Dear Neighbor,

 

            I’m Peter Boyle, and I’m running for the EVIT School District Governing Board.  I’ve been an East Valley resident for a dozen years and have been a teacher, school principal, entrepreneur, and active community member during that time.  I’m a certified career and technical educational (CTE) teacher, and I taught middle school English and high school business and marketing in Maryvale, where I saw firsthand the challenges facing our learners and their communities.  That’s why in 2014 I led a team to found Western School of Science and Technology, which has been recognized as the highest-performing public high school on the west side.  Along the way, we were recognized for our hard work; in 2017, I was runner-up for the Arizona Charter Schools Association Transformational Leader of the Year, and in 2018, I was honored by the Children’s Action Alliance as their Educator Honoree.

 

As a principal of a school focused on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math I saw firsthand how career and technical education is critical for good-paying jobs and vital communities.  My students graduated with not just high school diplomas, but career certificates – students like Alexey, who was the first member of his family to graduate high school and did so with a career credential in IT security.  Alexey entered the workforce at Intel straight after high school, with a high-paying, skilled job that supports his family and his future career aspirations.  To lead in the 21st century, we must ensure that, like Alexey, all students have access to high-quality career-preparatory education through EVIT – the East Valley Institute of Technology – which is our flagship career and technical education district here in the East Valley.

 

EVIT students graduate with career licenses and certificates in addition to their high school diplomas.  EVIT programs run the gamut from welding and cosmetology to 3D animation, web design, and aviation.  EVIT graduates can immediately enter the workforce or use their technical skills and expertise to pay for a college or university education.  The district’s facilities are state-of-the-art and represent the cutting edge of technology and industry sophistication.  So why is it that in a district that covers over two million people in eastern Maricopa and northern Pinal counties, EVIT enrolls only a few thousand students?  How can we ensure this community asset is leveraged by students across the East Valley?  How can we leverage EVIT programming to build an excellent future for our students, their families, and our neighborhoods?  There are students like Alexey across the East Valley – let’s make sure their schools have the support, resources, and board leadership so they can be successful.

 

That’s why I’m asking for your support.  I’m running for the EVIT Governing Board because our career and technical education districts do great work, but don’t get enough attention.  I have the leadership experience, educational expertise, and community knowledge to ensure that this hidden treasure is no longer the East Valley’s best-kept secret.  Let’s make sure that all East Valley students are able to access not only high-quality academic courses but world-class career, technical, and STEM education.  Please help me spread the word by joining our campaign. 

 

Let’s make sure all East Valley kids are prepared for the future.