Regional Partnership Councils

Expect More Arizona is known for being a trusted source of nonpartisan information. We foster collaborative action by bringing diverse groups of people together to find and implement long-term solutions to our state’s most pressing education issues. Having laid this strong foundation, we are leveraging our credibility and relationships to create regional councils around the state to advance education locally and statewide.

Expect More Arizona has partnered with leaders in Yuma and in Douglas to convene local education councils and are cultivating opportunities for growth in other communities. The councils, comprised of business, education, municipal and community leaders, work together to advance a shared vision for education at the local and statewide level. The council’s actions are driven by the belief that every student deserves an excellent education – every step of the way.

IMAGINE THE POTENTIAL if even more communities become engaged and empowered to own the solution locally. We can nurture the spirit of collaboration, inform the conversation, and grow more education champions with your support.

Douglas Education Partnership Council

  • Convenes more than 25 Douglas leaders representing different sectors, including education, business, non-profit and government monthly to find common ground and work collectively to affect change for students, schools and the community.
  • Coordinate teacher appreciation events, including securing special discounts from area businesses for educators and assisting the city with developing a Proclamation to acknowledge the importance of the community’s teachers.
  • Demonstrated support for local students through a collaborative effort to deliver letters of recognition to 2018 Douglas high school graduates. The letters, authored by community leaders, encouraged students to pursue opportunities in postsecondary education.
  • Committed to hosting a future screening of TEACHING IN ARIZONA to facilitate the community’s understanding of education workforce issues and help to generate long term, sustainable solutions.

Ada Parra
University of Arizona South

Alexis Moreno
Consulado de México en Douglas

DeNise Bauer
Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce

Angie Bustamante
Cochise College

Jacqui Clay
Cochise County School Superintendent’s Office

Denise Cox
Douglas Unified School District

Marlene Dagnino
UA Student

Arturo Escalante
Douglas Hispanic Chamber

Laura Hurtado
Consulado de México en Douglas

Rosa Lara
Wells Fargo

Patricia Lopez
Douglas City Council

Rick Martinez
Douglas Fire Department

Rose Martinez
Cochise County School Superintendent’s Office

Darlene Melk, M.D.
Chiricahua Community Health Center

Cornelia Munoz
Arizona @ Work

Vada Phelps
Center for Academic Success Charter School

Ralph Robles
Douglas Hispanic Chamber

Jim Russell
City of Douglas

Melissa Silva
University of Arizona South

Yuma Education Advocacy Council

  • Brings together 22 Yuma leaders to find common ground and work collectively to affect change for students, schools and the community.
  • Mobilized Yuma voters to support Proposition 123 which invests $3.5 billion into Arizona’s public schools over the next decade.
  • In partnership with the Yuma Chamber, made education a top issue for all 13 legislative candidates at the 2018 Yuma Primary Election Candidate Forum.
  • Hosted a community conversation for 110 Yumans to better understand teacher workforce issues and inspire community members to become education champions.
  • Inform nearly 19,000 Yumans every other month on important education issues facing our community through a regular Yuma Sun column.

Rachael Barkley
Alice Byrne Elementary School/Barkley Company

Jeff Byrd
1st Bank of Yuma

Madeleine Coil
City of Yuma

Gladys Brown
Yuma International Airport

Linda Elliott-Nelson
Arizona Western College

Julie Engel
Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation

Amy Gill
Sturges Charitable Trust

Bruce Gwynn
Yuma Union High School District

Clint Harrington
Pilkington Construction Co., Inc.

Machele Headington
Yuma Regional Medical Center

Tanya Hodges
University of Arizona

Jon Jessen
Gowan Company

Shelley Mellon
RL Jones Insurance/Mellon Family Farm

Dr. Laura Noel
Somerton School District

Rudy Ortiz
First Things First

Bill Regenhardt
Yuma Private Industry Council

Veronica Shorr
Yuma Community Foundation

Bob Sloncen
Hyder/Dateland School District

Jenny Torres
City of San Luis

Tom Tyree
Yuma County Education Service Agency

Chris Wheeler
Prison Hill Brewing Company

Olivia Zepeda
Gadsden Elementary School District