Public Policy

Phones significantly influence school environments, but a federal ban isn't the solution. Schools should adopt state and district policies that limit phone use during the school day, with necessary exceptions. A bell-to-bell restriction, covering class time, lunch, and study periods, is ideal. Policies must include phone storage solutions, clear consequences, and accommodations for medical needs. Emergency concerns should allow for parent contact. Equity is essential; fair re

Spend five minutes scrolling through political social media, and you’ll probably see someone called a fascist, a communist, a dictator, or even the next Hitler. Every election is framed as “the end of democracy.” Every controversial policy becomes “literal fascism.” Every political disagreement is treated like the beginning of a dictatorship. Political language online has become completely unserious. The problem isn’t that people criticize governments or political leaders—cr

Jennifer Eckstrom serves as President of the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, helping oversee policy decisions that affect thousands of students across Southern Arizona. A former Mayor of South Tucson, Eckstrom entered school governance during the COVID-19 pandemic after witnessing firsthand the challenges facing families, educators, and public officials. Since joining the board, she has become a prominent advocate for public schools, literacy initiatives, and