The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) hit a historic milestone when it named Thea Andrade as the district's first female superintendent, according to an announcement by the district. Andrade, assuming the mantle of leadership after serving as interim superintendent for the 2023-24 school year, shattered a glass ceiling nearly 130 years thick.
Having climbed the ranks within PXU since her start in 2011, Andrade is no stranger to breaking barriers. Before stepping up as interim superintendent, she was the Chief Achievement Officer, as reported by 12news.com, where her roles included spearheading the Safety, Student & Family Services and Teaching & Learning divisions. Andrade's educational administrative tenure which lasted over 20 years – began humbly as a math teacher for middle and high school algebra.
After Dr. Chad Geston vacated the role in March 2023, The PXU Governing Board unanimously approved Andrade's appointment on March 5. "I want to thank the PXU staff, community, and Governing Board for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as your next Superintendent," Andrade said in a news release. Her selection is contingent upon successful negotiation of an employment contract and acceptance of an independent background check report by the PXU Governing Board.
Andrade, a Boston native who has called Phoenix home for over three decades, expresses a vested interest in driving educational excellence and access within her adoptive city. Taking up the mantle as superintendent, her passion for educational equity and her strategic vision for the district's future align closely with PXU’s objectives, as outlined in PXU's website. Andrade is set to focus on the district's Teaching & Learning Framework and its strategic plan, aimed at uplifting a diverse student body that boasts a 95% minority representation, including an 81% Latino population, and students representing over 100 languages.
Phoenix Union represents an innovative portfolio district, striving to enrich the lives of its 28,000 students across its 24 high schools. With Andrade at the helm, PXU eyes a future tailored to the unique cultural and educational needs of its diverse student body, an urban educational landscape sculpted by nearly three decades of her dedicated service. Andrade's journey, while creating ripples across the Phoenix Union High School District, rides the wave of progress that the community champions, pushing toward an inclusive, dynamic future.
