By james art 
Emmy Cardella | Scottsdale
I am a Scottsdale native and my husband and I are fortunate to raise our three sons here. I attended the local SUSD school in my neighborhood, along with dozens of kids from my block.
Scottsdale’s exceptional quality of life means that many residents choose to stay here until retirement, so neighborhoods like the one I grew up in are no longer teeming with kids. While Scottsdale’s population is growing at a modest 1% per year, the number of school-aged children is declining by about 2% per year. This trend presents significant challenges for our neighborhood schools, and we need school board members with the professional experience and collaborative skills to effectively address these issues.
Mike Sharkey, Donna Lewis and Matt Pitinsky are the only candidates qualified to lead. Mike Sharkey is an experienced manager and data engineer whose analytical focus will bring a data-driven approach to addressing the complex issues facing our schools. Donna Lewis has 40 years of experience in education as a teacher, principal, supervisor and professor. She is an expert in board governance and has a proven track record of fostering cross-stakeholder collaboration. Matt Pitinski co-founded two global education technology companies, one based in Scottsdale, that hires SUSD graduates. With his background in college admissions and readiness, Matt understands the skills students need to succeed after high school.
Together, Sharkey, Lewis and Pitinsky bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership and experience to the table, qualities that will be essential in guiding our schools through the challenges ahead.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcome at [email protected].