Posted January 2024

The Kyrene Elementary School District Governing Board has elected its 2024 leadership team. During the January 9 meeting, current Board President Kevin Walsh accepted a nomination by Member Michelle Fahy to continue serving as President. Member Triné Nelson nominated Member Margaret Wright to serve as Vice President. Both nominations were unanimously approved by the Board.

Wright will replace Fahy, who previously served as Vice President. Board leadership is always determined at the first meeting of the calendar year, and roles are held for a period of one year.

The changing of the guard came as Kyrene Superintendent Laura Toenjes celebrated the Board’s collective contributions to Kyrene schools and the community. Toenjes thanked the board members for their service, noting that January is national School Board Recognition Month.

“This is a moment when we pause to recognize the extraordinary commitment you have made by volunteering to serve as a board member,” Superintendent Toenjes told board members at the January 9 meeting. “In Kyrene, we are especially fortunate to have a board that brings diverse individual viewpoints to the table and then works cohesively and collaboratively toward the shared goal of supporting our students, staff and schools. Each of you understands and cares deeply about the impact of your decisions on our schools and community.”

The superintendent also congratulated the Board for being named Arizona’s top Governing Board for Contributions to Public Relations. The award is given to a single board in Arizona each year, by the Arizona School Public Relations Association. To earn the award, a board must demonstrate “exceptional understanding of PR principles, leadership, high ideals of professionalism, and the ability to work with staff, parents and community for the benefit of students.”

“This board is an exemplary model for other boards and highly deserving of this recognition,” said Superintendent Toenjes.

The Board presides over 26 Kyrene schools, serving Ahwatukee, Chandler, Tempe, Guadalupe and the Gila River Indian Reservation. The Board is authorized under the laws of the state of Arizona to adopt all needed policies and regulations for the organization, and the Board is responsible for the evaluation and governance of the District.

Each member of the Governing Board is elected to serve a four-year term. Every two years, either two or three positions are filled during the November general election. To learn more about the Kyrene Governing Board, visit www.kyrene.org/governingboard.