Six months after the contentious resignation of a popular school superintendent, one of Arizona’s largest school districts is moving ahead with appointing a new leader.
Dysart Unified School District's governing board announced this month they entered into contract negotiations with Jim Dean, the assistant superintendent. He has been leading the district since Quinn Kellis resigned in May. Dysart Unified serves Surprise, El Mirage and other areas of the northwest Valley.
Some educators and parents speaking at school board meetings over the past year raised concerns about the board cutting counselor hours and limiting teacher training materials about social-emotional learning. This educational framework, which encourages students to learn interpersonal skills and self-control, has come under fire from conservatives.
“All of the social-emotional learning books that this board has been opposed to ... those are all things that help children learn at an early age how to regulate their feelings,”