David Alvarado

 My name is David Alvarado. I have devoted more than forty years to education. I am a business owner, husband, father, and grandfather. As the third of eight children of legal Mexican immigrants, I grew up speaking Spanish and English in the barrios of Los Angeles. Public school provided the opportunity that changed my life, and that experience continues to guide me.

I believe our schools belong to the entire community. One need not have a child in the classroom to hold a stake in what occurs there. Today’s students will become teachers, business owners, first responders, and neighbors who inherit the community we help build. These remain our schools, shaping our neighborhoods and the future we leave behind.

Public schools must focus on their core purpose: teaching reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, civics, and critical thinking. Students should learn how to think—not what to think—so they can work, create, lead, and participate responsibly in society.

Support for public education requires accountability. We must recognize excellent teachers, listen carefully to parents—especially those navigating special education and IEPs—and manage taxpayer dollars responsibly. As a business owner, I know every dollar warrants careful oversight.

Parents know their children best. When a parent raises a concern, the first response should be to listen. Arizona law itself calls for meaningful parental involvement.

I invite residents to share their experiences: what Deer Valley is doing well, where improvement is needed, the teachers who made a difference, or the issues that remain unresolved. Every perspective matters.

I am running for the Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board because this community deserves careful stewardship—for the students in our classrooms today and for the generations that will follow. I invite you to vote for and join me in this campaign.