Our Statewide Team

Beth Lewis is a mom, public education advocate, and K-12 policy expert who fights for a fully and equitably funded school for every Arizona child. As Director of Save Our Schools Arizona, Beth works to bring parents, educators, elected officials, business leaders, and community members together in support of Arizona’s public schools, which strengthen our communities and our great state. Beth has taught elementary and middle school in Arizona for 12 years and has been named a Rodel Exemplary teacher and Tempe Diablos Teacher of the Year Finalist. She holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Education from ASU. Reach out to Beth at beth@sosarizona.org

Nicky is a mother of five and a strong advocate for Arizona’s public schools. She began her work in public school advocacy in Arizona seven years ago as a parent group officer and eventually moved over to lead parent group advocacy efforts across the state. She has done extensive work organizing in rural communities and has developed a strong understanding of the needs of Arizona’s rural public schools and communities. Nicky previously served as the Community Outreach Organizer for a statewide K-12 policy coalition and as a rural organizer leading teams of parents and teachers for an Arizona non-profit addressing children’s needs statewide. She is currently the Statewide Outreach Director for Save Our Schools Arizona. Her previous background in social work and community engagement gives her the tools necessary to encourage community members, parents, and teachers to engage in advocacy efforts to address the needs of Arizona’s classrooms. Reach out to Nicky at nicky@sosarizona.org

Sharon is a mom, a teacher, and a public education advocate who believes that the people of Arizona, not out-of-state interests, should drive policy about public education in Arizona. She serves as the Director of Research and tracks efforts in Arizona and across the nation to dismantle public education. With more than 25 years of experience at public universities, she teaches and publishes on women’s literature, poetics, and public discourse. Sharon holds a BA and MA in English and Philosophy from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a Ph.D. in Poetics from the University at Buffalo. Reach out to Sharon at sharon@sosarizona.org

Melinda has developed and managed editorial content for over 30 years, contributing to publications in a wide range of industries from health care, journalism, advertising and entertainment to professional services and the faith sector. Her knack for summarizing complex legislation in everyday language helps thousands of people across the state engage with public policy, mobilizing and inspiring them to become citizen lobbyists. As Policy Director and Legislative Analyst for Save Our Schools Arizona, she advocates for good public policy that serves the 1.1 million children in Arizona’s public schools. Melinda is a product of Arizona public education from elementary to college, the parent of two children in public schools, and a fierce advocate for public education as the backbone of our democracy. Reach out to Melinda at melinda@sosarizona.org

Rachael is an Arizona native, mom of three, and educator. She grew up attending public schools in Tempe and graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in History and Master’s in Secondary Education. She returned to teach History and Government at her alma mater where she discovered a passion for education advocacy. While not currently in the classroom, she has helped to coordinate advocacy efforts in the East Valley and currently serves as the Digital Organizing Director for Save Our Schools Arizona

Isadora Britton is a public school proud mom of three boys in Mesa Public Schools. She has volunteered her time in countless classrooms, acted as an Art Masterpiece Guide in MPS for 10 years, and has been advocating for teachers, students, and schools since the Red for Ed Movement. She has been working for Save Our Schools Arizona for the past year coordinating various volunteer coordination projects. Isadora is now the Local Business Ambassador for the AZ Loves Public Schools program, and is working to create a network of local businesses across AZ that proudly support public schools.

Christina Bustos is a Chicana educator, mother, and activist. She attended Arizona State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the Multilingual Multicultural program and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Bilingual Education. She just is in the second year of her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Evaluation at Arizona State University. As an educator, she worked for over 20 years with a high population of minoritized students and built up the ideals of democracy that we all can have a voice in this state. As a community member activist and organizer with over 25 years of experience ranging from community cleanups, canvassing, tabling, and creating community engagement opportunities, she sees the value and importance of engaging people where they are. Reinvigorating those who have felt weighed down by the slow arch of change and building opportunities for all people to become active participants as voters and members of this community to participate in the democratic process.

Lisa Calderon is a proud mother to four daughters and one granddaughter. Originally from Central California, Lisa relocated to Arizona in 2010. She grew up with an appreciation for educators as they were instrumental in her love of reading and learning. She was the first to graduate high school and attend college. She has had the privilege of time to support her community and her children’s school where she has volunteered for programs such as art masterpiece, serve on PTO and Boosters club. I will always be an advocate for quality and equitable education.

Fred Curtis is a writer, entrepreneur, and public school advocate. Since graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law, Curtis has worked as a small business owner and political operative, serving some of the nation’s finest young leaders, including Senator Jon Ossoff, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and, leading up to 2020’s historic election, for the Democratic National Committee. He lives in Phoenix and is an avid Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Ravens fan.

With over 30 years of hospitality, leadership, and community organizing expertise, Mary excels at creating connections and fostering impactful change. A former Nogales City Council candidate and seasoned political organizer, she has worked across local, state, and national campaigns. Deeply concerned about voting rights and election integrity, Mary focuses on voter registration through her efforts with Save Our Schools. She is also a board member of BYTE (https://bytetennis.org), hosts global guests at her Arizona-Mexico border home, and leads Bali Wellness Journeys, blending quality and innovation into every endeavor.

Leda was born and raised in Cottonwood Arizona, is a mom of two teens, and an educator. She has participated in Arizona’s public schools as a student, parent volunteer, substitute teacher, classroom teacher, and advocate. She is not currently in the classroom but continues to educate & engage parents, teachers, and community members about education policy and issues in the East Valley. She also serves as the SOSAZ Social Media Coordinator, helping to manage social media in an effort to increase awareness of our work. She believes every student in Arizona deserves a fully funded, safe school in their neighborhood, regardless of income or zip code.

Abril is a high school student who devotes her time to her academics and community. She strongly believes in the power of education and invests her time in taking advanced courses. Her community’s quality of life is important to her so she contributes to her community through community service, community based science projects, and peer to peer support at school. She is an enthusiastic learner and hopes to cause a long lasting impact on her community!

Heather has spent the past 45 years living in nearly every city in the metropolitan Phoenix area, choosing Arizona as her forever home. As a former teen mom, she understands firsthand the important role strong public schools play in creating opportunities and shaping success—for herself and her three grown children. An Arizona State University graduate, former teacher, substitute teacher, and event planner for non-profits, Heather has spent the last 30 years working and volunteering in roles that empower and educate others. She is driven by a strong belief in ensuring that the next generation has the same opportunities she had through access to strong public schools in every Arizona neighborhood.

Shelly Hartman is a retired educator who spent 32 years working and fighting for Public Schools. Currently living in Tucson, she has been married for over 40 years, with two children and one grandson. Born and raised in Arizona, she went to public schools, and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Arizona University and her Master’s Degree from Arizona State University. She worked in the Pendergast School District for years as an Elementary teacher and literacy coach and Glendale Elementary School District as Assistant Principal and Principal. Spending most of her career in Title One low income public schools has taught her the importance of fully funded public schools and the impact of legislation that is detrimental to student learning and growth. Her passion for education has not changed since she retired and she continues to work for AZ schools. She has been volunteering with SOSAZ for several years, and now works as the CAT Coordinator for Pima County.

Kari Hull is a native Arizonan, living most of her life in Northern Arizona. As a professional Organizer, Kari has been advocating for public education since 2018. Her family (husband and two daughters) attended public, neighborhood schools and believes every child should have access to a quality, fully-funded public school. Her passion is building and supporting teams of volunteers throughout Arizona to collectively advocate and fight for public education.

Tyler is a native Arizonan and the product of 13 years of public education. After growing up watching Arizona’s forced education budget austerity, Tyler began advocating for public schools as a high school senior. Tyler has worked on three legislative campaigns supporting pro-public school candidates, and served as the legislative assistant to Senator Christine Marsh and the Constituent Services Manager for Superintendent of Public Schools Kathy Hoffman. Tyler holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from McGill University. Reach out to Tyler at tyler@sosarizona.org.

Alicia is a mother and public school educator of 30 years. She attended Arizona public schools from elementary school through university. As a parent of two daughters who attended low income public schools, she is acutely aware of how funding has impacted public education opportunities in the state and passionately fights to improve access to quality public schools for all Arizona kids.

Raquel was born and raised in the beautiful border town of Nogales, Arizona, and is the mother of 13-year old twins. She has taught for 12 years in 3 different states, including special education for 10 years and 2 years teaching a dual-language Spanish class. When her children started kindergarten, she returned to volunteering on the PTO and working as a substitute teacher. Raquel has been involved with Save Our Schools Arizona since 2017 and is passionate about sharing the information she has learned about the history of education funding in Arizona, especially to the Spanish-speaking community. Raquel believes strongly that quality education is a necessity for a healthy democracy.

Daniel is a local small business owner who focuses on digital media and marketing. Daniel joined the team in 2020 to help with digital content and now is thrilled to be the new Digital Coordinator. Daniel works daily to help spread the Save Our Schools Arizona message online and is happy to be a public education advocate and supporter.

Armando Olmos is a motivated and dedicated high school student with a strong academic record, excels in leadership roles, and has extensive experience in community service surpassing more than 200 hours completed. He is passionate about science, and actively seeking opportunities to make a positive impact on his community through collaboration and public service.

Kristin believes in justice, love, and community. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Kristin has been honored to teach in Arizona’s public schools for the past 15 years. Her upbringing, her faith, and her experience as a teacher all motivate her to continue working to build a better Arizona for future generations. Kristin is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in educational leadership from Arizona State University. She has been organizing her community to advocate for strong public schools since 2017.

Shawnté Rothschild (she/her) is an Arizona native, proud public school parent of three, and a dedicated advocate for public education. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that every child has access to a safe, inclusive, and high-quality education. With over a decade of leadership in pharmaceutical benefits management, diversity inclusion and accessibility, and a proven track record of mentoring vulnerable youth, Shawnté brings a unique perspective to educational advocacy. She leverages her expertise to mobilize communities, fostering engagement with public policy to support the children in Arizona’s public schools. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Services, Shawnté is dedicated to being a helping hand to some of society’s most vulnerable citizens.

Jen is a proud public school graduate and an educator who grew up in the Phoenix area. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and taught 6th grade for 11 years at the same elementary school she attended as a child. After leaving the classroom, she has continued to work in support of Arizona’s public schools: mentoring new teachers, substitute teaching, and advocating for better learning and teaching conditions across the state. She believes that every student deserves access to an excellent public education, regardless of who or where they are.

Amanda is a writer, fundraiser, and proud product of Arizona’s K-12 public schools. She was born and raised in Scottsdale and spent the last several years in the Midwest fighting for equitable access in education. She holds a BA in political science from Truman State University in Missouri, and her professional experience includes work in public policy, state government, and nonprofit fundraising. Amanda believes in strong public investment in public goods and also serves as president of the Friends of the Scottsdale Public Library. She lives in Phoenix with her wife and their rescue dog.

Nicole is a California native. However, she has spent her entire career in education serving Arizona public schools. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in ESL/Second Language Acquisition, and she is a National Board Certified Teacher. Nicole is a mother to three children who have all flourished in Arizona public schools. She has been actively involved in public education advocacy since 2017. Her passion for this work is rooted in the belief that all children deserve access to a high quality and fully funded public school.

Our Statewide Team

BETH LEWIS

NICKY INDICAVITCH

SHARON KIRSCH

MELINDA IYER

RACHAEL CLAWSON

Isadora Britton

Christina Bustos

Lisa Calderon

Fred Curtis

Mary Darling

LEDA DEVLIEGER

Abril Garibay

Heather Gookin

Shelly Hartman

KARI HULL

Tyler kowch

ALICIA LUCAS

RAQUEL MAMANI

DANIEL MEJIA

Armando Olmos

KRISTIN ROBERTS

Shawnté Rothschild

JEN SENATORE

AMANDA SHETLER

Nicole Wolff

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