Lela Alston

Lela Alston was elected to her first Governing Board term in 2008 as an At-Large member and was re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020. She served as the Governing Board President for two years-2015 and 2016. Alston currently serves as an Arizona State Senator, currently in a two-year term beginning in 2018. It is her second stint in the State Senate, having served as a Senator for 18 years, from 1976 to 94. Alston was also a member of the Arizona House of Representatives (District 24), elected in 2012, 2014, and 2016. A Phoenix native and Phoenix Union High School alumnus, Alston taught Family and Consumer Science in the District for 34 years at West, Maryvale, Alhambra, Metro Tech, and Bostrom High Schools. Among her career highlights and recognition, she was instrumental in working with a team to establish the ASU West Campus. She was honored by having the Lela Alston Elementary School in the Isaac District named after her. Alston earned a Bachelor of Science at the Univ. of Arizona and received her Masters's from ASU. She has received the U of A Distinguished Citizen Award, named the 2015 O’Connor Institute Statesman of the Year, is an Honorary State Firefighter, and won the Girl Scout World of Children Award. She is a strong advocate for public education and credits her own public education as the reason for her many accomplishments in life. Alston has two children and six grandchildren. Her term expires in 2024.