Matthew Pittinsky
Scottsdale Unified Governing Board At-large
Tenure
2025 - Present
Term ends
2029
Years in position
1
Elections and appointments
Education
Personal
Contact
Matthew Pittinsky is an at-large member of the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board in Arizona. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on January 1, 2029.
Pittinsky ran for election for an at-large seat of the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board in Arizona. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Pittinsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Matthew Pittinsky was born in Baldwin, New York. He earned a high school diploma from Baldwin Senior High School, a bachelor's degree from American University in 1994, a graduate degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in 1995, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, Teachers College in 2008. His career experience includes working as a CEO.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Scottsdale Unified School District, Arizona, elections (2024)
General election
Endorsements
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew Pittinsky completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pittinsky's responses.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) parent (15 years) of three children, a Scottsdale-HQ company business executive who employs SUSD graduates, and a former ASU assistant professor who taught aspiring teachers. Over the past 25 years I helped build two education technology companies, Blackboard and Parchment, that allowed me to engage with schools and universities around the world. I serve on the boards of various non-profit and corporate organizations, including New Classrooms and American University. I am also an Eagle Scout who is involved in scouting with my youngest. My wife is a Phoenix native, and we moved to SUSD in 2008 to raise our three children in a wonderful community. All three of my children went to SUSD schools, with two now in SUSD middle and high schools and one at Brophy. Along the way I served on the site councils of our elementary and middle schools.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- I am running to bring relevant professional experience and a non-partisan mindset to the SUSD Governing Board. Our neighborhood schools face an incredibly complex environment. Taxpayers and families deserve board members who bring solutions and the experience to support those solutions, which is the reason I decided to step forward as a candidate.
- In addition to business experience as an employer of SUSD graduates, I bring the perspective of a 15 year parent who has been active on site councils and supporting our schools. I also bring the humility to know that the perspective of some parents is not necessarily representative of “all parents,” which is why we need to engage the community and respect inclusive processes.
- This election voters will decide the majority of seats on the Board. Over the last two years, many of the most basic decisions, from whether curricula should align with state standards, to whether the board should micromanage hiring decisions, came down to 3-2 votes. For this reason I am running with Mike Sharkey and Donna Lewis as part of “SLP for SUSD”.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
So many issues are connected. At the highest level I am running to reverse the declining percentage of Scottsdale families who choose and enroll their children into SUSD. In 2010 it was ~70%. Now, it is ~56%. We need to identify the root causes and use this overarching metric to guide the systematic strengthening of our schools. Clearly high quality teachers, high expectations for students, safe and positive school culture, and engaged parents are central to the answer.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
George Washington's Farewell Address. Not every word, but most.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
A successful school board member should start from the principle that their role is to help strengthen the district's neighborhood schools, partnering with district leadership, holding district leadership accountable, and listening to different perspectives in the community. Humility, good listening, and professional experience understanding the role of the board vs. the role of district leadership are also important. I believe board members should bring relevant professional experience, where possible, to add value and bring solutions to leadership, not just criticisms.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Representing the values and goals of the community for our school district through policy. As well, providing professional experience and accountability to the school district so that we move forward, build trust, and attract more enrollments.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Newspaper delivery (11 years old), followed by carousel ride operator at our local amusement park.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Metaphysical Club. It describes the history of Pragmatism, a uniquely American philosophy.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
The primary job of a school board member is to represent, engage, and translate the values and goals of the community for our schools into policy. As well, to support district leadership and hold them accountable as they execute that policy.
Who are your constituents?
Taxpayers (homeowners), parents, teachers and staff are all constituents. Students are why we do what we do.
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
By listening, reflecting different positions, and communicating my own views clearly and often. I bring professional experience leading organizations with investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?
Scottsdale Education Association, current Town of Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Wilmer, former Scottsdale Mayor Sam Campana, former Scottsdale City Council member Linda Milhaven, former SUSD Board member Denny Brown, co-Founder of SUSD Foundation Gary Shapiro, First Things First CEO Melinda Gulick, and local CEOs and business leaders, including John Fees.
What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?
Ensuring financial transparency and school district accountability are core goals and responsibilities of a school board. My professional experience as a business leader and non-profit board member position me well to deliver on this responsibility. Our district serves 20,000 students across 30 sites, with 2,000 employees. Ideally, board members would have experience with budgets, personnel matters, and physical plants to ensure transparency and prudent management of resources.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 26, 2024
