Cyndi Tercero is an advocate of public education, civic leader, community activist and humanitarian.  She serves as the Family and Community Engagement Manager for the Phoenix Union High School District, where she has been enriching the lives of our youth for over 30 years. She serves as the McKinney-Vento and Foster Point of Contact and is responsible for establishing and coordinating district-wide dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement programs. 

Cyndi is considered a resident expert in dropout prevention initiatives, student support services, and a fierce advocate for students experiencing homelessness and youth in foster care. She has received several awards for her work with youth and was recognized as an Obama White House Champion of Change in 2016.  She was named a Community Luchadora in 2017 for her steadfast dedication to social justice and was more recently recognized by Education Week as a 2023 Leader to Learn From. She is very active in the community and serves on several boards that focus on improving youth outcomes. 

She has a passion for enhancing and advancing the lives of our youth and actively seeks partnerships that promote student achievement and create opportunities for students.  She understands that the community school partnership model is essential to the philosophy of educating the whole child.  She engages with community agencies through collaborative action to provide supplemental services to students and families, provide additional opportunities for engagement for youth (i.e. leadership development, life skills, social justice, civic engagement, etc.), and support the school district’s mission of preparing every student for success in college, career and life.  

Cyndi is a native of Arizona. She currently resides in Peoria with her husband and two children.