Q&A with appointed Litchfield school governing board member Mikes

Name: Scott Mikes

What I do: After spending more than a decade in public education, in 2016, I became the primary caregiver for our two daughters, and have served the community through involvement with the Southwest Valley YMCA Advisory Board, the YMCA Silver Fins Swim Team Parent Advisory Committee, and the Millennium High School Site Council. Currently, I am on the board of the Litchfield Elementary School District Education Foundation, which is an organization dedicated to supporting the teachers, staff and students of Litchfield Elementary School District.

Where I live: Litchfield Park

When & why I moved here: I have lived in the greater Phoenix area most of my life. My wife and I moved out to the Southwest Valley in 2002 to be closer to my first teaching job at Palo Verde Elementary School.

My family: Wife and two daughters

People who are an inspiration to me: The people that are most inspirational to me are teachers, coaches, and public servants.

What I like most about living here: We love living in Litchfield Park because it is a community-minded city where you can get to know your neighbors.
When did I decide to run for school board member and why: I am always looking for ways to contribute and add value to my community. From my previous profession as a public-school teacher, coach, and administrator, I will be able to provide experience and perspective to the Litchfield Elementary School District. I believe public schools are one of the most important institutions and I look forward to contributing to the positive impact LESD has on the children and families of our community.
How the race met or differed from my expectations: No election was necessary because only three candidates qualified for the three open positions.

How my former professional experiences set me up to succeed in the role: I spent 13 years in public education. First as a public-school teacher where I taught middle school and high school in the subjects of History, Science, and English and served as a JV and Varsity soccer coach. After leaving the classroom, I was a teacher mentor and then finished my career in public education as an assistant principal. These previous roles within public education, combined with the experience of being the father of two daughters who have been educated in both the Litchfield Elementary and Agua Fria High School districts, will provide me with valuable perspective in evaluating and making policy decisions.

What comes next for me: I look forward to diving into my role as a governing board member of LESD. My goal is to have a deep understanding of all aspects of the district and each individual school to help make decisions in the best interest of the students, teachers, parents, and community.