State 48’s Friday Report: Education Unfiltered

Media Spin on Horne vs. Yee, Exclusive Interviews with SPI Tom Horne, Phoenix Union’s Cota, Roosevelt’s Peña, and School Board Chaos from Tolleson to Liberty and Beyond

Is the Media Elevating Horne Now That Hoffman Is Backing Yee?

The 2026 race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction is officially underway—and it’s already heating up. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee has entered the GOP primary, taking aim at incumbent Tom Horne.

Since Kimberly Yee announced her challenge, something unexpected has happened—mainstream media coverage has shifted. Horne, a staunch traditional Republican, is suddenly getting favorable headlines, while Yee finds herself under sharper scrutiny.

Why the flip? It’s not about Horne. It’s about Hoffman.

Corporate media’s favorite target has long been Senator Jake Hoffman (R-LD15). But now, with Horne and Hoffman in direct opposition, Horne has become a convenient—if temporary—ally.

Even a staunch conservative can become the media’s unlikely favorite when it serves the narrative.

Photo Credit: GROK — Yee vs. Horne was already a shock, but with RNC Committeeman Jake Hoffman backing Yee, this race is a political earthquake.

A review of recent headlines reveals a narrative beginning to solidify—one that offers insight into the likely direction of future media focus.

Channel 12 frames the race this way:

“State Treasurer Kimberly Yee wants to oust fellow Republican Tom Horne for state schools chief after he’s cracked down on luxury voucher purchases.”

Then adds the zinger:

“Yee wants no limits on voucher spending.”

No clarification. No explanation. Just a narrative that casts Yee as pro-fraud and Horne as the responsible adult in the room.

Arizona Capitol Times minimized the internal debate entirely:

“Horne angered the Freedom Caucus members when he denied some reimbursements.”

As if that’s the whole story—no mention of inconsistent rules, families denied for unclear reasons, or the various grievances as articulated that prompted parent’s frustration.

And Laurie Roberts, never one to pass up a smug shot at conservatives, writes:

“Sen. Jake Hoffman is big mad that Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne is refusing to lay out taxpayer money for such academic imperatives as $16,000 cellos and $5,000 Rolex watches and $24,000 golf simulators.”

That line has now gone viral, helping rebrand Horne as the unlikely hero of the ESA program.

Yee has long enjoyed broad respect from both Republicans and Democrats for her steady leadership, the second she aligned with Hoffman and the Freedom Caucus slate, the media flipped the script.

Yee went from “trusted public servant” to “voucher extremist” practically overnight.

Remember, Yee was the highest vote-getter in Arizona’s 2022 statewide elections. Her total surpassed that of any other candidate in the state.

What’s missing from the coverage since Yee entered the race?

Any real scrutiny or genuine praise of Tom Horne’s leadership. And virtually no mention that the vast majority of parents are using their ESA funds for legitimate educational needs, not Rolexes.

Six months ago, senior journalist Christy Kelly published a piece titled “Horne’s ESA Fraud Fight Ends in Major Indictment.” To his credit, Horne has been on the frontlines of rooting out the rare instances of ESA fraud, understanding that even isolated abuse can undermine confidence in the entire program.

But nuance doesn’t serve the media’s narrative.

Also missing is any understanding of the coalition behind school choice. The idea that Yee “joined the Freedom Caucus” is an oversimplification if not flat out false.

Hoffman isn’t just the Freedom Caucus chair—he’s Arizona’s RNC National Committeeman, the state’s senior-ranking party official, and a longtime advocate for school choice.

And the school choice community itself is far from a monolith—it includes conservatives, moderates, independents, and apolitical parents simply trying to do what’s best for their kids.

Labeling them all as “far-right” isn’t just lazy—it’s dishonest.

In this case, the press isn’t protecting children or taxpayers—they’re protecting their narrative. And if that means picking Tom Horne as their horse just to kneecap Jake Hoffman’s momentum, they’re more than willing to play along.

Horne may be right that the liberal media “hates him,” but for now, the headlines suggest he’s their guy—at least until the primary is over.

We caught up with Horne, who didn’t hold back when asked about Yee’s decision to run and partnership with Hoffman.

“Mrs. Yee has adopted the crazy theory of Senator Hoffman,” Horne tells us.

The "crazy theory" Horne is referring to is the idea—promoted by Senator Jake Hoffman and now echoed by Kimberly Yee—the Superintendent of Public Instruction doesn’t have the legal authority to deny even the most outlandish ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) reimbursement requests from parents.

Take a listen to our exclusive discussion with Horne from yesterday.

Horne’s stance has remained firm. Back in April, he told State 48 that under Senator Hoffman’s interpretation, the department would be forced to approve any ESA purchase a parent claims is educational—no matter how absurd, whether it’s a Rolex, a golf simulator, or even a vasectomy testing kit. Horne has rejected that view outright, insisting that the department must apply basic standards of reasonableness and educational relevance to safeguard the program’s credibility and long-term survival.

When State 48 asked Tom Horne whether he believed the liberal media was trying to prop him up, he didn’t hesitate: “No—they hate me.”

📚Jeremiah Cota Appointed to Phoenix Union Governing Board — Will Be Sworn In June 5

Maricopa County Superintendent Shelli Boggs has appointed Jeremiah Cota to fill the Ward 1 vacancy on the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board.

In a post on X, Cota announced he will be sworn in on June 5, pledging to be “pro parent,” prioritize student and school safety, focus on fiscal accountability, and oppose DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and CRT (Critical Race Theory) in schools.

The initial response on social media appeared largely positive, with several users applauding the appointment.

In an exclusive interview with State 48, newly appointed Phoenix Union School Board member Cota shared his priorities, philosophy, and the reality of serving in a deep-blue district.

I’m going into this with realistic expectations. We’re going to have lots of differences. Part of the goal is to be respectful about them.

There are key issues where we can make a difference—and school safety is probably the number one issue. That shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

Cota stressed that ensuring the safety of students, teachers, and administrators is a shared value. He also pointed to the district’s academic performance as a concern that should transcend party lines.

Academic performance shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Can the students read, write, do math? Do they know science and history?

Standardized testing gives us metrics we can agree on and find common ground. I’m going to focus on what we can agree on and work together.

Cota, who describes himself as a conservative and a Trump supporter, says his approach to governance is rooted in pragmatism.

“My goal is to be pragmatic, govern well, and see our students succeed.”

His appointment to the board runs through December of next year, and he has not yet decided whether he will seek election to keep the seat.

When asked how conservatives can win races in blue districts, Cota offered a strategic but principled response.

“One thing is to have people ready to run when there are vacancies,” he said.

However, he pushed back on the idea that conservative leaders should handpick candidates.

“No—people should run if they believe they can do the job. People should run good campaigns. Do they have a good message? Can they bring the coalition together? Can they meet people where they are?”

Cota also believes school board positions should be explicitly partisan.

“At the end of the day, everyone on the board is a partisan. It’s fair to the voters that there’s transparency.”

📚DVUSD Superintendent Blocks Journalist, Then Responds to Questions About Social Media Post

In the moments between us being tagged in a post and receiving a call for comment, Deer Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Curt Finch blocked State 48 News contributor Barber on X. The action came shortly after Dr. Finch posted a message Thursday morning that read: “‘We trust the parents.’ State Superintendent… How is that going?”

So we called him. And he called back.

Deer Valley Unified Superintendent Dr. Curt Finch confirmed to State 48 News that his cryptic tweet—was a critique of state education leadership, particularly policies from Superintendent Tom Horne which he says ignore local control. Finch said the tweet was not tied to Kimberly Yee’s recent campaign announcement but reflects broader frustrations.

"Just to inform the public that our state superintendent doesn’t care where that money is accounted for or is held transparent to the public. The public needs to know that the voucher program is a scam and it is a waste of taxpayer dollars," says Dr. Finch.

We asked Dr. Finch if there was anything else he’d like to share.

“Another good example of the Legislature not supporting public schools is adding the poison pill added to Prop 123—that Trojan horse making sure that charters are enshrined charters in the Constitution. It looks like that had to be punted until next year, but the public needs to stay informed on the actual proposal on 123. This it’s not about raising teacher pay—it’s about sneaking in charters into the Constitution.

In general, the governor has this correct: that we need more accountability, more transparency with ESA dollars. Anyone that takes a taxdollar from the government needs to be accountable for it. I’m accountable. I have a community elected board—I don’t get to pick my board members like charters or privates —and I have to open my books to the public. And they don’t. So yeah, we’ve got a system that is upside down in Arizona, and it’s obviously not working. That’s my two cents.”

Note: As of the date of publishing, Finch has unblocked Barber—perhaps realizing that transparency looks better when people are watching, or that public officials probably shouldn’t block the media. Either way, we’re grateful.

📚Major Moves and Mounting Tensions in Tolleson Union High School District

There’s a lot of movement happening in school districts across Arizona—and Tolleson Union is no exception.

Tensions between current and former board presidents boiled over at Tuesday night’s meeting, complete with jabs, shouting matches, and sharp exchanges. The meeting, notably held outside of Tolleson in Glendale, comes as the district moves forward with plans to relocate its headquarters out of its namesake city.

As State 48 News first reported, TUHSD approved the purchase of more than $15 million in land—which was listed on the consent agenda—in both Glendale and Phoenix.

Also on the agenda: results from a third-party investigation into the controversial February incident involving a Tolleson Police officer and a student. State 48 News previously obtained and reported on the bodycam footage. While Tolleson Police cleared Officer Hendrix of any wrongdoing, TUHSD claims that its independent report sided with district leadership. During the board meeting, a portion of the report was read aloud, but for now, Tolleson is withholding the full report from public release.

It’s shaping up to be a battle of the reports over who is to blame.

The district is withholding from releasing the report due to the sensitive nature of the report and protecting the identity of the student. They say they will reevaluate its release at a future meeting.

We’ve reached out to both the district and Officer Hendrix for comment. Neither responded by our deadline.

📚Superintendent’s Future Uncertain as Recall Effort Heats Up in Liberty Elementary

State 48 broke the story Tuesday night: following a closed-door executive session, the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board voted 4-1 to begin negotiating a potential settlement agreement with Superintendent Dr. Cort Monroe.

We reached out to Board President Michael Todd, who responded:

“Not much I can say at the moment. Still negotiating with Cort through Friday… and then won’t be able to say much about that.

We are full steam into the summer with a job fair approaching soon. We continue to identify candidates for open positions. I wasn’t on the board when two job fairs were cancelled, but we are now going to make the best out of 2025–26.

The district has come under attack of false narratives which has caused a lot of extra work for our staff. The board is working together and will remain dedicated to our mission of providing an environment that guarantees all students learn at a high level.

My door remains open and I’m willing to talk to anyone. A simple phone call to our governing board secretary is all it takes. For the next few weeks we will be laser focused on the budget for next year and hiring great staff members.”

Meanwhile, recall pressure is building. A group seeking to oust board member Kristopher Kenyon has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to submit the required 3,161 signatures. A source tells State 48 the group has likely met that threshold. If verified, a recall election could cost taxpayers an estimated $65,000.

The district, already under scrutiny for leadership turmoil, is also facing critical staffing shortages—nearly 100 job openings remain. Officials say unfilled roles could lead to contracting out services, adding further pressure on the 2025–26 budget. A job fair is scheduled for Saturday as the district races to fill positions.

📚Catalina Foothills Health Class Sparks Outrage Over LGBTQ Lesson: District Says Teacher Resigned

On May 27th, a group called Save CFSD, appearing to be based in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, posted a viral video on X alleging bias in a 9th grade health class at Catalina Foothills High School (CFHS).

The group claims to have obtained an audio recording from a classroom lecture on LGBTQ issues, which they say includes a teacher encouraging students to question guidance from their religious leaders and parents. The post accuses the class of promoting “anti-religious” sentiment and describes the lesson as “biased.”

The post includes a captioned video clip and has since drawn significant engagement on social media.

State 48 reached out to Catalina Foothills Unified School District for comment and clarification on the lesson, curriculum, and the authenticity of the materials presented.

Catalina Foothills School District Statement: May 29, 2025

Catalina Foothills School District was made aware of the classroom matter in question in March. At that time, the teacher was directed to follow the district’s approved curriculum as written and to refrain from including personal beliefs in instructional content. The teacher has resigned his position with the Catalina Foothills High School for the 2025–2026 school year.

The video in question is misleading. The audio has been selectively edited and does not accurately represent the full context of the lesson. Additionally, the “learning goals” shown in the video are not part of the approved curriculum and were not presented in the class. The image appears to be a digitally fabricated illustration and is not an authentic depiction of any CFHS classroom.

Catalina Foothills School District remains committed to providing a safe, respectful, and academically rigorous learning environment for all students.

The district claims the video was misleading, the learning goals weren’t shown in class, and the image was fabricated. If all of that is true—what exactly prompted the teacher’s resignation?

Much has been written about the challenges facing the Roosevelt School District this year. In January, State 48’s Christy Kelly attended a long-standing community event—held just weeks after the district announced it would be closing five schools.

Despite the difficult backdrop, what she saw was a proud, largely optimistic community rallying around the district’s “Reinventing Roosevelt” plan.

With a $5 million budget shortfall and falling enrollment, district leaders made the tough call to close underused campuses and repurpose some as community hubs.

A budget override election is now set for November 2025.

After the event, Kelly spoke with newly elected board member Tatiana Peña. As a rare conservative on a Democrat-led board, Peña offered candid insights on the school closures, the internal dynamics of the community, and her approach to serving as a conservative voice in a progressive district.

Take a look at that conversation: