Catherine Barrett

Non-Partisan | Arizona

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Candidate Profile

Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board, 4-Year Seats (vote for two) Arizona General | November 3, 2026

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, M.Ed, 2023-2025

Arizona State University, Tempe, BS, 1994-1996

Villa Julie College, Stevenson, AA, 1991-1994

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Most Holy Trinity, Volunteer, 2022-

Independent, Candidate training, 2023-

Leadership Institute, Candidate training, 2017-

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Associate Superintendent of Academic Achievement Arizona Department of Education, 2022-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Paradise Valley Unified School District, 2026-2029

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (1)

Stand For Health Freedom

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (9)

Dr. Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.

Pamela Kelley, M.Ed

Carol Portnova, M.Ed

Aimee Bencome

Thomas C. Horne, Esq.

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)

Joseph Chaplik (2020)

Sylvia Tenney Allen (2020)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS

Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Maricopa County Elections website.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Choose not to answer

What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?

Did not answer


ECONOMY

Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.

Strongly Agree

What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?

Government has a responsibility to adequately fund public education from pre K through college or career training because a strong education system benefits students, families, employers, and the entire community.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The First amendment which says Congress may not establish a religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.


IMMIGRATION

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.

Strongly Agree


EDUCATION

Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.

Strongly Disagree

I am Roman Catholic.

Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.

Choose not to answer

I've taught in Arizona classrooms since 2001 (my second career), all Title I schools by choice. Students and families should feel safe to enhance the learning environment.

Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.

Strongly Agree

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Agree

Entering the educational field as my second career from the corporate business sector, I've seen decisions need to be made for our Arizona students by Arizona educators, and returning the funding to our state's decisions for families would benfit academic outcomes.

If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development

N/A

Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning

Academic-focused. Stand with our educators and promote bell-to-bell instruction. Every instructional minute is precious.

Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.

Agree

As a Title I Arizona teacher we appreciate teaching academics bell to bell. Tax payers resources should be spent wisely with the focus in academia.

School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.

Agree

Parents are responsible decisions makers to their children. Arizona is leading with School Choice. I am public school proud and school choice can coexist.


VALUES

Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Disagree

I am Roman Catholic.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Roman Catholic and attended Catholic College upon graduation from public High school .

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Agree

Parents are responsible decision makers for their children.

I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Choose not to answer

Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.

Agree

School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.

Choose not to answer


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

I voted in these primaries and general elections:

2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election

What political party are you affiliated with?

Did not answer

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Conservative

I have proudly taught in Arizona and served in Title 1 schools by choice. Our best teachers deserve our best instructors.


2ND AMENDMENT

Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.

Choose not to answer

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