Superintendent's Biography

Republican Dr. Sandra E. Dowling, elected in 1988, is serving her fifth four-year term as the Maricopa County School Superintendent. Dr. Dowling, a nationally recognized expert on alternative education, is the founder of the innovative and eminent Thomas J. Pappas Schools for homeless children.

As a pioneer in alternative education, Dr. Dowling has founded fifteen “second chance” schools. Combining accelerated educational techniques with a total immersion philosophy, Dr. Dowling has created an instructional delivery system that efficiently helps students achieve graduation in the shortest period of time.

Dr. Dowling is a passionate and aggressive child advocate and educational leader. She serves the citizens of Maricopa County with extensive administrative and management experience in the areas of public policy, administration, and resource and program development. Dr. Dowling emphasizes timely and cost effective service to schools and is a strong supporter of parent and student rights.

As the Maricopa County School Superintendent, Dr. Dowling is one of twelve elected officials in the government of Maricopa County . Her responsibilities include: serving as the fiscal agent for school districts, with total annual expenditures of more than $300 million; providing educational services to school districts, charter schools, and private schools; coordinating school district elections; maintaining records for home instruction; providing computer system and technical support for school districts. Superintendent Dowling oversees and is the governing board for the Maricopa County Regional School District , which provides alternative educational services to students throughout Maricopa County . She is also responsible for a consortium of eleven small school districts.

Dr. Dowling is an educator with public, private, and university experience. Dr. Dowling taught social studies in both public and private schools. She was the owner and director of a private school. Dr. Dowling served as a university adjunct professor in the areas of educational leadership and policy studies.

Dr. Dowling was born in Decatur, Illinois. Her family moved to Phoenix in 1960, where she attended Phoenix-area schools. After graduating from high school Dr. Dowling enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps. Dr. Dowling earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in educational administration from Arizona State University. In 1994, she completed her doctorate degree in educational leadership and policy studies at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Dowling and her husband Dennis reside in Litchfield Park and their four children reside within the Phoenix area.