By Taylor Conley

   Victoria Ehmann, a Tempe Prep alumna from the Class of 2014, is running for the Tempe Union School Board. 

   Victoria was born and raised in Tempe and attended Tempe Union schools before enrolling at Tempe Prep. So far, she is the only person to submit a statement of interest for one of the two seats open on the board. 

   She was inspired to run because she wants to work for change. Victoria says, “After just kind of seeing everything that’s been going on the last three years in the schools, I just really wanted to make a difference.” Victoria stressed that we cannot fail our students “because they are going to be the future of our country.”

   With a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University, Victoria wants to take the skills she learned studying quality engineering in college to provide a new perspective for Tempe Union schools. 

   “One of the things that I’ve seen the board is lacking is the thought process and quality,” she said. Despite the fact that Victoria has no background in education, she said, “I think having that ability to critically think differentiates me from the current board members and probably whoever else runs.” 

   Commenting on the current condition of politics, Victoria said, “The school board should be about education not political and social issues.” She said that she “is not running to push a policy.” 

   Victoria is grateful she learned about philosophy and participated in Socratic discussions at TPA, she said. After watching board meetings and seeing students who have graduated from the public school system, she has noticed how much they missed out on what is included in the TPA curriculum. 

   What she values most about her Tempe Prep education is that it taught her to “critically think.” Nowadays, Victoria can use the skills she learned at TPA for any interesting opportunity in life.

   For now, Victoria will continue her campaign for the Tempe Union School Board vote taking place on Nov. 8. Above all, Victoria said, “As someone who has received so much from this district and from this city, this is somewhere where I can give back.”