Fellows Spotlight
Jamie Festa-Daigle
2023 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Director of Student Achievement
Lake Havasu Unified School District
After more than two decades in Lake Havasu City, Jaime Festa-Daigle is bringing her deep-rooted passion for public education and civic engagement to northern Arizona.
A lifelong Arizonan, Festa-Daigle began her education career in Phoenix, teaching American history to students who were new to the United States. Many were English language learners, recently immigrated from countries including Mexico, Sudan, and Bosnia—an experience that would shape the arc of her career.
“Helping young people understand the U.S.—not just academically but civically—has always been central to my work,” she said.
Throughout her career, Festa-Daigle taught government and economics, weaving civic understanding and decision-making into every lesson. As both a teacher and administrator, she consistently emphasized the role of education in preparing students to be thoughtful, engaged citizens.
“Education isn’t just about facts. It’s about helping students become thoughtful citizens,” she said.
Until recently, Festa-Daigle served as Director of Student Achievement for the Lake Havasu Unified School District, where she led strategic planning, oversaw student support services, mentored new educators, and cultivated leadership pathways for aspiring administrators. A former president of Arizona ASCD, she was named the organization’s Outstanding Educational Leader in 2019.
A member of the 2023 cohort, she joined the Flinn-Brown Fellowship in search of broader engagement. “I’ve always worked with educators,” she said. “Flinn-Brown gave me the chance to connect with leaders outside of education— people shaping Arizona’s future in every sector.”
The experience shifted her perspective, especially on Arizona’s natural resources and regional diversity. She recalls Water Day at the Flinn-Brown Academy as particularly impactful.
“I’m a lake person now, but learning how water decisions affect every corner of the state—from farming in La Paz County to the forests around Flagstaff—really stayed with me.”
Now based in Flagstaff, Festa-Daigle is embracing new ways to contribute. As recent empty nesters, she and her husband are enjoying more flexibility—and time with their beloved pugs. An avid reader, she recommends The Chaos Machine and The Anxious Generation for anyone exploring the effects of social media on youth.
Asked what she values most in a community, she points to cooperation.
“Whether it’s education, housing, or health care—none of it happens in isolation,” she said. “It takes public-private partnerships, trust, and communication to make things work.”
That belief is at the heart of everything she does. As she continues her work in Flagstaff and beyond, Festa-Daigle remains committed to building strong relationships, listening across differences, and shaping systems that better support Arizona’s young people.
If you missed a Fellows Spotlight, you can find them here.
Book Recommendation
“The Chaos Machine” by Max Fisher
It’s all about the impact of social media and technology on our brains and society.
If you missed a Fellows Spotlight, you can find them here. View all Flinn-Brown Fellow profiles here.