Laura Metcalfe

Laura Metcalfe is a member of the East Valley Institute of Technology District in Arizona, representing District 5. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Metcalfe (Democratic Party) ran for election for Maricopa County School Superintendent in Arizona. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Metcalfe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Laura Metcalfe earned a Ph.D. from Northern Arizona University. Her career experience includes working as a superintendent, professor, school board member, and educational leader.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Shelli Boggs defeated Laura Metcalfe in the general election for Maricopa County School Superintendent on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Shelli Boggs (R)	51.4	973,357
	Laura Metcalfe (D)	48.5	918,366
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1,470

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,893,193
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Laura Metcalfe advanced from the Democratic primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent on July 30, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Laura Metcalfe	99.6	265,984
	Other/Write-in votes	0.4	964

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 266,948
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Shelli Boggs defeated incumbent Steve Watson and Nickie Kelley in the Republican primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shelli Boggs	34.3	122,423
		Steve Watson	33.8	120,707
	Submit photo	Nickie Kelley	31.6	112,676
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	1,323

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 357,129
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Metcalfe in this election.

2022

General election

General election for East Valley Institute of Technology District District 5

Laura Metcalfe defeated incumbent Cien Hiatt Luke in the general election for East Valley Institute of Technology District District 5 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Laura Metcalfe (Nonpartisan)	58.1	24,334
	Submit photo	Cien Hiatt Luke (Nonpartisan)	41.6	17,437
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	131

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,902
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Laura Metcalfe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Metcalfe's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Arizona Certified School Superintendent and Principal

Current Elected EVIT Board member 30+ years of education experience Educational Leadership Doctorate My experiences and education that qualify me to manage school finances and steward taxpayer dollars include the following:

21 years as a school and district-level administrator serving public education in small, medium, and large school districts in Maricopa County Creation and execution of school, district, and education agency budgets aligned with Uniform System of Financial Records, state and federal laws, and Maricopa County financial protocols in the roles of: Career and technical education director, director of special education, small schools administrator, director of state and federal programs, grant writer, and high school principal Managed a portfolio of state and federal grants in the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office of approximately $400,000 to meet the needs of small school districts, charter schools, and private schools Experience working with the Arizona Department of Education to reverse state and federal grants on corrective action to bring these funds back into compliance with state and federal laws, and school district policies to meet program goals, student needs, and aligned budgets

Experience working with the Arizona Auditor General regarding school budgets and programs not in compliance.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Provide schools with needed services such as curriculum and professional development.
Focus is on responsible fiscal integrity, teacher professional development, and leadership.
Ensure that ALL schools are provided the resources to meet the needs of teachers and students
INTEGRITY Promotes fiscal oversight and transparency in the office ON DAY ONE. Reinstates a Citizen Advisory Panel to ensure compliance with county, state, and federal laws
INNOVATION and INCLUSION Provides support for overlooked schools in Maricopa County including professional development and curriculum support for teachers Encourages partnerships with local apprenticeship organizations fostering strong career and technical education opportunities

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Small schools: curriculum, teacher and administration support

Big schools: admin/fiscal analysis support
SPED support, Accommodations School Districts - Teacher Leadership Model
Adult Education Program flows through the Accommodations District
Provides direct services to school districts, not padding the pockets of contractors.
Reduce administrative bloat in the public school systems.
School Board Appointment Process:
Background checks, Essays, Referrals by community, Current School Board submits 3 apolitical appointees for selection.

School Board appointments adamantly Pro-Public Education, invested in the local community and champions for teaching. Support for safety of diverse communities in the classroom.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to leaders like Liz Cheney and Hilary Clinton. They are brave despite the challenges, pressures, changes, and dangers they were under while in office. They separated their feelings from issues and situations to stand up for what was right despite the challenges faced in their careers. Their bravery shows that we don’t have to follow the crowd and do what everyone else thinks just because we need a job. I admire strong women who persevere through controversy and challenges to lead even if it is unpopular.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The book that I would recommend that outlines my political philosophy is “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should be participative, visionary, transformational, and servant-based. Above all they should be accountable, have integrity, and be transparent in all their official dealings. The characteristics of principles that are most important for an elected official is demonstrated professionalism to treat all people with respect and dignity. An elected official works with many different stakeholders, and when professionalism and respect are consistently demonstrated during the election season, and it is consistently demonstrated after being elected, working with others will be proven to solve challenges without stakeholders feeling they are being disrespected because of who they are.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The qualities I possess that I believe would make me a successful officeholder include nearly 30 years of school and school district leadership experience, holding a terminal degree (Doctorate of Education) in Educational Leadership, a passion for doing what is right by students, staff, and taxpayers, and a willingness to take a calculated risk to move an incumbent out of office who is not performing at levels of professionalism and competence.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for someone elected to this position includes proven school district finance and budgetary background and experience that is required to use taxpayer funding in accordance with state, federal, and county laws, protocols, procedures, and policies. A person who does not have knowledge, skills, and experience in this area will likely repeat the same, current fiscal failures that are in place in this office and its school district.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy I would like to leave is to correct the current wrongs of the Maricopa County Schools Office, make the Maricopa County Accommodation School District relevant and fiscally sound, and to ensure that the reputation of both are restored and professional. I want for teachers and administration to feel valued and be able to know they are supported by this office as it should be.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my lifetime was earning my driver’s license when I was 16 years old. I passed the written and driver’s test in the first try.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working at Wendy’s Hamburgers when I was 16 years old. I stayed at this job for seven months.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is “The Horse Whisperer” by Nicholas Evans. It shows the power of healing through the collaborative effort of an animal, a collaborative effort, beauty, and peace.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

If there was a fictional character that I would want to be Ms. Rain from the movie “Precious”.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The last song that got stuck in my head is “Purple Rain” by Prince.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Something that has been a struggle in my life is ensuring that school districts, schools, and classrooms have enough funding to meet the changing and increased academic needs of students and professional support of teachers.

Tell us your favorite joke.

My favorite joke is:

Q: What’s the longest word in the dictionary?

A: Smiles. Because there’s a mile between the first letter and the last.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

W and SE Realtors of the Valley (WeSERV), Scottsdale Realtors, Arizona List, NOW Arizona PAC, Southwest Carpenters Union, CWA, AFSCME, Ironworkers Local 75 Arizona, Maricopa County Young Democrats (MCYD), AZ Attorney General, Kris Mayes, Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, MCCCD Board Member Kelli Butler, MCCCD Board Member Dr. Linda Thor, Mesa Councilwoman Jen Duff, AZ State Representatives: Lorena Austin (LD 9), Seth Blattman (LD 9), Patty Contreras (LD12), Quantá Crews (LD26), Analise Ortiz (LD24), Judy Schweibert (LD 2), Stacey Travers (LD 12), AZ State Senators: Eva Burch (LD 9), Mitzi Epstein (LD12), Anna Hernandez (LD24)

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

My views on financial transparency and government accountability are clear. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent, and to know that it is being spent in accordance with state and federal laws, policies, protocols, and procedures. Understandable and timely explanation and demonstration of the use of these funds should be provided in different formats for taxpayers to access, and advisory panels composed of citizens should have input and oversight of these funds. Finally, taxpayers need to feel confident that the person they have elected has the knowledge. Skills, abilities, experience, education, and certification to prove competence in this area.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Laura Metcalfe did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

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Candidate

Maricopa County School Superintendent

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 5, 2024

Political offices
Preceded by Cien Hiatt Luke	East Valley Institute of Technology District District 5 2023-Present	Succeeded by -

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 5, 2024

[1]

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Laura Metcalfe

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Maricopa County School Superintendent

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for East Valley Institute of Technology District District 5

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

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2024 Election analysis

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