Francis, Taylor

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Higley Unified School District
Phone:
(928) 900-4492
Age:
40
Occupation:
Aviation Safety
Education:
Four-year Bachelor of Science
Family:
Married with two children
Religion:
LDS
Biographical Info:

I grew up in a rural town outside of Portland, Oregon. After graduating college I began my career in aviation safety in the San Francisco, California area in 2011 before moving to Arizona in 2015. I have been married for over 10 years and have two children, both of whom attend Higley public schools. We have lived in the Higley school district for three years, though my wife is a sixth generation Arizona native whose family has lived in Gilbert for over 35 years.

Statement:

I want my kids and their peers to get the best education possible. Rather than sit on the sidelines and hope that someone does right by Higley students, I want to be as involved as possible and am willing to put in the work. As a passionate advocate for students I want all our kids to have a safe and secure environment where they can learn, to return the focus back onto students and concentrate on academic success, to get parents informed and involved, to outfit teachers with the tools they need to deliver top instruction, and to provide students with opportunities to be successful in whatever they choose to do after graduation. I also want to rebuild trust with the community through greater transparency and ensure taxpayers’ dollars are justly and responsibly accounted for.

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
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. O* School need to perform audits and maximize available funds and make cutbacks before increasing state and local taxes. At times, increases may be appropriate.
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* ESA funds are already legalized and established, but the use of funds need be appropriate, authorized, and approved.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. O* The SCOTUS has already ruled on this topic. Any available books and instructional materials must be age-appropriate, educationally germane, and not pervasively vulgar.
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* Several Federal Courts and the US Supreme Court have already decided this issue in opposition.
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