PHX Reporter

The Phoenix Union School District Governing Board made two official votes to change its leadership during the board's May 4 meeting.

Superintendent Chad Geston, who has led the district since 2015, announced in March that he would be leaving the district at the end of the school year to pursue a new position with the Arizona Institute for Education and Economy. Prior to that, he served as a building principal and district director of leadership, as well as working in schools other than PXU.

“I do also want to start with congratulating Superintendent Andrade. That sounds good coming off my tongue," Geston said. "Union will soon celebrate its 130-year anniversary, and Superintendent Andrade is our first ever female superintendent. So, congratulations."

The board took a vote to accept Geston's resignation, effective June 30. The board followed that with a vote to approve Andrade as interim superintendent. His final official day will be June 30. The interim superintendent will operate in the role for one year as the board conducts a search and approval process for their next superintendent. The board unanimously selected and approved Thea Andrade as the interim superintendent. Andrade has worked in public education for over 25 years and joined the district in 2011 to serve as chief advancement officer.

Andrade will step into the role on June 2, briefly overlapping with Geston to learn the ropes, and Andrade will step down from her interim role on June 30, 2024, by which time the board hopes to have hired a permanent replacement by the start of June.

Board president Naketa Rossa said hard work “has gotten Phoenix through so [much], like we got through the pandemic just greatly. We've just gone through so many milestones and challenges with you at the helm, and I just want you to know that we are going to miss you. You did a great job. We appreciate all the hard work that you have done.”