Five candidates are on the ballot for the Vail Unified School District governing board, but only three will make the cut.

Incumbents Callie Tippett, Allison Pratt, and Chris King are all seeking reelection, with challengers Laura Moore and John Mothershed seeking first-time seats in the non-partisan race.

Vail is one of the highest-ranking districts in Pima County, with five of its schools appearing in the top 20 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best Tucson-area schools.

Each candidate submitted statements to the Pima County Superintendent of Schools with details about their backgrounds, goals and priorities.

Callie Tippett 

Tippett is the current Board President. She’s lived in Vail since 2002 and all three of her children have attended Vail Schools. She’s been a Girl Scout troop leader and youth leader at her church, and works as the director of development and community outreach for the Greater Vail Community Resources.

Tippet has been involved with Vail schools in a variety of roles, serving as room mom, being involved with parent-teacher organizations and coaching youth sports.

“A key focus of my service on the board is ensuring that every student in the district has access to educational excellence,” Tippett wrote in her statement. “I believe all children, regardless of background or ability, should have opportunities to reach their highest potential. I am committed to making sure all students have the resources they need to thrive academically and beyond.”

If elected, Tippet said she’ll continue to prioritize fostering a safe, supportive and academically-challenging environment in Vail schools that serve families and empower students to succeed.

“I will continue to work for a strong community, grounded in how we care for one another, which is essential for helping families thrive,” she said.

Allison Pratt

Pratt is the current board clerk and a realtor in Vail. She’s lived in Vail for 19 years and has four children, all of whom have attended Vail schools. She was awarded Vail Pride Day’s Volunteer Ambassador of the year in 2014.

Pratt has been volunteering with Vail schools for more than 17 years and has served on the school board for nine years, serving as both president and clerk.

“I have worked to be a collaborative and cohesive board member by working with current members to build relationships, have respectful conversations, and work through difficult situations,” Pratt wrote in her statement. “One of my favorite aspects of being a board member is attending each of the high school graduations every year and experiencing the unique elements of each school as they celebrate their students and recognize their achievements.”

Seeing each graduate walk across the stage is a wonderful testament to the district’s culture and each school’s love of its students, Pratt said.

“I recognize the responsibility of the Board to navigate our district and want to help continue Vail’s success,” she wrote. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a voice for parents, teachers, and staff and to work with other members of the Board to do what is best for our students.”

Chris King

King in his first term on the Vail school board. He retired from the Air Force after more than 20 years of service and works as a substitute teacher in the Vail district. He was elected last year to the Arizona School Boards Association as a Pima County co-director. 

King said his role with the association allows him to advocate for state-level policies that impact students, staff and communities. It also gives him a platform to share Vail’s award-winning policies and practices with other districts in the state.

“There is more to being a school board member than meets the eye, and the requirements are definitely not for the faint of heart,” King wrote in his candidate statement. “One of the many things I have learned during my time on the board is the ability to disagree without being disagreeable; this is key to successful governance.”

King said he’s an “unabashed advocate” for continuing education for teachers and staff and high-quality education for students. He also believes in continuous education for governing board members and is modeling that by pursuing a master’s degree in education to become a more effective advocate.

“Parents and family are the primary educators of their children, and schools are there to support and enhance that education,” he wrote. “We all know and believe that education is a community effort, and every decision we make as board members impacts the life of a child.”

Laura Moore

Newcomer Moore has lived in Vail for 16 years and recently retired from a 25-year career in law enforcement. She’s a cheerleading coach, classroom volunteer, and on the Teacher of the Year Board. 

Both of Moore’s children have attended Vail schools, and she says she’s enjoyed every minute of her volunteer work with the district.

“My goals are to ensure the VUSD continues and exceeds the educational excellence that already exists,” she wrote in her statement. “I also support the much needed safety upgrades to all the VUSD schools to ensure students, teachers and staff are safe while on campus or other school property.”

Moore said she feels strongly about being an advocate for parents and will defend their right to have a voice.

“I would also like to focus on teacher and staff retention, as well as transparency,” she said. “If elected to the VUSD as a board member, I will fulfill my obligation to its fullest and represent the parents and community that elect me.”

John Mothershed

Mothershed did not provide details about his background or experience in his candidate statement, but says education is a God-given right and responsibility of parents, referring to a Bible Verse from Deuteronomy.

“Parents cannot shirk their responsibility and school boards cannot usurp their right,” he wrote.

Mothershed said he’s running to represent the interests of the community, particularly the rural south and west areas of the district.

“As a school board member, my job will be to support families in their educational endeavors, not just grow revenue for the district,” he wrote. “I will ensure that our most vulnerable and malleable citizens - our children - are protected from the predatory, destructive doctrines currently trending in our schools.”

Schools should focus on the basics that provide students with the tools they need to continue learning, and not try to address issues outside of their responsibility, Mothershed said. He cited “providing students with abortions,”  “gender interference,” and mental health as examples.

“Truly compassionate educators realize that these issues are the responsibility of parents and families,” he wrote. “Schools must not interfere with parental rights, but instead must actively encourage students to take such concerns to their parents.”

Voting Information

Election Day is November 5. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is October 25 and the last day to mail in your ballot is October 29.

Abbie Andrus is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at asandrus@arizona.edu.