Zeyna Pruzhanovsky

Ms. Pruzhanovsky, a Chandler resident, mother of four, and grandmother of four, is running for the CUSD Governing Board in 2026. A teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience and a graduate degree in education from ASU, she also holds a business degree from the University of Kansas and brings professional experience in grant management, real estate, retail, and banking.

Pruzhanovsky emphasizes preserving CUSD’s status as Arizona’s top-rated district through a strong focus on academics—particularly boosting reading and math literacy, closing achievement gaps, advancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, improving graduation rates, and supporting early childhood education—while prioritizing student safety, anti-bullying efforts, and whole-child development (an educational philosophy that focuses on nurturing the full range of a child's needs — not just academic achievement, but their overall growth and well-being), in inclusive learning environments. In school board contexts, candidates who emphasize "inclusive learning environments" typically support expanded student services, differentiated instruction, equity initiatives, mental health resources, and broader access for diverse learners. Many worry it shifts focus away from core academics and increases costs/administrative demands.

She advocates for fully funding public schools, competitive/expanded teacher salaries, and collaborative district management. Supporters appreciate her classroom insight, business acumen, community ties, and commitment to workforce readiness and safe schools.

Critics, however, point to her support for increased school funding and overrides, and associations with pro-public education and Democratic-leaning groups, which some view as favoring higher taxes and less aggressive oversight or parental rights pushback.

Overall, Pruzhanovsky offers a collaborative, teacher-centered vision centered on higher funding, expanded mental health services, equity initiatives, and inclusive learning environments. While this appeals to left leaning whole-child advocates, critics argue her strong support for bonds, tax increases, and broader social-emotional (SEL) programs risks raising costs, growing administrative overhead, and diverting focus and resources away from core academics and fiscal discipline. SEL programs take time and money away from core academics, function like unlicensed therapy, serve as a vehicle for ideological content, and raise privacy concerns through student surveys and emotional data collection. We view this candidate as dangerous to straight forward core educations, and therefore:

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We Do Not recommend this candidate. 

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