Adding Kindling to A Media Con Job: The Flame-Out From Forced Resignation of Short-Term MPS Supe Ember Conley & The Pay-Off

Time to exhale some oxygen into a 2-weeks long news-cycle that city officials and The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board were hoping would just cool off during the distractions of a holiday season. Once again, the City of Mesa is faced with one more school scandal after another one, with claims of no comment during an 'internal investigation' done by long-time insiders in a close circle of a generations-old patronage system that's been failing students for more than 40 years. So what do they do now? The board appointed Pete Lesar, a retired Mesa ass't  superintendent, as interim superintendent.

That's some Shake-Up!
Lesar is a long-time insider.
As you can see by the opening image Ember Conley has shifted positions and jobs for 24 years starting out as a coach, and apparently got paired-up with City Manager Chris Brady for "Smart Economic Development".
Conley was born in Moab, Utah.

She received her Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University, her elementary teaching certificate from Fort Lewis College, her Masters of Art in K-12 Administration and Policy from University Colorado-Denver, and her Education Doctorate in Curriculum and Leadership from Argosy University – Phoenix.


Conley's previous School Superintendent position was in Park City, Utah with less than 6,000 public school students where "negative comments weighed on her" ...How anyone thought she was qualified to administer the education for 65,000 students here in the Mesa public system is a mystery - she was, nonetheless, handed a lucrative 3-year contract.

AZ Republic reporter Lily Altavena covered almost the same story as FOX10 Phoenix

Mesa school board approves Supt. Ember Conley's resignation, but questions remain

Lily Altavena, Arizona Republic Updated 10:54 a.m. ET Dec. 3, 2019

USA TODAY  Mesa Public Schools' governing board voted Monday night to accept Superintendent Ember Conley's resignation from the district, two weeks after the board abruptly placed her on administrative leave without providing a reason. 

Board members, after emerging from a three-hour closed-door session, still did not provide a reason for the resignation. 

"We've had a rough couple of weeks, we recognize that,"

Elaine Miner, Mesa's board president, said after the vote.

"We are anxious to get out to communicate and educate our community, our employees — anyone in the district that is interested in hearing what is really going on in the district." 

O Really?????
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"Kiana Sears was the lone member of the board to explain her vote, but she only said that she disagreed with the "financial provision" of the district's departure agreement with Conley.

She did not say what that provision entails. 

Conley's contract included several clauses that could have cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in payouts in the event she was fired. But because she resigned, it's unclear what the district may have to pay Conley. 

Board member Marcie Hutchinson told The Arizona Republic after the meeting that the board will make the terms of its departure agreement with Conley as well as the former superintendent's letter of resignation available in the coming days. 

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The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board

Composition and Backgrounds of three of the five members show degrees from Brigham Young University [ taken from http://www.mpsaz.org/community/govboard/members/ ]

President

Elaine Miner began her current term on the board January 2017. She previously served eight years, including two as president. She also served on the State Superintendent of Public Instruction's AIMS Advisory group and the Arizona Reading Leadership Advisory Board.

Elaine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education from Brigham Young University. Prior to returning to the board, she and her husband, Don, owned and operated the Arizona School of Real Estate & Business. She has been a Mesa resident since 1986. Elaine and Don have three sons who graduated from Mountain View High School and nine grandchildren who continue to live in Mesa. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2020.

 

Clerk

Kiana Maria Sears joined the Governing Board January 2017. A resident of Mesa for more than 22 years, she is a proud wife and mother of two daughters who graduated from Red Mountain High School and attend Arizona State University. Kiana Maria served as an Art Masterpiece volunteer, a Girl Scout leader and a foreign exchange parent. She holds a master's degree in public administration.

Kiana Maria is an avid ASU Sun Devil, community advocate and experienced public policy creator and implementer. She has contributed to critical laws, committees and organizations such as Children's Action Alliance, Arizona State Senate, Arizona Corporation Commission, East Valley NAACP, East Valley Martin Luther King Parade and various charities of the United Way. Kiana Maria believes "every single child deserves an opportunity to learn and to access a quality education." Her term expires Dec. 31, 2020.

Member

Marcie Hutchinson joined the Governing Board January 2019. Marcie and her husband, Mike, have lived in Mesa for 39 years. They have two daughters who graduated from Red Mountain High School. 

Marcie holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in history. She has 31 years of public high school teaching experience in New York and Arizona. During her 28-year career with Mesa Public Schools, she taught American and European history and advised extracurricular activities at Dobson, Mesa and Red Mountain high schools. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2022.

BLOGGER NOTE: Marcie is married to Mike Hutchinson, the former Mesa City Manager before Chris Brady. He's now the Executive VP of The East Valley Partnership.

Hutchinson also headed up a PAC [Political Action Campaign] to get Mesa Taxpayers to approve a $54M Budget Over-Ride and Budget Increase at the same time his own wife was a candidate to get elected to The Board.

 

 

Member

Steven Peterson became a member of the Governing Board in January 2009. Steven and his wife, Julie, have eight children. Their children include college graduates, Westwood High graduates and currently enrolled district students. An accountant, Steven earned his master’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University.

Steven has lived in Mesa for 17 years, during which he has been an active volunteer at Westwood High as an assistant cross country coach and a member of the school’s parent group. Steven has served as a member of a Grand Canyon Council Committee for the Boy Scouts of America and as a youth leader in Venture Scouts. His term expires Dec. 31, 2020.

 

Member

Jenny Richardson began her Governing Board service January 2015. She and her husband, Randy, grew up in Mesa Public Schools, both graduating from Westwood High School. They are the parents of six children, all of whom are graduates from or current students in the district. Jenny received her degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University, and taught for several years in grades 1 through 3, before "retiring" to stay home with her children.

Jenny has served in her children's school communities, working on numerous committees and organizations. She has also been involved in educating families and voters about educational issues that appear on their ballots through the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. She believes great schools make great neighborhoods and great cities, and is happy to serve the schools she loves. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2022.

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Reference > https://ballotpedia.org/Mesa_Public_Schools,_Arizona