Devon Updegraff-Day
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Devon Updegraff-Day ran for election for an at-large seat of the Peoria Unified School District in Arizona. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Devon Updegraff-Day was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She earned a bachelor's degree from Goucher College in 2003 and a master's degree from A.T. Still University in 2008. Updegraff-Day's career experience includes working as a physician assistant and the owner of a medical practice.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Peoria Unified School District, Arizona, elections (2022)
General election
2020
See also: Peoria Unified School District, Arizona, elections (2020)
General election
Endorsements
To view Updegraff-Day's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Devon Updegraff-Day did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Devon Updegraff-Day completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Updegraff-Day's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm an AZ native and married with 3 children. I am a practicing physician assistant for 12 years now and I own a medical practice that serves the Sun City and Sun City West communities. Over the past 12 years, I have worked hard to ensure my practice offers incredible, personalized care to our 17,000 active patients. I am also three years into obtaining a doctorate degree that focuses on leadership. My doctorate courses have provided me with skills needed to excel in project management, decision-making, organizational leadership and establishing evidence-based standards. I hope to use my both experience and knowledge in business and my research in adolescent health to help PUSD bring about creativity, productivity, improved parent/student/teacher satisfaction while also reducing wasted time and unnecessary expenses.
- I am a strong advocate for parental rights and involvement in our public schools.
- Less value placed on standardized for teacher performance; instead, incorporate a more comprehensive approach to teacher evaluations
- Improved money management and fiscal responsibility.
I believe teacher evaluations should be based on more than just standardized test results. Observation in the classroom, student/parent surveys and peer reviews should all be considered when evaluating a teacher's performance.
When a teacher is struggling to connect with their students or with conveying learning material effectively, mentorships can be a great way for a struggling teacher to develop new skills and techniques. Teachers with strong evaluations should be offered a financial incentive to mentor those who are struggling through basic observation and guidance.
I believe the board has shown weakness in their ability to find solutions and problem solve. As an owner of a medical practice with 17,000 active patients, I understand the value of efficiency and accountability. My current doctorate curriculum has given me the ability to utilize a Lean Six Sigma method to encourage creativity, productivity, parent/teacher satisfaction while also reducing wasted time and unnecessary expenses.
This may seem silly but I love books and I love when an author has the ability to form their work into a beautiful, smooth rhythm. I am also a history lover so one person I look up to is George R. R. Martin. Mr. Martin has master the art of using his historical knowledge to create incredibly detailed worlds that he then brings to life through his writing, in the most exquisite fashion. I am in constant awe of his imagination, his eloquence and his genius.
I recently finished the books The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg, Lukianoff and the book iGen by Jean M. Twenge. Both books I believe to be a must for all as it gives such a better understanding of current and upcoming generations.
Leadership, the ability to convert a clear message and honesty
I am extremely driven and decisive. I believe in action, I believing problem solving and I believe in using a common sense approach.
I believe board members should remember it is their duty to represent their community and to always put what is in the best interest of the students above all else
I would love to be remembered for improving community engagement, parental engagement and helping to get our public schools to embrace individual accountability, critical thinking and American history appreciation
I remember my mother explaining HIV/AIDS to me. I was in 4th grade and Magic Johnson had just gone public with his diagnosis.
I worked at Panera bread while I was in College. I had the job for 1 or 2 semesters
Game of Throne series. The author George R.R. Martin is a genius; I am in awe of his imagination, his attention to detail and his writing style is perfection.
I lost my mother 10 years ago while I was pregnant with my first child. Her loss was devastating but it made me stronger. Life does not stop when tragedy strikes. I believe one must remain focused, continue to move forward and embrace what life has yet to bring.
I consider it to be a leadership role that oversees the academic, legal, and financial health of a school district and should serve the values and needs of their community
My constituents are those in my community, parents, students and staff at all PUSD schools.
Fiscal responsibility is a necessary component for meeting the needs of the district. Responsible spending, effective spending cuts and cost saving tactics can help redirect district funds for much needed facility improvements and growth.
Schools need to do a better job at reaching out with their local community. It is easy to focus solely on school events but I believe it is important to also set aside time to meet with local committee and groups. Keeping the public informed on district success and struggles will offer a new level of transparency and I believe, result in more consistent and reliable community support and aid.
Parents need to be encouraged to become more involved in school board decisions. Allowing parents to sign up for mailing lists, offering volunteer opportunities, district community feedback and opportunities for parents to propose ideas for district improvements.
I believe equity in the classroom must come naturally and not be forced. In the book, iGen by Dr. Jean Twenge, the generation between the years 1996 and 2013 are the most ethnically diverse generation in American history with just under than 50% being non-Hispanic white. According to Dr. Twenge, the generation after iGen, will be the first non-white majority. This rise in diversity confirms that over the decades the American population has become more open-minded, more accepting and less racially divided; real change just takes time.
Increasing class sizes, limitations to a teacher's creativity in the classroom, rising behavioral issues in the classroom the constant navigations of political correctness and social issues that have infiltrated our public schools.
Portable classrooms are a short-term option that create an immediate solution for over-crowded classrooms. I would recommend a close examination of budget expenses to find areas where unnecessary expenses can be cut. Examples include an assessment of outside contracts to ensure the district is getting the best deal, examine administrator job requirements to see if 1 person could do a job currently being done by two and push for schools to become more energy efficient through the use of solar, turning computers off at night and on weekends, light off in rooms not being used and reduction of paper copies when possible.
Teachers need their handcuffs to be removed and be given a chance to enjoy their chosen profession again.
New discipline techniques that discouraged students from acting out while also benefitting the school campus should be utilized. On campus suspension that includes campus cleanup (trash pickup, cleaning bathrooms and cafeteria) should be utilized as consequences for poor behavior, reduce maintenance costs for the district and does not allow the students poor behavior to inconvenience their parents work schedule. When schools' administrators achieve the respect of their students, overall safety is improved.
Younger children with behavioral issues could be offered a break periodically in the day for a different style of learning that may help redirect and release built up energy to reduce frustration toward learning. I believe good teaching should be based on one's ability to connect with their students and deliver the learning material in an engaging and effective way. Learning cannot be about memorization but rather a long lasting comprehension.
I believe teacher evaluation should not focus around standardized test result be should be based on a more comprehensive evaluation. Observation in the classroom, student/parent surveys and peer reviews should all be considered when evaluating a teacher's performance.
When a teacher is struggling to connect with their students or with conveying learning material effectively, mentorships can be a great way for a struggling teacher to develop new skills and techniques. Teachers with strong evaluations should be offered a financial incentive to mentor those who are struggling through basic observation and guidance.
Accountability, time and money management and a true understanding of past historical events
A high school diploma should represent one's ability to contribute to society. It is simply a stepping stone, a right a passage. It is the beginning of something bigger and better. It is an opportunity to go after a profession that one enjoys and is proud of.
Our public-school curriculum needs to get back to the basics and bring back value to both history and science. Standardized tests have limited a teacher's ability to make learning fun and unique. Too much time has been spent preparing for and taking standardized tests. Kids today have become experts at answering multi-choice questions but lack any ability to apply critical thinking skills to real life problems.
I would love to see PUSD participate in a program similar to the Phoenix Youth Reach and Invest in Summer Employment (R.I.S.E.) program. The R.I.S.E. program could be a great way to bring our local community and school district together benefiting both students and local businesses.
School bonds are necessary when communities are in desperate need of significant renovations or new schools to help the ever-growing issue of overcrowding. Peoria is growing rapidly, and the school district must keep pace with new families moving into Peoria neighborhoods every day. Peoria is known for their well performing schools and it is important we maintain those standards. The district has to do a better job at showing the public exactly how money is being spent, what attempts are being made to cut costs and remind those living in Peoria that school performance has a direct impact on land value. The worse our schools perform and the more crowded each school become, dropout rates will rise, crime will rise, and land value will drop.
Kids need to feel safe in schools, but I do not believe that comes from more counseling or more hand holding. Kids need structure, consequences and discipline. I grew up attending Catholic schools where respect for others, proper behavior in the classrooms and high academic performance was expected. Public schools should have similar expectations for their students and enforce disciple that has actual consequences. On campus suspension that includes campus cleanup (trash pickup, cleaning bathrooms and cafeteria) should be utilized as consequences for poor behavior, reduce maintenance costs for the district and does not allow the students poor behavior to inconvenience their parents work schedule. When schools' administrators achieve the respect of their students, overall safety is improved.
I would love to see the district reach out to the community and utilize local services. Organizing community improvement events with students that include helping out at animal shelters, trash pick-up days or volunteer work at homeless shelters can help all students, whether they are struggling with mental health or not. Helping others less fortunate can offer those struggling a new perspective and a temporary escape from their personal situation.
I would also love to see the district reach out to counselors/psychologist/psychiatrist in our community, so they can offer their skills and advice on developing coping skills and avoiding risk factors. Having an outside expert in mental health, on campus, one day, may give kids an outside resource they may not have had otherwise.
Since the district was given a crash course in virtual learning, it only makes sense to incorporate virtual learning as a homeschool alternative. Situations may occur where a student in not comfortable on campus and would prefer learning from home. Virtual learning can allow family's to take longer vacations without the threat of having too many marked absences. Injury, illness and families tragedies can happen at any time and virtual learning may offer a temporary solution to help those struggling get through a difficult time. The more we make education accessible; the less likely students will drop out or give up on their future studies.
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See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 26, 2020
