Hello!  Welcome to my Website! 

The website is underconstruction now (another one of the many things I have learned since this campaign started).  Until it is finished I am using a short biography and position statement.  Please check the site again for more information.

TERI W. CONRAD

Candidate for Arizona House of Representatives

Legislative District 6

Teri W. Conrad has worked in the education field since graduating from college.  Ms. Conrad received a B.A. from the University of Nevada in Political Science and an M.A. from the University of Utah in History.  She has taught at all levels, from kindergarten in Austin, Nevada to community college history courses.  Currently she is taking a leave of absence from her job as a librarian.

Since moving to Phoenix five years ago Ms. Conrad has been active in the Arizona Democratic Party.  In 2006 she worked on Rano Singh’s campaign for State Treasurer.  They traveled throughout the state, making speeches, meeting with citizens, and learning about needs of Arizonans.  More recently Teri Conrad has worked with the Faith Action Committee of the Democratic Party. Ms. Conrad recently finished her term as Chairman of the Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee for the Grand Canyon Presbytery (covering northern Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area).  She also serves as vice chairman of the North Maricopa Democratic Club.

While living in New Mexico Ms. Conrad coordinated the Education Outreach Program as a consultant for BHP Billiton and Caterpillar.  She taught hundreds of classes about geology, and mineral resources to children throughout the state.  She served on the board of the New Mexico Science Teachers Association.  They honored her twice with awards for being “Outstanding Science Educator.”

Ms. Conrad has experience working with a wide variety of organizations.  She chaired the Education Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, the Farmington Museum Foundation, the local Science Fair Board, and the national education committee of SME.  In 2006 the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration honored her service with an award for “Outstanding Contributions to Minerals Education.”

While working for BHP Billiton Ms. Conrad chaired both the state and local Environmental Education Task Forces.  The outcome of her work is the Nature Center in Farmington, New Mexico.  Building this facility, which sits on the Animas River, required the cooperation of many diverse groups including representatives from the energy industry and environmental groups.

Currently Ms. Conrad currently lives in Phoenix, with her husband, Byron, who is an engineer.  She is about to become an “empty nester.”  Her oldest son, who recently finished a graduate degree in Statistics, recently moved to Portland.  She will miss this good campaigner------but is hoping that her middle son, a student at NAU; and the youngest son, who graduated from high school in the spring, will help with the campaign efforts.

I WILL WORK TOWARD:

RESTORING CIVIL CONVERSATION TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS.   It is time that we begin talking civilly to one another, so we can work to find common ground.

SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR’S PROGRAMS.  During this difficult time of revenue shortfall, the governor has offered progressive ideas to maintain the vital programs while balancing the budget.  I support her efforts.  

TEACHING TO THE WHOLE CHILD. The goal of education should be to create a well-rounded individual, who has mastered basic skills and has the ability to think critically. I support national standards and testing, to attain an accurate measurement of progress.  This should be accompanied by state and locally designed programs to overcome deficiencies.

IMPROVING MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION.  Increasing high school course requirements is a beginning, but we need to prepare younger children to understand scientific principles.  By increasing our students’ knowledge of math and science, we will create a workforce that is attractive to the employers of the future.  We should encourage the private sector to participate in this.  

APPLYING A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO RESOLVING THE STATE’S PROBLEMS.  As we address the issues of growth and development, we must create a balance of current profitability and future needs-----i.e. using our resources wisely, so they can also sustain our children.

TAXING AND SPENDING RESPONSIBLY.  Elected officials must be good stewards of tax dollars.  Our budgets reflect our priorities.  We must place education and the needs of our children at the top.

PROVIDING HEALTH CARE.  Although this issue needs a national solution, we must work together to ensure that every Arizonan has adequate health care.  Personal responsibility for wellness should be a part of any program.

BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.  We must revive an ethic of personal responsibility.  To build strong families and communities we must use the combined resources of individuals, faith communities, government, and the private sector.

Teri W. Conrad

Paid for by Conrad 2008