Candidates for Arizona schools chief split on their own kids’ schools
One candidate says she paid for private school; the other called it a private matter
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Two candidates running to oversee Arizona’s public schools gave different answers when asked where they sent their own children to school after a debate Tuesday night.
Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz is a longtime teacher and former Glendale Community College president. Republican Kimberly Yee is the current state treasurer. Both are running for Arizona superintendent of public instruction.
Candidates’ responses
Ruiz said she and her husband chose to send their children to a school that aligned with their faith.
“Look, Arizona has always had school choice, that’s nothing new,” Ruiz said. “And my family and I, we made the decision that we wanted our children to attend a school that aligned with our faith. My husband and I worked hard. We paid for it.”
Ruiz said she did not use an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) voucher to pay for the schooling.
“Absolutely not, we did not use ESAs, nor would I, because my husband and I believe, as most Arizonans do, that if you can pay for it, you should,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz add...