Governing Board Members
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Senator Martín Quezada, President
Email: mquezada@pesd92.orgMartín is an elected Governing Board Member for the Pendergast Elementary School District. Martín is a native of Phoenix and is a product of Arizona public education. He believes in the impact of a great education on individual lives because of the significant role it has played in his own life. Martín holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from Arizona State University’s College of Public Programs and a Juris Doctorate from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and began his career as a Research Analyst for the Arizona House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus. As he witnessed the critical role of policymakers in state governance, Martín decided to pursue a larger role in government and law. After obtaining his law degree, Martín served a judicial clerkship for Judge Patricia Orozco on the Arizona Court of Appeals before opening his own law office. Martín is an attorney committed to social justice in Arizona. He currently uses his legal background and expertise in his role as the Democratic Whip in the Arizona State Senate, representing Legislative District #29 in Maryvale and Glendale. Martin was elected to the Senate in the 2014 General Election after serving two terms in the Arizona State House of Representatives.
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Hilda Ortega-Rosales, Vice President
Email: hortega-rosales@pesd92.org
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 and Federal Programs Director and 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 for 3 years, Chicanos Por La Causa Board of Directors for 14 years; five years as the Chair, Glendale Parks and Recreation Commission and 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, Great Citizens Award - American Express, Outstanding Young Women’s Service Award, 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.
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Susan Serin, Member
Email: sserin@pesd92.org
Susan Serin has been a member of the Pendergast Governing Board for thirty-six 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. Susan 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 amazed and delighted at the talents and commitment of the students and staff in the Pendergast Elementary School District.
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Jete White, Member
Email: jwhite@pesd92.orgJete 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.
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Jose Arenas, Member
Email: josearenas@pesd92.org
Mr. Arenas has worked in the education field for over 37 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 Trevor G. Browne, Carl Hayden and Maryvale High Schools. He started his career in the 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 Chief Human Resources Officer for 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 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. Currently, Mr. Arenas serves on 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 educators. Mr. Arenas' daughter-in-law, Lizeth, serves the Tolleson community as a high school Spanish educator. Mr. Arenas is a proud grandfather to Gabriel and Eiva.