Not Just a Seat—A Statement: School Board Member Challenges Superintendent’s Role at the Dais
Does seating the superintendent at the dais blur the separation of roles — and make it harder for the public to catch side comments, facial expressions, & subtle cues revealing how decisions are made?
It’s a hot topic this summer: Who gets a seat at the dais?
In one Arizona school district, that question is sparking a power play between elected board members and a newly seated superintendent. Our Jen’s Two Cents. publication first reported the story weeks ago—now, we're diving deeper.
At the July 8th Higley Unified School District governing board meeting, tensions rose when Board Member Anna Van Hoek publicly objected to the superintendent sitting alongside board members on the dais. Van Hoek called it inappropriate for an employee who reports to the board to present as an equal—and says she wasn’t consulted on the change. According to her, the decision came from the superintendent and was approved solely by the board president, without input from the full board.
The latest Jen & Friends Podcast features a conversation with parental rights advocate Anna Van Hoek.
RESPONSE
Jen’s Two Cents. has reached out to the following for comment and/or interviews. We are awaiting and welcome responses.
Superintendent David Loutzenheiser | Higley Unified School District
Arizona School Boards Association
Arizona School Administrators
The Schools Superintendents Association
To follow the discussion from the last board meeting, watch the edited exchange here. For full context, you can view the complete meeting recording here.
The next governing board meeting in the Higley Unified School District is August 12, 2025.