Petit Parisien - Arizona Superintendent-Elect Teresa Leyba Ruiz Outlines Agenda on Vouchers, Teacher Retention, and AI

Teresa Leyba Ruiz is set to assume the role of Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, marking a significant shift in the state’s educational leadership following her victory over State Treasurer Kimberly Yee in the November election. The Associated Press called the race on November 5, and as of November 12, Ruiz held a lead of approximately 6.5 percent over her opponent. She is scheduled to replace Tom Horne, who has served as superintendent since 2022.

In her first comprehensive interview regarding her transition and policy agenda, Ruiz addressed the immediate challenges facing the Arizona Department of Education. Her priorities include dismantling what she termed the "Empower Hotline," increasing transparency in the state’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, and establishing clear guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. Ruiz also outlined strategies to address teacher retention and improve literacy and mathematics proficiency rates across the state.

Ruiz indicated that her administration would likely replace high-level appointees from Horne’s office but emphasized the importance of retaining institutional knowledge. "I think the people that Superintendent Horne brought in, his high-level individuals, we’ll most likely replace," Ruiz said. "But at the same time, there’s institutional knowledge there. So we would like to open the door and invite those individuals to apply for the positions and submit their resumes as well. Because you can’t just start fresh when there’s institutional knowledge, and we want to build on that."

She acknowledged that a transition period involving personnel changes could slow operations but stressed the need for expertise. "And there’s so much that needs to get done, so we really want to make sure that we have the experts in place, that we’re all moving in the same direction, and that we’re ready to hit the ground running," Ruiz stated.

A central pillar of Ruiz’s platform is a reversal of Horne’s litigation strategy against public school districts. Horne’s tenure was marked by multiple lawsuits targeting schools, including those with dual-language programs. Ruiz described these legal actions as "outrageous" and confirmed that her office would cease such litigation immediately upon taking office. "My understanding is he’s lost every lawsuit when he’s suing our schools," she said. "A Superintendent of Public Instruction would sue a public school. So we’re not going to do any lawsuits. We’re going to end those."

Ruiz expressed strong support for dual-language programs, citing her visits to such schools as evidence of their robustness and importance. When asked if there were any circumstances where legal action against a district might be justified, she characterized litigation as an extreme last resort. "Well, that really feels like that’s the last step, right? There should be a lot of conversations, a lot of understanding, a lot of guidance," Ruiz explained. "If there’s something outside of the law, let’s come back in line. Having a lawsuit against a school district seems so extreme and a last-resort measure."

Ruiz also announced plans to abolish the Empower Hotline on her first day in office. The hotline, which allowed for anonymous reporting of educators, has been criticized by teachers’ unions as a tool to vilify staff. "That’s coming down day one," Ruiz declared. "That, otherwise known as the teacher snitch line. I have met educators who have left this noble profession because of that line. In a time when we need to be welcoming educators in, we do not need to have this hotline which serves zero purpose."

She noted that actionable items from the hotline were rare and that other mechanisms existed for complaints. "The calls that come in, you know, very few items have been actionable. There are other ways to get a complaint to the Department of Education. This is just one more tactic to vilify our educators," she said.

Addressing the critical issue of teacher retention, Ruiz identified Arizona’s low per-pupil spending as a primary driver of educator departure. "The focus is really going to be on, you know, nobody wants to be last in the nation in per-pupil spending," she said. "So this is really an opportunity to find the resources to elevate Arizona’s education system."

Ruiz highlighted the financial disparities between Arizona and neighboring states as a key factor in teacher migration. She noted that educators moving into Arizona are often shocked by the low salaries, while those leaving for states like California report being surprised by higher compensation elsewhere. "At the same time, there are teachers along our borders with California as an example, who live in Arizona but who teach in California," Ruiz observed. "They’re willing to sacrifice time away from their families because that’s an hour commute in the morning and in the afternoon. They’re willing to make that sacrifice because they’re supporting their families. Arizona is losing talented educators because of that. It’s an issue. We must find ways to pay our teachers the salaries that they deserve and keep our talent here."

To support retention and professional development, Ruiz proposed strengthening partnerships with universities and nonprofit organizations. She cited recent conversations with Daniela Robles, executive director of Northern Arizona University’s K12 Center, regarding professional development opportunities, and expressed interest in collaborating with Arizona State University on similar models. "My perspective will always be that the way to accomplish good work is through collaboration," Ruiz said. "Let’s find where the resources are. Let’s collaborate so that we can support our educators who can support our students."

On the complex issue of the ESA program, Ruiz did not commit to full abolition but emphasized the need for "common sense guardrails" and transparency. She criticized the expansion of the program from its original intent for students with special needs to a universal voucher system, noting that Arizona voters rejected universal ESAs in 2018 by a two-to-one margin before legislators pushed it through in 2022. "That’s where the complications begin," she said.

Ruiz announced plans to establish a transparency portal to track ESA spending, aiming to provide data to guide legislative conversations. She also addressed requests from media outlets for information on ESA expenditures, noting that her office would honor public records requests. "If it’s public records, then we need to honor that request," she said. She pointed out that Horne had previously lost a lawsuit against 12 News regarding such records and that the department would be responsible for paying the associated legal fees.

When asked if the defeat of Proposition 212, which would have placed voucher regulations on the ballot, contributed to her opponent’s loss, Ruiz suggested that public anger over non-educational ESA spending was a driving factor. "People are really angry when you hear these investigative reports come out and [we’re] paying for vacations and luxury items," she said. "People are angry when they’re having a hard time putting gas in their cars and food on their table, but taxpayer dollars are being spent on these non-educational expenses."

Ruiz rejected the notion that opposition to ESAs was purely partisan, citing survey data from Education Forward Arizona and the Arizona Education Association showing broad dissatisfaction with the program across political lines. She drew parallels to recent elections in Texas, where opposition to vouchers played a role in gubernatorial outcomes, noting that public schools serve as community hubs in rural areas lacking charter or private alternatives.

Ruiz also addressed her relationship with former opponent Kimberly Yee, who has not yet conceded the race. Ruiz noted that she had invited Yee to join an ESA accountability team, citing Yee’s role as the "architect" of the program as a reason for her expertise. "The offer still stands," Ruiz said. "Remember, she is the architect of the ESA programs. Who better to help regulate it than somebody who helped create it?"

Regarding the implementation of a third-party audit of ESAs, Ruiz stressed the necessity of full transparency. "It needs to happen," she said. "First of all, we need to have a full third-party audit, whether that’s through the Auditor General’s office or through another organization, a trusted organization. I think what’s really telling is that outside of some investigative reporting that got a snapshot, a piece, of the data, no one has seen the full data set. Arizonans deserve to know how our hard-earned taxpayer resources have been spent."

On the topic of artificial intelligence, Ruiz confirmed that her department would issue guidance for classroom use. She described the Arizona Department of Education as a hub for best practices and expressed interest in collaborating with experts to develop guidelines. "AI is a big topic," she said. "I imagine having an open conversation where we bring in some experts. And let’s write these guidelines together and then help our districts implement them."

Ruiz acknowledged that teachers are already using AI for lesson planning and differentiated instruction but emphasized the need to ensure ethical and responsible use as students advance in grade levels. She pointed to successful partnerships, such as Pendergast Elementary School District’s collaboration with Arizona State University on Dreamscape Learn labs, as examples of how AI can enhance academic learning.

Addressing screen time and cellphone policies, Ruiz supported district-level implementation of restrictions during class hours, aligning with existing state law. "It’s the law in Arizona. No cell phones in class," she said, noting that districts should work closely with parents to ensure safety during passing times and lunch.

Ruiz also expressed support for universal pre-kindergarten, citing successful models in New Mexico where early access to pre-K led to improved reading and math skills. While she had not yet spoken with the governor or legislature about implementation, she highlighted the potential benefits of early learning interventions.

Finally, Ruiz outlined her metrics for success, focusing on improving third-grade reading and eighth-grade math proficiency rates. She noted that only 36 percent of third graders and 27 percent of eighth graders are currently proficient in these subjects. "We need to bring in literacy and reading coaches," she said. "We need to really beef up the support because remember, very few of our children have access to high-quality early learning environments, so they’re already coming to us behind as kindergarten."

Ruiz concluded by emphasizing the importance of a stable teacher workforce for academic performance. "We know what happens when a classroom does not have a permanent teacher," she said. "When there’s a revolving door of substitutes. That automatically affects academic performance because there’s no consistency, there’s no planning, there’s no understanding the students’ needs."

Reflecting on her victory, Ruiz expressed gratitude for the support received across Arizona and framed the election as a mandate for public education. "This is a new chapter for Arizona," she said. "This is a victory for all of Arizona: our schools, our students, and to have a legislature that is being led by educators in both the house and the senate, this is our time. We have pro-public education executive leaders, and now’s the time to really make a difference in public education."

C.Chevalier--PP