Describe the qualifications and experiences you would bring to the State Board of Education and how they would be an asset to the work of the Board: (question from selection committee)

    I received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University in 1994, and have maintained a Utah state teaching license since graduation. I taught 1^st grade for Alpine School District for 3 years. Upon leaving my post with Alpine School District; I began consulting with their Title One program where I taught in-service classes and demonstrated the classroom techniques we discussed in class.  In 2006, I became a founding board member at Lakeview Academy, a K-9 Charter school in Saratoga Springs, a position I currently hold.  During the last 14 years I have been extremely involved with my children’s education. I have volunteered, participated in community council meetings or board meetings at the following schools:  Meadow Elementary, Snow Springs Elementary, Ranches Academy, Lakeview Academy, Saratoga Shores Elementary, Willow Creek Middle School, Vista Heights Middle School, Rockwell Charter High School, Westlake High School, Pioneer Academy for the Performing Arts, and MyOptions charter school. We are very fortunate to have so many good schools in our area.   I am involved with these schools because I have 6 children and I believe education is not a one size fits all. My family has worked hard to find the best educational fit for each individual child, sometimes resulting in each child attending a different school

Name the three key things you would like to accomplish as a member of the State School Board of Education: (question from selection committee)

      I have a dream that we can someday solve the equality on funding issues across the state.  Currently discrepancies occur between large and small districts, rural and urban schools, charter and traditional education schools, students in the public school systems and homeschool/private education students.  Funding equality is going to take a lot of discussion between many stake holders, and I would be naive to believe that it could be solved in several discussions. Solving the funding issues will require training and understanding of the current budgeting processes.  We will need to look back in history and discover the “why” behind many of the current processes.  We will need to look at other states and analyze what is working and not working in their states.  This research will allow us to create the best budget plan for the state of Utah.  Funding equality will require many tough discussions between all stake holders to develop a plan that is functional and understandable.  This will also require many of us to step back from and sacrifice some of our pet projects.

Recently the loss of local control has become a great issue in education.  We need to hold fast to Utah’s vision of education.  According to the United States Constitution it is Utah that is responsible for educating our students.  We need to hold fast to our principles and goals of “keeping the promises” to the students.  When appropriate we should look at federal programs, but this should never be an end all.  We should not be satisfied with what everyone else is doing.  Utah needs to raise the bar if we want the best education program.  This requires we maintain local control to look at our students and their needs and then develop a formula for their success.  This should be a continually evolving process as the needs of Utah students change from year to year.  The Utah Board of Education needs to continually review the rules they pass to ensure that we are not hampering the local choice of school districts and charter schools.   We need to make sure at a state level we do not encroach upon the local school boards by developing what seem like good and necessary rules but in actuality hampers the creativity of local school districts and charter schools to make data driving decisions for the students they are responsible for. 

I would like to focus on communication and voter apathy.  I am concerned with the growing number of citizens of Utah that do not know who their school board representative is.  It could be argued that members of the Utah Board of Education are the most crucial leaders in the state, as the balance of our students education rests in their hands. This lack of knowing who your representatives are allows for mistrust of the system and conspiracy theories to develop.  When people do not have a since of accountability they mistakenly think that the actions of the school board are done in secret and for political gain and not the best interest of the students.  I would like to work on developing stronger communications between all stake holders. Information should be readily available for constitutes in many forms such as websites, blogs, newsletters, mailings, and direct meetings.   I also believe that both parties have to be responsible for the communication and that as citizens become aware of public meetings they can have an impact on the results of these meetings. I believe that voter apathy can be solved by my 1-2-3 plan If every person will commit to becoming involved and an expert in 1 community group (city council, local school board, local community councils, planning commission, water commission, state legislature, federal legislature,  and my favorite Utah State Board of Education); then they attend that groups meetings or do research on them for just 2 hours a month; then share the information they learn with 3 people via in person or social media as a community we would become more involved and aware of all of the government programs that affect us. By using this 1-2-3 plan we could strength communication between governing bodies and the public and elevate some of the effects of voter apathy.

1. What do you think are the two biggest issues or challenges facing public education in the state of Utah? Why? (question from selection committee)

One of the biggest challenges facing public education right now is the rapid growth of knowledge.  Until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every century.  By the end of World War II knowledge was doubling every 25 years.  Today on average human knowledge is doubling every 13 months.  IBM theorizes it could someday become every 12 hours.  How are we teaching students to adapt to this exponential knowledge growth? When I tour schools I am always surprised to see how similar they are to the classes I taught 15 years ago. I am even more shocked to realize how similar they are to the classes I attended as a student 30 years ago.  With the exponential change in the knowledge curve we should be seeing classrooms that look very different than they did 30 years ago.  We need to work with our teachers to help them adapt to this new growth curve.  It is crucial that we teach students how to learn, how to synthesis data, what data is relevant, and what to do with the data once we understand it. One way impact the way classrooms structure is to improve teacher training.  The Utah State Board of Education needs to work in conjunction with the teaching colleges in the state to improve the strategies of teachers that come out of their institutions with.  We also need to work with our current teachers in ongoing professional development that is focused on how to help students learn instead of just covering the latest trends in the core.

Funding will always be an issue in education.  This is because some people believe the more money you spend the better quality you receive.  This is a not always a true statement! Neither is the opposite or converse statement.  The less money you spend equals less quality.   We should be more concerned with the value we receive in education.  We need to take the funding that has been appropriated to education and ensure there is no waste.  We must be responsible with the money that tax payers have entrusted with us and guarantee that the maximum amount possible benefits each student.  We can do this by not treating a budget line item as an “entitlement”.  We need to continually review how money is spent and search for creative ways to make it stretch further and not be afraid to make hard decisions that eliminate waist.   By looking at the current students and their needs we can make more fiscally appropriate spending decisions.

Describe the efforts you would make to communicate with your constituents and bring all stakeholders (state board, local boards, legislatures, educators, parents) together to enhance public education: (question from selection committee)

1    Communication is very important to me. When we do not communicate as public bodies we allow for inaccurate information to be spread from person to person through social media (gossip). I plan on attending at least one community council meeting for every school I represent.  This action will allow me to interact with those involved in education at a local level.  I want people in my district to know who I am so that they can come to me with their concerns and we can explore solutions together; this can be accomplished by having a poster/info card along with business cards at the front desk of each school in district 9.  I plan on writing a quarterly report of happenings on the Utah Board of Education and sending it to each school with the hope that they will include it in their e-mail newsletters to the families of their schools.

What would you do to improve the academic preparation of students as well as their transition to higher education or other post-high-school training? (question from selection committee)

1.     

A great way to proceed with higher and post high school training is to allow the local schools and districts to analyze the programs that they need to implement to reach the Governor’s 20 20 goal.  Local school boards are able to make direct impact on raising the graduation rate when we allow them flexibility to develop programs to meet the needs of their students.  These programs can be built on the data of their individualized populations. I have watched the Westlake High School Community Council focus on a higher graduation rate for the last two years.  They have been able to implement a program that has raised the graduation rate by almost 5%.  As they have seen success with their program they have been able to expand their outreach and help additional students. I see this program as a very powerful way to increase their graduation rate.

What do you see as your role in a public governing board? (question from selection committee)

The purpose of the Board of Education, on behalf of the citizens of Utah, is to ensure that the board achieves the general control and supervision of the public education system of Utah avoiding those behaviors and situations that should be avoided.

I will not be just a name on a paper for the constituents of District 9.  I will become a person they can rely on to represent them.  I will do this through the following three promises.  1)  I will always read research and study every item before I vote, I will never vote present or go with what “feels good” at the moment.  2)  I will continue to attend local board meetings, community councils, and parent organization meetings at the schools in the district to discover the unique needs of the students I represent.  3)  I will be available to the constituents. I will publish my cell phone and e-mail where I can be informed of ideas and concerns.  I will develop an interactive web page that contains a blog, links, and forums to inform members of District 9 about current issues the Board of Education is addressing and how it will impact their students.

The UEA Believes that teachers and their Association should be a partner with school districts in making decision affecting children and public education, with employee involvement taking place at both the district and school building level. (Question from Utah Education Association)

Teachers are one of the most valuable resources in education, for them to be successful they need to be a part of the decision making processes at the school, district, and state levels.  When they are not part of the decision making process they become powerless to effect students, because their teaching is reactionary to policy and procedure possibly ignoring the needs of the student. 

The UEA believes public education employees have the right to organize in support of their profession, and professional negotiations should occur between the district and representative organization regarding educators’ compensation, health care, working conditions and terms and conditions of employment. (Question from Utah Education Association)

School districts and LEA’s, in the state of Utah should be able to determine the process they will use to negotiate contracts with their employees.

The UEA Believes it is inappropriate to use public money to subsidize private, home school or religious schools, including private school vouchers, tuition tax credits or any public subsidy for private school choice. (Question from Utah Education Association)

Utah Code sates that “parents are best equipped to make decisions for their children, including the educational setting that will serve the interests and educational needs of their children.” Programs like the Carson Smith Scholarship for Students with Special Needs (enacted in the 2005 General Legislative Session under Utah Code 53A-1a-701 through 710) have been extremely successful. The State Board of Education should look at piolet programs like the Carson Smith Scholarship for Students with Special Needs when and if they look at programs like subsidizing private, home school or religious schools.

The UEA believes a greater investment should be made in public education in order to provide for the basic funding needs, which may include the need to increase local and state option taxes. (Question from Utah Education Association)

Funding will always be an issue in education.  This is because some people believe the more money you spend the better quality you receive.  This is a not always a true statement! Neither is the opposite or converse statement.  The less money you spend equals less quality.   We should be more concerned with the value we receive in education.  We need to take the funding that has been appropriated to education and ensure there is no waste.  We must be responsible with the money that tax payers have entrusted with us and guarantee that the maximum amount possible benefits each student.  We can do this by not treating a budget line item as an “entitlement”.  We need to continually review how money is spent and search for creative ways to make it stretch further and not be afraid to make hard decisions that eliminate waist.   By looking at the current students and their needs we can make more fiscally appropriate spending decisions. Raising taxes should be a last option.

What do you think about recent legislative attempts to equalize property taxes across the state? How do you see this affecting local decisions to fund education? (Question from Utah Education Association)

Property tax equalization/backpack funding programs need to be researched before the state of Utah moves forward with one of these plans.  We need to carefully look at other states who have utilized these options paying attention to any unintentional consequences.  We need to allow for more local decision making in education, and this could be accomplished by eliminating many of the program funding streams that occurs below the line and moving those funds above the line where LEA’s would have the flexibility to spend it on the needs of their students.

The Public Education Human Resources Management Act brought together many stakeholders to address educator evaluation, due process and remediation of public educators. What do you think about this law and the provisions it brings related to the employment of public education personnel? (Question from Utah Education Association)

This code appears to be overreaching with regards to local control. I think educators in the state of Utah are very lucky/cursed.  I cannot think of another profession where their evaluation experience is prescribed in state code. 

Do you support the concept of a single letter grade to measure schools? Why or why not? (Question from Utah Education Association)

Students are not given a single grade on their report cards.  Their grades are broken down by subject and a student can achieve a smattering of grades that all fall within an acceptable range to the parent.  Schools should be offered the same opportunity, excelling in some data points and reaching acceptable marks in other. Allowing schools to excel in different categories and have that reflected in school rating provides for greater choice and accountability in education. Education should never be a one size fits all approach, because no two students are identical.

What role does technology play in teaching and learning? (Question from Utah Education Association)

One of the biggest challenges facing public education right now is the rapid growth of knowledge.  Until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every century.  By the end of World War II knowledge was doubling every 25 years.  Today on average human knowledge is doubling every 13 months.  IBM theorizes it could someday become every 12 hours.  How are we teaching students to adapt to this exponential knowledge growth? Technology is part of the answer to exponential growth challenge.  Students need to know how to find answers, synthesis data and memorize facts. School districts, and individual schools should be able use their financial resources to decide the best use of technology for their students. We should not expect a one size fits all approach to technology in the state of Utah.

There have been legislative efforts over the past few years to “privatize” certain services that school districts have historically provided, e.g., student transportation, food service. What do you think about school districts “contracting out” for certain services? (Question from Utah Education Association)

Rising restricted funding streams from below the line to above the line will allow school districts the autonomy of their budget to reflect the needs of their students.  I would expect that as school districts analyze their budgets they will find savings in contracting out some services and keeping other services in house.  These contracts will greatly differ for districts based on their location and the available resources.  School districts should not be afraid to make changes in expenditures simply because that is how it has always been done.

What do you see as the Utah State Board of Education's role in working with local school boards and the Utah State Legislature? (Question from Utahans for Public Schools)

The State Board of Education must work with the local school boards because it is vital to the success of education in Utah. I have been attending as many school community council meetings, PTA meetings, and board meetings as possible during the last few months. My purpose for attending these meetings is to listen and learn the unique needs of the schools in north Utah County so that I can better represent and serve them.  I plan on continuing this practice though out my term on the State Board of Education.

Article X of the Utah constitution says that “the Legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of the state’s education system… The general control and supervision of the public education system shall be vested in the State Board of Education.” The state legislature and the state school board need to work together in order for both parties to fulfill their constitutional obligations to the citizens of Utah.  I plan on working closely and developing relationships with the senators who represent the same geographical area that I would represent including Deidre Henderson seat #7, Mark Madsen seat #13, John Valentine  # 14, and in seat #15 either Emmanuel Kepas or Margaret Dayton.  I will also work with the elected representatives in seat #2, #6, #27, #56, #57, #59, #61 and #67. 

Do you think the board and its members should actively oppose tax policies that come at the expense of public school funding? Why or why not? (Question from Utahans for Public Schools)

The responsibility of the State Board of Education is the general control and supervision of the public education system.  The State Board of Education may need to take positions on potential bills/tax policies that come at the expense of public school funding that would limit their ability to fulfill their obligation of general control and supervision.

What are your views about class size and instruction, and how do you think class size should be addressed in Utah? (Question from Utahans for Public Schools)

I believe that class size and instruction should be determined at the local level closest to the student.  In education there are times when a large class makes the most since, and times when one on one tutoring is what the student needs.  We need to allow local schools and districts more flexibility in spending to address the needs of their students. When local schools look at the data of their students they will develop plans of class sizes that meet the demands of their students. We need to start treating the local superintendents and principals like the professionals they are and allowing them to make the decisions required to educating they have been entrusted to educate. We create more flexibility in spending for local schools when we eliminate restricted programs and lump all education funding into a general account, allowing principals and superintendents to make decisions for their local communities.

Research shows that parental involvement is key to ensuring a child’s success at school. What steps would you recommend to encourage more parental engagement? (Question from Utahans for Public Schools)

Parent involvement is so vital to student’s education, but often parents are unaware of the opportunities available to them. Some steps that can be taken to encourage parental engagement include:

1. Hosting events and activities that bring parents and families into a school
2. Communicating with parents frequently using a variety of methods
3. Creating a warm, respectful and welcoming school environment
4. Being flexible in accommodating parents and families
5. Providing a variety of resources for parents
6. Supporting parents in helping their children at home
7. Connecting students and families to community resources that strengthen and support students’ learning
8. Engaging families in school planning, leadership and meaningful volunteer opportunities
9. Establishing effective school-to-home and home-to-school communication
10. Providing workshops and materials for parents on typical development and appropriate and school expectation for various age groups.