Introduction to AZSW’s New Political Director

Hi, my name is Alicia Cybulski.  I am very excited to work with our endorsed school board candidates. 

I have always been interested in education.  Having grown up in Mesa, I had the amazing opportunity to attend fantastic public schools with amazing teachers.  I graduated from the University of Arizona and during that time, I wondered why my experience could be so different than other students who came from different schools.  This led me to seek out Teach For America, where I became a 2005 corps member.

As a member of Teach For America, I taught 4th grade at Cheatham Elementary School in the Laveen Elementary School District for the past three years.  Working with my students and families gave me so much hope as to what our students are capable of.  I also discovered many of the systemic problems in education and how they make teacher and student achievement so difficult to attain.  We must have high expectations for students, families, teachers, and administration.  We must have excellent leaders on our school boards who will make the right decisions for our students. 

While teaching I worked on district curriculum and textbook adoption committees.  I tutored after school as well as coached running for our Girls on the Run program.

During the 2006 election I was honored to serve as Tiffany Troidl’s campaign manager for her successful school board campaign.  We were out knocking on doors every weekend.  The power of grassroots action was amazing!  I can’t remember how many people said that we were the first people to ever knock on their doors and talk about the issues important to them and their community.  It was a great experience.

Additionally, I was active in our local teacher’s association.  I served as the Vice President and the Political Director for the Laveen  Education Association.  I also worked as the co-chair of our grassroots organizing team, where we worked to increase  political involvement by our teachers.

More recently, I served as the District Policy Representative for the Political Leadership Initiative for Teach For America and worked on helping more alumni become involved in local politics.  I also recently finished a fellowship for  the Center For Progressive Leadership.  I had the great opportunity to reflect on my values of equity and opportunity and how they shape the issues I believe in. 

I am very excited to begin working with everyone at AZ School Works as the new Political Director and helping to ensure that all children can have an excellent education.