Slater and Godlewski Lead Amphi Board Race

Early votes put two newcomers ahead for four-year seats, so Tucson families with Amphi students should watch for certified totals.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Administration

Slater and Godlewski Lead Amphi Board Race

Live Poll

Do you trust your local school board to make good decisions for families?

Early voting results show Elizabeth Slater and Nina Godlewski leading the race for two open four-year seats on the Amphitheater Public Schools governing board, with John Fife trailing. In a separate two-year seat race, Michael Gemma leads Kimberly Outlaw Ryan. The results shown are unofficial.

Why it matters

Governing board members set the direction of Amphitheater Public Schools, which shapes curriculum, budgets, and policies that affect Tucson families with children in the district. Early vote tallies offer a first look at where local voters are leaning before final counts are certified.

Two four-year seats are contested, with Slater and Godlewski currently ahead of Fife. In the two-year race, Gemma leads Ryan by a margin of roughly 5 percentage points in the early count.

The players

Amphitheater Public Schools

A Tucson-area school district whose governing board sets policy for its schools and budget.

Elizabeth Slater

CEO of the dropout prevention nonprofit Youth On Their Own, running for a four-year governing board seat.

Nina Godlewski

A recently retired Amphitheater teacher of 19 years, running for a four-year governing board seat.

Michael Gemma

A former Canyon del Oro High School principal and current governing board member, leading the two-year seat race.

The details

Early votes were tallied on Tuesday night, and the figures reported are unofficial. Candidates in the four-year race include Slater, the CEO of the dropout prevention nonprofit Youth On Their Own, and Godlewski, a recently retired Amphi teacher of 19 years. In the two-year race, Gemma, a former Canyon del Oro High School principal who was appointed to the board last year, faces Ryan.

Last year: Michael Gemma was appointed to the Amphitheater governing board.
August: Elizabeth Slater told the Star she is running for the board.
Tuesday night, November 3, 2026: Early votes were tallied for the governing board races.

The Home Front

Board races in staggered-term districts like Amphitheater turn over seats gradually rather than all at once, which keeps policy continuity while allowing periodic shifts in direction. Families weighing a home near a district often treat its governing board makeup as one factor in long-term school-area stability.

If you live within the Amphitheater Public Schools boundaries, check whether your registration and polling place are current before final results are certified. Watch the county elections office for certified totals, since early vote tallies can shift once all ballots are counted.

The takeaway

Early vote numbers give a first picture of the Amphitheater board races, but only certified totals settle them. Keep the district's board composition in mind if you have children enrolled or are considering a move in the area.