learning. Opt-in and Opt-out options are imperative, and the decision is the parents alone.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects.	O*	Prioritize student funding by directing resources effectively, considering increased per-child funding and declining enrollment. We must live within our budget.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs.	S*	This is non-negotiable. Parents must always be given the opportunity to permit student participation.
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*	If public education falls short, I completely support the Education Savings Account (ESA) options to tailor learning experiences for the childs unique needs.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries.	O*	Parents should be alerted when their child accesses inappropriate content via the public library system or school library resources. There is no place in schools for these explicit books/materials.
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*	Parents should be kept abreast of what their children are doing outside of their direct control.
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*	Merit or Incentive pay creates a competitive educator, regardless of tenure. Providing quality professional development helps teachers be life-long learners.
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*	To safeguard privacy and safety, adhere to biological sex: boys use male facilities, girls use female facilities. DNA science confirms two sexes.
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools.	O*	Prioritize academic skill acquisition by reining in DEI, SEL, and CRT approaches in public schools
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom.	S*	Schools need to allow parental & community access to the chosen curriculum and instructional materials through their secure server for the District.