Marc Garcia
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Marc Garcia ran for election for an at-large seat of the Higley Unified School District in Arizona. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Garcia completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Marc Garcia was born in Mesa, Arizona. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1998 to 2018. He graduated from McClintock High School. He earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force in 2012. His career experience includes working in financial services.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Higley Unified School District, Arizona, elections (2024)
General election
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Garcia in this election.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Marc Garcia completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Garcia'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 am Marc Garcia, a proud Arizona native, U.S. Air Force veteran with 20 years of service, and a dedicated father of three children, two of whom are currently enrolled in the Higley Unified School District (HUSD). My professional background includes extensive military training and experience in leadership, strategic planning, and financial literacy education. I am running for the HUSD Governing Board because I am deeply committed to ensuring that every child in our community receives a high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment.
- Academic Excellence is my top priority. I am committed to ensuring that every student in the Higley Unified School District has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for future success. My focus is on enhancing academic programs and supporting our educators to help students reach their full potential.
- I believe in the importance of collaboration between parents, teachers, administrators, and the community. I am committed to representing the voices of our families and ensuring that decisions are made transparently and in the best interests of our students.
- I am committed to ensuring that our schools provide a secure environment where students can focus on their academic development. By creating a safe and structured atmosphere, we enable students to concentrate on learning and achieving their full potential. My goal is to support policies that maintain rigorous safety standards, ensuring that our schools are places where students can thrive academically without distraction or concern.
I am deeply passionate about academic excellence and the teaching of core fundamentals that will create future leaders in our community. Although HUSD boasts a 95% passing rate for student promotion, only about 60% of our students are passing state assessments in key areas like math and reading. This gap underscores the need to refocus on academic rigor and mastery of essential skills. I am committed to supporting policies that ensure our students are proficient in these foundational subjects, setting them on a path to become successful, informed leaders. My goal is to align our educational practices with the highest standards, ensuring that every child in our district is equipped with the knowledge
I recommend “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. This book emphasizes personal responsibility, leadership, and the importance of principled decision-making, which are central to my political philosophy.
Integrity, accountability, and a commitment to serving the community are essential characteristics for an elected official. These principles ensure that decisions are made transparently and in the best interest of constituents.
Leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to community service are qualities I’ve nurtured throughout my military and professional life. These traits equip me to make informed and thoughtful decisions in a school board capacity.
The core responsibilities include setting and overseeing the district’s policies, ensuring financial stewardship, and advocating for academic excellence. A school board member must also engage with the community and represent the diverse needs of students and families.
I aspire to leave a legacy of empowering individuals through financial literacy. My goal is to equip people with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve financial freedom. By fostering a deeper understanding of financial principles in our community, I hope to help others make informed decisions that enhance their long-term well-being and stability. This commitment extends beyond my role on the Higley Unified School District Board, as it is a personal mission to see individuals and families thrive, secure in their economic futures.
The first significant historical event I vividly remember was the September 11 attacks. I was 22 years old living in the dorms at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico. Witnessing this event shaped my understanding of global issues and reinforced my commitment to service in the Air Force.
My very first job was at McDonald's, where I worked for three years during high school. This early experience taught me the importance of hard work, responsibility, and customer service before I joined the U.S. Air Force.
One of my favorite books is 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear. This book resonates deeply with me because it outlines practical strategies for forming good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. It emphasizes the compound benefits of small habitual changes, which aligns with my belief in continuous improvement both personally and professionally
Balancing the demands of military service with family life was challenging. It taught me the importance of resilience and the value of a strong support network, lessons I carry into all aspects of my life and work.
The primary job of a school board member is to ensure that the district provides a high-quality education to all students. This includes setting policies, overseeing the budget, and ensuring that the district’s operations align with the community’s educational goals.
My constituents are the students, parents, teachers, and residents of the Higley Unified School District. I also represent the broader community, including those without direct ties to the schools, as they have a vested interest in the success of our public education system.
I would support the needs of all students, faculty, staff, and community members by advocating for consistent policies and procedures that ensure equal access to educational resources, opportunities, and support systems. My focus would be on establishing standardized processes that apply universally, ensuring that everyone benefits from the same high-quality education, professional development, and financial backing, regardless of their background. This approach ensures that every individual in our district has the tools and support they need to succeed.
I will build relationships by actively engaging with local community groups, businesses, and civic organizations. I plan to work closely with parent-teacher organizations, veteran groups, and local businesses to ensure a broad base of support and collaboration.
Good teaching involves engaging students, fostering critical thinking, and adapting to diverse learning styles. I will measure this through student performance, teacher evaluations, and classroom observations. Supporting advanced teaching approaches involves providing ongoing professional development and access to innovative educational tools.
In considering the expansion of our curriculum, I am particularly focused on integrating advanced technical training, apprenticeships, and STEM programs, with a significant emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications. As AI continues to transform industries—from healthcare and finance to automotive and technology—it is imperative that our students are equipped not only with foundational knowledge but also with practical skills that align with these technological advancements.
For instance, implementing courses that teach programming languages like Python, which is critical for AI development, or offering simulations that allow students to interact with AI algorithms, would be invaluable. Additionally, partnerships with tech companies that are leaders in AI could provide hands-on learning opportunities through internships or guest lectures.
Moreover, AI-specific apprenticeships could prepare students for roles such as AI specialists or data analysts directly out of high school. By introducing these innovative programs, we would be ensuring that our students are not just participants but leaders in the digital economy. This approach is crucial for preparing students for the evolving job market and ensuring they have the skills needed for future success. To ensure the HUSD schools are properly funded, my approach will combine rigorous budget management with active pursuit of diverse funding sources and strategic allocation of resources. I will initiate a comprehensive audit of current expenditures to identify potential savings and reallocate funds to enhance direct student services and classroom needs. This effort will be complemented by seeking alternative funding sources, including state, federal, and private grants focused on educational enhancements, and developing partnerships with local businesses to support specific programs such as technology upgrades and capital projects.
In addition to leveraging community-based fundraising events to engage local stakeholders, I will prioritize funding to core academic programs and critical but underfunded areas like special education. Funds will also be directed towards professional development to maintain high teaching standards. At the legislative level, I will advocate for equitable state funding formulas to ensure sustainable educational financing.
Transparency will be key; I plan to make all financial decisions and budget details accessible to the public through regular updates at community town halls and via digital platforms. This will foster trust and allow for ongoing community feedback, ensuring that our financial strategies continuously align with the educational needs and priorities of our students and teachers.
By integrating these strategies, we aim to create a robust financial model that secures HUSD’s future, ensuring every student benefits from a high-quality education. My safety policies are driven by the principles of prevention, preparedness, and community involvement. Ensuring that students feel safe in their learning environment is foundational to their academic success and overall well-being.
I would like to review and possibly revise policies related to curriculum transparency and resource allocation to ensure that they align with the community’s educational priorities and the needs of our students.
An ideal learning environment is one that is safe, and supportive, where students are encouraged to think critically and creatively. It should provide access to quality resources, experienced teachers, and a curriculum that prepares students for future success.
The district navigated the pandemic with the resources available, but there were challenges in adapting to remote learning and ensuring all students had access to technology. In the future, I would advocate for better contingency planning, more robust digital infrastructure, and clearer communication with parents and staff.
I will maintain open lines of communication and create opportunities for parents to be involved in decision-making processes. Building trust and transparency with parents is key to a successful school district.
I support merit-based recruitment and retention strategies that prioritize qualifications, experience, and dedication to student success. Providing competitive salaries and professional development opportunities are also crucial for attracting and retaining top talent.
I believe in absolute financial transparency and accountability. Taxpayer dollars should be managed with the utmost care, and stakeholders deserve to know how funds are allocated and spent. I support regular audits and open reporting to ensure trust between the district and the community.
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.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 30, 2024
