MEET TERRY: “I was raised in South Phoenix and attended public schools in the Roosevelt School District and Phoenix Union High School District. My parents worked hard to make sure their children understood the value of an education and pushed us to keep reaching for our dreams.”

MEET TERRY

The Association of Community College Trustees biography states: “Dr. Ruiz has a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics from Arizona State University, a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University, and Doctorate in Higher and Post-Secondary Education from ASU. She retired as the President of Glendale Community College in the Maricopa County Community College District in January 2023 after 27 years of experience in higher education.”

Teresa Leyba Ruiz, Ed.D.

Teresa Leyba Ruiz was raised in South Phoenix. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education with a major in mathematics from Arizona State University, a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University, and a doctorate in higher and post-secondary education from Arizona State University.

Teresa Leyba Ruiz, Ed.D. - ACCT.org

Teresa Leyba Ruiz retired as president of Glendale Community College in the Maricopa County Community College District.

KJZZ reported: “I've never run for any political office ever, but these times demand something different from all of us,” Ruiz said. “Those who can serve, I believe should serve.”

2 career politicians and 2 newcomers are in the Arizona superintendent race

Teresa's campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction is her first run for public office.

2026 Arizona General Election

Responding to a school-accountability question, Ruiz wrote: “In order to successfully prepare students for the future in the evolving global economy, we have a responsibility to ensure that our students are learning curriculum, skills, and qualities necessary to succeed. As such, public and charter schools are held accountable for real results.”

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Election Guide - Hear from the candidates - AZPM

Following her statement that public and charter schools are accountable for results, Ruiz wrote: “Public dollars demand public accountability — and if private schools are receiving hard-earned taxpayer dollars, it is our responsibility to ensure that their funding is being used to adequately prepare students for success.”

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Offer guidance and best practices on A.I. so educators can make informed and safe decisions for their students.”

PRIORITIES

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: End the distractions and FOCUS on math and literacy initiatives to support student success.”

Supports holding public and charter schools accountable for student results.

Supports accountability for private schools receiving taxpayer dollars to ensure students are prepared for success.

Promotes accountability for private schools receiving taxpayer dollars to ensure students are prepared for success.

Plans to provide artificial intelligence guidance and best practices for educators.

Plans to focus on math and literacy initiatives.

- Supports holding public and charter schools accountable for student results.
- Promotes accountability for private schools receiving taxpayer dollars to ensure students are prepared for success.
- Plans to provide artificial intelligence guidance and best practices for educators.
- Plans to focus on math and literacy initiatives.

School Curriculum

PROTECT TAXPAYERS: “Arizona taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. … As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Create an ESA dashboard for transparent access to expenditures made with your tax funds.”

PROTECT TAXPAYERS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Create an ESA dashboard for transparent access to expenditures made with your tax funds. End the automatic approval of ESA expenditures of $2,000 or less, which have cost the state over $600M in one year.”

PROTECT TAXPAYERS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: End the automatic approval of ESA expenditures of $2,000 or less, which have cost the state over $600M in one year. Establish rigorous audit protocols to ensure every tax dollar is spent for the intended purpose of educating Arizona’s students.”

INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: “When we appropriate resources to K-12 schools, every child regardless of zip code should have access to a high quality education that leads to an abundance of opportunities. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Advocate for increased funding for our public schools at the state legislature.”

INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Support rural and urban school districts alike to ensure their unique needs are accounted for, rather than ignored.”

Plans to create an Empowerment Scholarship Account dashboard showing expenditures made with taxpayer funds.

Plans to end automatic approval of Empowerment Scholarship Account expenditures of $2,000 or less.

Plans to establish rigorous audits of education spending to ensure tax dollars serve their intended purpose.

Plans to advocate at the state legislature for increased public-school funding.

Plans to support rural and urban districts based on their distinct needs.

- Plans to create an Empowerment Scholarship Account dashboard showing expenditures made with taxpayer funds.
- Plans to end automatic approval of Empowerment Scholarship Account expenditures of $2,000 or less.
- Plans to establish rigorous audits of education spending to ensure tax dollars serve their intended purpose.
- Plans to advocate at the state legislature for increased public-school funding.
- Plans to support rural and urban districts based on their distinct needs.

School Facilities & Resources

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Ensure students are safe and secure by increasing access to mental health professionals, free and reduced lunches, and enrichment activities.”

Plans to increase access to school mental-health professionals, free and reduced-price lunches, and enrichment activities.

- Plans to increase access to school mental-health professionals, free and reduced-price lunches, and enrichment activities.

Student Wellbeing

RESPECT EDUCATORS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Address the teacher shortage by restoring respect and trust towards educators because nobody wants to work for a bad boss.”

RESPECT EDUCATORS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Partner with community colleges and universities to create teacher recruitment pipelines and retention programs that provide incentives, mentorships, and support.”

RESPECT EDUCATORS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Advocate for increased teacher compensation so that our hardworking educators know they are valued.”

RESPECT EDUCATORS: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Work with County Superintendents and rural districts to reinstate professional development opportunities that have been abandoned under the current administration.”

Plans to address teacher shortages by restoring respect and trust toward educators.

Plans to partner with community colleges and universities on teacher recruitment and retention programs with incentives, mentoring, and support.

Plans to advocate for increased teacher compensation.

Plans to work with county superintendents and rural districts to reinstate professional-development opportunities.

- Plans to address teacher shortages by restoring respect and trust toward educators.
- Plans to partner with community colleges and universities on teacher recruitment and retention programs with incentives, mentoring, and support.
- Plans to advocate for increased teacher compensation.
- Plans to work with county superintendents and rural districts to reinstate professional-development opportunities.

Teachers

In a candidate response, Ruiz wrote: “I’ll work with our school districts on a case-by-case basis, expand school offerings and CTE programs, and grant our schools the materials and dignity they deserve.”

INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: “Advocate for increased funding for our public schools at the state legislature. Rein in the universal ESA program that defunded $1B from public education.”

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “No matter their ability or background, every Arizona student deserves access to a high-quality education and the chance to succeed. As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Expand access to early learning opportunities, such as literacy and universal pre-K.”

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Strengthen CTE and dual enrollment pathways by partnering with our labor unions.”

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Support dual language learners through robust immersion programs.”

PREPARE EVERY STUDENT: “As your Superintendent of Public Instruction, I will: Broaden tutoring and after-school programs for students who need extra support.”

Plans to work with districts case by case to expand school offerings and career and technical education programs.

Seeks to work with districts case by case to expand school offerings and career and technical education programs.

Plans to rein in Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program.

Plans to expand early-learning access, including literacy programs and universal pre-kindergarten.

Plans to strengthen career and technical education and dual-enrollment pathways through partnerships with labor unions.

Plans to support dual-language learners through immersion programs.

Plans to broaden tutoring and after-school programs for students who need additional support.

- Seeks to work with districts case by case to expand school offerings and career and technical education programs.
- Plans to rein in Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program.
- Plans to expand early-learning access, including literacy programs and universal pre-kindergarten.
- Plans to strengthen career and technical education and dual-enrollment pathways through partnerships with labor unions.
- Plans to support dual-language learners through immersion programs.
- Plans to broaden tutoring and after-school programs for students who need additional support.

Access to Education

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Teresa Leyba Ruiz

- Plans to provide artificial intelligence guidance and best practices for educators.
- Plans to focus on math and literacy initiatives.

- Plans to rein in Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program.
- Plans to expand early-learning access, including literacy programs and universal pre-kindergarten.
- Plans to strengthen career and technical education and dual-enrollment pathways through partnerships with labor unions.
- Plans to support dual-language learners through immersion programs.
- Plans to broaden tutoring and after-school programs for students who need additional support.