Chandler News, Candidate Questionnaire: Leanna DeKing

Believes that Chandler Unified School District's bond request of $487.5 million was too high.

- Believes that Chandler Unified School District's bond request of $487.5 million was too high.

School System Budget

Supports retaining school resource officers in high schools and middle schools.

- Supports retaining school resource officers in high schools and middle schools.

School Safety & Discipline

Leanna earned her bachelor's degree in government and public law and her post baccalaureate degree in special education.

Leanna is currently a policy administrator. She previously worked as an investigator for the Arizona Department of Education, the director of special education for a charter school group, and a Chandler Unified School District elementary school teacher.

Ballotpedia, Leanna DeKing

Leanna Deking's campaign for Chandler Unified School District Board is her first run for public office.

Supports policies that allow for removal of certain books from school libraries.

- Supports policies that allow for removal of certain books from school libraries.

School Curriculum

As of June 7, 2025, Leanna Deking did not have a website or any information online.

School Facilities & Resources

Teachers

LinkedIn

Leanna Deking

Chandler USD Governing Board Candidate Questionnaire

Said, "I will continue to prioritize our human capital and resources in the face of possible future budget cuts."

- Said, "I will continue to prioritize our human capital and resources in the face of possible future budget cuts."

As of June 25, 2024, Barb Mozdzen did not have a website or any information online.

Barb Mozdzen - CUSD

Barb has volunteered for the Chandler Education Foundation. 

As of June 26, 2024, Barb Mozdzen did not have a website and did not complete our questionnaire.

Barb Mozdzen currently serves as a Chandler Unified School District board member. She was first elected in 2008 and is serving her fifth term. 

Said, "I also support the utilization of specially trained CUSD teachers visiting the schools to provide district curriculum in a uniform, consistent manner that respects the rights of students and parents."

- Said, "I also support the utilization of specially trained CUSD teachers visiting the schools to provide district curriculum in a uniform, consistent manner that respects the rights of students and parents."

As of June 7, 2025, Barb Mozdzen did not have a website or any information online.

Barb Mozdzen

Ballotpedia

Claudia was raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from New Mexico State University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Arizona State University. She has a husband and 2 children.

Claudia formerly worked as a principal and a teacher. She also worked in educational outreach and led initiatives promoting college readiness and family engagement.

Claudia Mendoza's campaign for school board member is her first run for public office.

Candidate website

Supports more technical training, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), life skills courses, and real-world experiences in the curriculum.

Believes in creating inclusive forums for open dialogue and seeking input from underrepresented groups to develop policies that reflect the needs of the entire community.

Wants the process of setting school policy to involve everyone's input in an open dialogue.

- Supports more technical training, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), life skills courses, and real-world experiences in the curriculum.
- Wants the process of setting school policy to involve everyone's input in an open dialogue.

Advocates for fair funding from state and local government. Would additionally seek funding through grants and business partnerships.

- Advocates for fair funding from state and local government. Would additionally seek funding through grants and business partnerships.

Advocates for personalized learning experiences to support each student, by getting educators, students, and parents to collaborate.

Supports mental health resources for students, faculty, and staff.

Wants support systems for underserved groups including English Language Learners and special education students.

Believes in prevention, preparedness and responsiveness for school safety. Supports "collaboration with local law enforcement and mental health professionals."

Wants to hire more school counselors and mental health professionals and provide more training on mental health.

- Advocates for personalized learning experiences to support each student, by getting educators, students, and parents to collaborate.
- Supports mental health resources for students, faculty, and staff.
- Supports cultural competency training.
- Wants support systems for underserved groups including English Language Learners and special education students.
- Believes in prevention, preparedness and responsiveness for school safety. Supports "collaboration with local law enforcement and mental health professionals."
- Wants to hire more school counselors and mental health professionals and provide more training on mental health.

Student Wellbeing

Believes in expanding teacher resources by providing tools, support, professional development, and a collaborative environment to enhance teaching skills and deliver high-quality education.

Wants more funding for teachers' technology, teaching materials, professional development, and support.

Wants to recruit new employees through competitive pay, professional development, and a good work environment.

Plans to partner with universities and educational organizations to attract teachers and implement mentorship programs to support new hires.

- Wants more funding for teachers' technology, teaching materials, professional development, and support.
- Wants to recruit new employees through competitive pay, professional development, and a good work environment.
- Plans to partner with universities and educational organizations to attract teachers and implement mentorship programs to support new hires.

Supports fostering an inclusive, high-quality educational environment for all students in CUSD.

- Supports fostering an inclusive, high-quality educational environment for all students in CUSD.

Access to Education

Instagram

Facebook

Claudia Mendoza

ChandlerNews, Candidate Questionnaire: Eloyce Gillespie

Supports increased transparency in bond requests.

- Supports increased transparency in bond requests.

Q and A: Meet the Chandler school board candidates

Eloyce earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and her master's degree in educational leadership. She has children who attend school in the district.

Eloyce is currently a school finance manager.

Ballotpedia, Eloyce Gillespie

Eloyce Gillespie's campaign for school board member is her first run for public office.

Supports policies that remove certain books off the shelves of school libraries.

Opposes cell phone use in schools for non-emergency purposes.

- Supports policies that remove certain books off the shelves of school libraries.
- Opposes cell phone use in schools for non-emergency purposes.

As of June 7, 2025, Eloyce Gillespie did not have a website or any information online.

Twitter

Eloyce Gillespie

As of September 18, 2024, Omar Farooq Chaudhry did not have a website or any information online.

As of September 19, 2024, Omar Farooq Chaudhry did not have a website or any information online.

Your Valley, Q and A: Meet the Chandler school board candidates

Omar Farooq Chaudhry has withdrawn from his campaign.

As of June 7, 2025, Omar Farooq Chaudhry did not have a website or any information online.

Omar Farooq Chaudhry

Ballotpedia, Ryan Heap

Ryan is a 4th generation Arizonan. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University. He lives with his wife and their 4 children and teaches Sunday school at their church.

Ryan works as an electrical engineer for Cirrus Logic. He previously worked for General Dynamics C4 Systems, Intel, Microchip, and Maxim Integrated.

Ryan Heap's campaign for school board member is his first run for public office.

Supports expanding curriculum to include more STEM-related fields, particularly electrical engineering.

Supports focusing on academic fundamentals, expanding vocational opportunities, and establishing internships with tech companies for high school juniors and seniors.

- Supports expanding curriculum to include more STEM-related fields, particularly electrical engineering.
- Supports focusing on academic fundamentals, expanding vocational opportunities, and establishing internships with tech companies for high school juniors and seniors.

As of June 7, 2025, Ryan J Heap’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes CUSD schools must be safe for all students and teachers.

Prioritizes safety for students and teachers.

Believes virtual learning harms students, supports returning to in-person classes, and plans to attend all future school board meetings to advocate for educational values.

Believes virtual learning harms students and supports in-person classes.

- Prioritizes safety for students and teachers.
- Believes virtual learning harms students and supports in-person classes.

Believes the district's teachers are "highly driven [and] highly skilled."

- Believes the district's teachers are "highly driven [and] highly skilled."

Believes addressing safety and accountability, partnering with parents, and focusing on academics and vocations will reverse enrollment decline.

Believes engaged parents who volunteer and donate contribute to their child's academic success.

- Believes addressing safety and accountability, partnering with parents, and focusing on academics and vocations will reverse enrollment decline.
- Believes engaged parents who volunteer and donate contribute to their child's academic success.

Ryan J Heap

As of June 25, 2024, Zeyna Pruzhanovsky’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Blog for Arizona, As a Member of the Chandler School District Governing Board, Zeyna Pruzhanovsky Promotes Fiscal Responsibility

Said, "Any form of discrimination in education should not be tolerated. Children should be able to develop and use their voices without condemnation."

- Said, "Any form of discrimination in education should not be tolerated. Children should be able to develop and use their voices without condemnation."

Zeyna is originally from Chicago, Illinois. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Kansas and her master's degree in elementary education from Arizona State University. She and her husband Val have 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

Zeyna currently works as a kindergarten teacher in the Gila River Indian Community. She previously worked as an instructional assistant for special education and as a grants administrator at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Zeyna Pruzhanovsky's campaign for School Board Member in Chandler Unified School District is her first run for public office. 

Support more science, technology, and math in schools.

Believes philosophical and religious views should not be involved in educational curriculum.

Said, "an educated society does not look to ban books, instead, we should look for more ways to encourage students to read.”

- Support more science, technology, and math in schools.
- Believes philosophical and religious views should not be involved in educational curriculum.
- Said, "an educated society does not look to ban books, instead, we should look for more ways to encourage students to read.”

Wants to continue funding career and technical education and college preparatory programs.

Supports improving teacher pay and benefits to hire and retain teachers.

- Wants to continue funding career and technical education and college preparatory programs.
- Supports improving teacher pay and benefits to hire and retain teachers.

Zeyna Pruzhanovsky

- School board members set district policy, encourage parent involvement, establish budgets, and determine educational goals for your local school district.
- This position is voluntary. School board members are not paid a salary.