After some time away, I’m excited to return to independent storytelling here—this time under a new name: Jen’s Two Cents.
Formerly West Valley Families, this rebrand marks a fresh chapter rooted in the same values—honest reporting, curiosity, and a deep love for Arizona. You’ll still find coverage on issues I care about most: our schools, AI and privacy, and policies affecting real people. But Jen’s Two Cents will also shine a brighter spotlight on the good—the people rolling up their sleeves and making positive change in communities across the state.
I’ll be sharing more one-on-one interviews with Arizona’s movers, makers, and changemakers—through both writing and my podcast, Jen & Friends. And I’ll be asking many more people to share what joy looks like through their lens.
It’s been a while.
This summer gave me space to breathe, reflect, and remember what matters most. I hit the road for an unforgettable 16-day trip through the wild west, winding through eight states with stops in Moab’s red rock wonder, Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos, Yellowstone’s geysers, the history-soaked streets of Deadwood, and the awe-inspiring sight of Mount Rushmore. Bears. Buffalo. Moose. Oh, my! I also made time to head back to the Midwest to see my family and oldest friends—something grounding and soul-filling.
The past few months have been a mix of awe and revision—and they’ve reshaped how I see the world around me. As I return to this work, I’m bringing a renewed sense of purpose. The stories I’ll share won’t just report what’s happening. They’ll reflect what matters—to families, to communities, to everyday people trying to make a difference here in Arizona.
What’s ahead.
No matter where you live, these are stories worth following — and I’m on it.
📌 Back-to-school forms & parental rights: What exactly are you agreeing to in those stacks of papers coming home the first two weeks of school?
📸 Photo radar & social media: Can your Instagram help issue you a ticket? You bet. I’ll explain how it's being used to confirm identity in photo enforcement cases.
💰 Business license fees: One Arizona city is pushing to charge a whopping $186. Who are the lawmakers working to shut this down?
Arizona’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee convenes today, and all eyes are on Tolleson. Watch live.
On the agenda: presentations from Citizens for School Accountability, the Tolleson Union High School District, and the City of Tolleson—including its Chief of Police. All are expected to address the ongoing controversy over the district’s school resource officer program.
A source confirms the Chief of Police will be in attendance. Superintendent Jeremy Calles is also expected, though his appearance has not been officially announced.
At the June 6th JLAC meeting, Chairs Sen. Mark Finchem and Rep. Matt Gress made it clear the committee would reschedule the hearing to ensure Tolleson Union High School District representatives could attend.
Over in the Higley District, controversy is brewing over who’s allowed to sit at the dais.
At the July 8th governing board meeting, sparks flew over who gets a seat at the table—literally.
Board Member Van Hoek publicly objected to the new superintendent sitting alongside board members on the dais, calling it inappropriate for an employee who reports to the board to present as an equal.
Van Hoek says she wasn’t consulted and only found out about the seating change via email. According to her, the decision came directly from the new superintendent and was greenlit solely by Board President Wade—without input from the full board.
She didn’t hold back, saying the move reflects a leadership style that reminds her of what’s playing out in Scottsdale—a district often under fire for power struggles and board discord.
“It also raises whether the shift is being influenced by the Superintendent Association. I would like to understand what specifically led our superintendent to pursue sitting at the dais. If this decision is connected to mentorship or advice from organizations like ASA or AASA, I would strongly encourage him to reconsider. That approach does not reflect the kind of governance or leadership we value or need here in Higley,” reads Van Hoek.
The next scheduled Higley Unified School District board meeting is August 12th.
Earlier this year, I spoke with Higley Unified School District Board Member Anna Van Hoek about challenges as a board member in the district. Watch.
Liberty School Board Member Calls IB Program at Estrella Mountain Elementary: “Alarming and Disappointing”
Last Monday’s Liberty Elementary School District meeting stretched for several hours as principals presented updates on their schools' signature programs. The full meeting is available on the district’s YouTube channel. One portion stands out. Board President Michael Todd delivered a scathing critique of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme at Estrella Mountain Elementary School, citing missed deadlines, poor communication, and questionable use of taxpayer dollars.
Board President Todd tells me: "It’s alarming and disappointed. For years the district has poured money into the campus while making other schools scrape by on nearly zero funding for their signature programs and in return we find out the school has not only received poor reviews but also could not respond to emails or make extended timelines that they requested not once, not twice but multiple times. It is never acceptable to miss an extended timeline that you request."
Board member Kris Kenyon called into question the program costs to taxpayers. It adds up to $42,460 each school year according to presentation documents.
President Todd ended his comments during the meeting by saying, "I'm very concerned that this is the most expensive program we have. We spend a disproportionate amount of dollars on this program. And other schools are struggling with $5,000. And this campus has this sort of review that comes back *after* you had years to get this right. You started in 2021. And we just got this back after an email to our former superintendent saying, 'what's going on?'" He goes on to say, "I don't see this as a sustainable program. At all. Under any circumstance."
Liberty Elementary School District's other schools and signature programs are:
Blue Horizons Elem: College and Career Readiness/ Exploration - $7,500
Freedom Elem: Communication - $8,281
Liberty Elem: AgScience - $5,023
Loretta Zumbro Elem (Brand New School This Year): Currently Researching Programs
Rainbow Valley Elem: Leader In Me - $12,100
Westar Elem: S.T.E.A.M. - $3,500 for TechSmart and the 24/25 SY Budget Spent: $4,620 (+$1200 from Tax Credit)
Context matters. School board expert Pam Kirby weighs in, noting that cost-per-student is the more accurate lens for evaluating signature programs.
🔍 For 2023–24, she points out:
➡️ Estrella and Westar are the only schools with 50%+ proficiency in ELA or Math.
“The Board’s focus should be broader than just how much per school is being spent,” says Kirby.
Jen's Two Cents. How much is spent on the signature program at your child's school? Does the school board report publicly on its cost and success?
Happiness vs. Joy
Today feels like the perfect day to revisit one of my all-time favorite interviews.
Mario Valencia is a veteran, business owner, nonprofit founder, and father—but more than that, he carries one of the most positive outlooks on life I’ve ever encountered.
If you’ve got a few minutes, I invite you to take a listen to our conversation. It’s a reminder that purpose, perspective, and joy can go hand in hand.