NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Sarah Vincent to the Prescott Unified School District Governing Board. The appointment will be effective August 1, 2021 and will expire on December 31, 2022. Mrs. Vincent has indicated an intent to run for this seat in the 2022 election cycle.
This seat was vacant due to the resignation of veteran Governing Board Member John Mackin, who has moved with his family out of the state.” We appreciate the efforts and leadership that Mr. Mackin put forward while a member of the Governing Board.
Mrs. Vincent has been a resident of the school district for seven (7) years. She attended high school in Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science from George Mason University in Virginia. Upon moving to Prescott, she earned a Masters degree in Secondary Education from Prescott College.
Mrs. Vincent is married and the couple plan on starting a family. She served as the Director of STEM Outreach at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott prior to taking her current position as the Education Director at the Highlands Center for Natural History.
Superintendent Carter reminds the public that school district Governing Board elections and appointments are by law, non-partisan, in nature and function. He was pleased that so many people expressed an interest in the position and encourages them to run for the position when it comes up for election, along with other Governing Board seats, in the November 2022 general election cycle. There will be two (2) and four (4) year seats available. Election packets will be available from the Yavapai County Education Service Agency (YCESA) in March of 2022.
Mr. Carter stated that “Mrs. Vincent had an exceptional interview where she clearly articulated the appropriate role of the Governing Board and outlined various stakeholder groups, who’s views the Board should take into consideration when making decisions; students, parents, staff, taxpayers, local business, local government, employers, business, educational partners such as higher education, and other partners who serve students and families. For such a young person, her depth of knowledge of a wide array of educational topics pertinent to K-12 schools is very unusual. She should relate well to all segments of the community and work well with her fellow Board Members”.
Mr. Carter accepted letters of interest from fifteen (15) local residents before conducting private face to face interviews with thirteen (13) candidates. One candidate withdrew prior to the interviews and one did not file all necessary documents. One candidate withdrew during the process. Mr. Carter then communicated individually with each of the elected members of the Governing Board who wished to meet, with members of the school staff and administration, and with several hundred residents who privately provided information to him about their views (in person, phone, US mail, fax, text, or email) prior to making the appointment. This is the most public input he has every received. He understands that with this many candidates in the pool, he cannot possibly please everyone with the selection of any one person.
A ceremonial swearing-in is scheduled for Tuesday, August 3rd at 5 pm at the regular Prescott Unified School District Governing Board meeting at the district office on Gurley Street.
Mr. Carter may be reached at 928-925-6560 (cell) and Mrs. Vincent may be reached at 215-280-5215.