Mrs. Proudfit is a public speaker and accomplished leader who brings business acumen and strong problem-solving skills to her role as a Governing Board member. She is committed to upholding the values of the Peoria Unified School District including integrity, excellence, equity and collaboration. Most importantly, Mrs. Proudfit is an advocate for parental involvement and proud mother to four children, two of whom attend Peoria Unified schools.

Mr. David Sandoval is the current Clerk of the Governing Board and has served the district since 2017. With vast experience in marketing and business, Mr. Sandoval is President of his marketing firm, The Blender Marketing Group. He has specialized training in business development, optimizing research techniques, and philanthropy and fund development from the ASU Lodestar Center.

Mr. Sandoval brings his strength as a results-oriented leader to the Board where he is skilled at identifying problems and implementing new processes and procedures. Mr. Sandoval also serves as vice president of the Phoenix Union Foundation for Education and a Board Member for Arizona Latino School Board Association. Mr. Sandoval studied Psychology at Arizona State University. He and his wife reside in Peoria and are proud Peoria Unified parents.

Mrs. Melissa Ewing has been a resident of Peoria, Ariz. since 2006 and joined the Peoria Unified Governing Board in January of 2023. She most recently served as a substitute teacher for various grade levels in schools across the district. Her passion for supporting local community schools stems from the many years she spent volunteering in various roles at her children’s schools. She continues to promote best practices for student academic success, employee excellence, and encourages positive collaborative parent and community relationships.

On the board, her focus is on making decisions based on what would be in the best academic interest of all 37,000 students, building and strengthening positive relationships with staff, parents, and community and making sure schools have the resources they need to succeed. Mrs. Ewing holds a master’s degrees in both education and counseling and has also served as a counselor at community mental health providers in the valley. She and her husband have been married for more than 20 years, and have two children who have attended schools in the Peoria Unified District.

Mrs. Heather Rooks joined the Peoria Unified Governing Board on January 1, 2023 and currently serves as a board member. Mrs. Rooks grew up in the Peoria Unified School District and is a proud graduate of Sunrise Mountain High School. Before becoming a wife and mother, she spent three years at Glendale Community College studying for an education degree. Mrs. Rooks spends her time actively engaging with her community, founding local parent advocacy groups and advocating for children’s education, along with parental rights.

As a board member, she focuses on supporting pro-American curriculum, special needs students and special education employees, school safety and bus driver support. She is also passionate about ensuring academic support for Peoria Unified students and staff while advocating for transparency. She and her husband have four children who attend school in the Peoria Unified School District.