Jeff Lavender has a rich background rooted in education and community service. Born and raised in Kent, Washington, he moved to Tempe, Arizona, at the age of 14, where he graduated from McClintock High School in 1981. Following high school, he served in the United States Army, completing a tour of duty in West Germany.
Lavender pursued higher education at Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with concentrations in History, Political Science, and Economics. He further advanced his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. His teaching career began at Balsz School District in Phoenix, Arizona, where he taught History and Government for five years. He later transitioned to the Casa Grande Elementary School District (CGESD) in 1996, serving as the Principal of Ironwood Elementary School and progressively taking on leadership roles.
Lavender held several principal positions within CGESD: Casa Grande Junior High School (1997-2001), Cactus Middle School (2001-2007), and Villago Middle School (2007-2018, then again, 2019-2023). He also took on the role of Director of Leadership in the CGESD District Office during the 2018-19 school year, where he oversaw principals and leadership development.
His commitment to community involvement is notable. From 2007 to 2015, governors Janet Napolitano and Jan Brewer appointed him to the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board, eventually serving as Chairman for three years. Lavender participated in local governance as a member of the Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission from 2009 to 2015, including two years as Chairman. He also chairs the Scholarship Committee for the Cesar Chavez Memorial Committee of Pinal County, which has successfully raised over $400,000 in scholarship funds for high school graduates in the area. Additionally, Lavender served on the Casa Grande City Council from 2020 to 2024, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem in 2023.
As an educational leader, Lavender made significant contributions at Cactus Middle School, which led to Pinal County's first school being recognized as an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Education Foundation in 2007. He replicated this success at Villago Middle School, earning the same designation in 2013 and 2017. He also received the Outstanding Leadership Award in Administration from the Arizona Council of Administrators for Special Education in 2007 and was named a Rodel Exemplary Principal by the Rodel Foundation in 2010.
In his personal life, Lavender is married to Gracy, a Casa Grande native. Together, they have three adult children and one grandchild. He enjoys traveling, having visited all 50 states, and he actively engages in hobbies such as golfing and hiking CG Mountain. Additionally, he is a dedicated fan of the Arizona Cardinals.