Hilda Ortega-Rosales has served on the Pendergast Elementary Governing Board for 23 years and has served in leadership roles as President, Vice President, and Secretary. Throughout her tenure she has been a fierce advocate of academic excellence for all students. She’s married to Ray Rosales. Their 3 sons attended Pendergast Elementary Schools.

Ms. Ortega-Rosales received her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University. She recently retired from Tolleson Union High School District. For over 17 years, she served as the Grants & Federal Programs and the Human Resource Director. In addition, she has over 20 years of experience in corporate sector leadership. Her community service includes Co-Chair of the Cesar Chavez Leadership Institute Annual Reception Committee, Chicanos Por La Causa Board of Directors; five years as the Chair, Glendale Parks and Recreation Commission as well as the Glendale Planning Commission. She’s currently a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Arizona School Board Association and Arizona Latino Board Member Association.

Ms. Ortega-Rosales has received numerous professional and community awards/honors for outstanding performance and community volunteerism: the Tolleson Union High School District Administrator of the Year, Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Governing Board Member of the Year, International Great Citizens Award - American Express, recipient of the prestigious Profiles of Success - Distinguished Leadership Award, and the City of Glendale’s Volene Stockham Humanitarian Award. Ms. Ortega-Rosales believes that success is measured by how much you give back to others.  Because of the struggles her parents endured as immigrants, her drive to help others was ignited early on in her life. As a first-generation college graduate, she’s passionate about her community, advocating on behalf of the voiceless, education, social justice, and mentoring others.

Susan Serin has been a member of the Pendergast Governing Board for thirty-eight years. During her tenure on the Board, she has served several times in every office, including President. Ms. Serin’s most recent award was a Certificate of Boardsmanship Award from the Arizona School Boards Association. Ms. Serin has also received an award for Outstanding Board Member from the Arizona Hispanic School Administrators Association. Ms. Serin worked for Farmers Insurance Company for 30 years. During that time, Ms. Serin held many positions, including trainer and underwriter in the Workers’ Compensation Department. Ms. Serin retired from her position in Commercial Operations as a Home Office Business Analyst in 2020. Over the years, Ms. Serin has received many commendations and awards both for work in the community and for her work with Farmers Insurance Company. Ms. Serin, a single parent, successfully raised four sons, all of whom attended Desert Horizon Elementary School, as did two grandchildren and one niece. Ms. Serin has found that retirement is allowing her to attend many more student-related activities. Ms. Serin is one of the sponsors of the 8th Grade Superintendent Student Council. Ms. Serin is amazed and delighted at the talents and commitment of the students and staff in the Pendergast Elementary School District.

Martín is serving his 4th term as an elected Governing Board member for the Pendergast Elementary School District. He served as Board President in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2023. Martín has dedicated his life of public service to fighting for an Arizona that works for all of us, not just a wealthy few. He is most widely recognized as “The People’s Senator” after serving over 10 years in the AZ State Legislature. He was appointed to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and elected to a full term later that year. In 2014 he was elected to the State Senate and was re-elected there in 2014, 2016 & 2020. In 2022, he was the Democratic nominee for the office of AZ State Treasurer. 

Martín is also equally effective as a people’s servant. A native Arizonan, born to working class parents in the Maryvale community of West Phoenix, he has served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Patricia A. Orozco on the AZ Court of Appeals, a research analyst in the State Legislature, an educator at ASU’s College of Law teaching courses on contracts, business organizations, family law and immigration law and he served as the Director of the AZ Registrar of Contractors, as part of Governor Katie Hobbs’ cabinet. 

This is all in addition to his role as a people's attorney where he’s practiced criminal defense, domestic relations, civil litigation, immigration and election law as a member of his own law firm, The Law Office of Martín J. Quezada, PLLC, or as an of counsel member of Desert Bloom Immigration (immigration law), O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo (education law) & Thunderbird Law Group (labor law).

Mr. Arenas has worked in the education field for over 38 years; he has served in multiple leadership roles at the campus level, as well as the district level. Mr. Arenas has served as school principal and in varied campus administrator roles in large urban-area schools during his tenure in the Phoenix Union High School District. He worked at Cesar Chavez, Trevor G. Browne, Carl Hayden and Maryvale High Schools. He started his career in Isaac School District #5 as a classroom teacher and progressed through campus administration. His years of service during his initial years in the Isaac School District were at Alta E. Butler, Isaac Junior High, Mitchell and PT Coe schools. Mr. Arenas currently serves as the Principal at PT Coe Elementary School in the Isaac School District #5. Mr. Arenas has served on many education committees and community advisory boards. He served as a founding board member for the Arizona Latino School Board Association (ALSBA) and was a Downtown YMCA Advisory Board member. He was also elected and completed a 4-year term as a governing board member for the Tolleson Union High School District. Recently, Mr. Arenas served as the initial Chairperson for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Hispanic Advisory Board. He is married to Cindy and is a proud father to his two sons, Steven and Matthew, who serve the Phoenix Union High School District as high school administrators.. Mr. Arenas' daughter-in-law, Lizeth, serves the Phoenix Union High School district as a high school Spanish educator. Mr. Arenas is a proud grandfather to Gabriel and Eiva.

Jete is a native of Arizona and attended public schools in the Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tempe Union High School districts. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, Jete was accepted as a Teach for America corps member and moved back to the Valley to teach in South Phoenix. Jete began his career in 2009 as a middle school teacher and transitioned to teaching high school students in 2017.  He has also served as an instructional coach supporting middle school teachers and teams in the greater Phoenix area.  This is his 15th year in education and is currently a Content Specialist for Career and Technical Education in the Phoenix Union High School District.

Jete has a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision. He is also certified to teach math, social studies, English, American government, Career and Technical Education, and holds a principal certificate.

A resident of the district since 2013, Jete is married to Mary, who works to provide affordable housing for low-income people and for those formerly experiencing homelessness. They have two daughters who are part of the classes of 2032 and 2036.

Jete serves to ensure all students in Pendergast receive an excellent and equitable education.