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Lacy Halm Chaffee
Lacy Halm Chaffee is an at-large member of the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board in Arizona. She assumed office on January 1, 2025. Her current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Halm Chaffee ran for election for an at-large seat of the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board in Arizona. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Halm Chaffee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Lacy Halm Chaffee earned a graduate degree from Arizona State University. Her career experience includes working as a communications specialist.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Mesa Public Schools, Arizona, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Mesa Public Schools Governing Board At-large (3 seats)
Sharon Benson, incumbent Courtney Davis, and Lacy Halm Chaffee defeated Josh Chilton and Ed Steele in the general election for Mesa Public Schools Governing Board At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Sharon Benson (Nonpartisan)  | 21.2 | 86,393 | |
| ✔ |  | Courtney Davis (Nonpartisan) | 21.1 | 85,863 |
| ✔ |  | Lacy Halm Chaffee (Nonpartisan) | 20.2 | 82,377 |
 | Josh Chilton (Nonpartisan) | 19.1 | 77,783 | |
 | Ed Steele (Nonpartisan) | 18.1 | 73,499 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 1,235 | ||
| Total votes: 407,150 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Danny Zachary (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
Halm Chaffee received the following endorsements.
Campaign themes
2024
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released July 30, 2024 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lacy Halm Chaffee completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Halm Chaffee's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Over the past decade, I have volunteered on various school committees and councils, ranging from elementary to high school levels. I currently serve on the i.d.e.a. Museum Foundation board, which helps provide access to hands-on literacy and creative experiences for children in the East Valley.
I have also taught in the private and public sector. In my current position at ASU, I support arts education and help connect students to their future career. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ASU and have seen the value of education in my life. As a governing board member, I will work to protect our Mesa students’ futures by ensuring they have the skills to be successful in whatever path they choose after high school.- Addressing achievement gaps: MPS needs to do better for all of our students. Every child deserves a great education that gets them ready for college, career, and community. We need to make sure every student is learning what they need to know, no matter where they start. This means keeping great teachers, creating solid extended support systems of adults who care, and providing extra help when kids need it. We also need to focus on foundational principles, including increasing parental engagement, eliminating cell phone distractions in classrooms, and decreasing chronic absenteeism. By empowering our students with the knowledge and skills needed for success, we will create a brighter future for students and for our community.
- Staff recruitment and retention: Workload, pay, and difficult job environments make it hard for people to stay in the field of education. We can't afford to lose good people; we need to attract and keep great teachers, bus drivers, HVAC technicians, building administrators, counselors, support specialists and more right here in Mesa. In order to do that, we must create a supportive and rewarding work environment in our schools and in our district. This means treating people with respect, making sure they feel valued, and giving them the support they need to be excellent. We need to surround our students with adults who care about them and the school environment.
- Student safety and well-being: The increasing needs of our students outside school are impacting their academic success and overall development. We are seeing unprecedented apathy, lack of focus, and behavioral issues on campuses. MPS needs to address these behavioral and discipline concerns. As we work with parents, teachers, staff, and the community, we can keep our schools safe and help every student feel supported. We're all in this together, and we need to work as a team to help our students succeed so each child can reach their full potential.
It’s not enough for someone to say they will be a voice for students, parents, teachers, staff, and community. They need to show up and do the work. I’ve worked in the classrooms, cheered at the activities, and served as part of the organizations that make Mesa Public Schools what it is. I know the work involved. I constantly invest in the district by helping on campuses and talking with people who care about Mesa Public Schools and public education. I do this so I can better understand the community and meet the strengths and needs of all our students. As an elected school board member, I will tirelessly advocate for our schools and for an atmosphere of respect and excellence.
Policy-Making: School board members are responsible for setting policies that govern the district's operations. This includes curriculum development, budget allocation, hiring and firing of administrators, and establishing standards for student achievement.
Fiscal Oversight: They oversee the district's finances, ensuring that funds are used efficiently and effectively to support student learning. This involves approving budgets, monitoring expenditures, and advocating for adequate funding.
Community Engagement: School board members serve as liaisons between the district and the community. They must be responsive to the needs and concerns of parents, teachers, students, and the public at large. This involves attending community meetings, listening to feedback, and communicating effectively with stakeholders.
Strategic Planning: They play a vital role in developing long-term plans for the district's future. This includes setting goals, identifying challenges, and implementing strategies to improve student outcomes.
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
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Mesa Public Schools Governing Board At-large |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
