I want to be part of a better future for Utah, and the future of Utah are the students in our schools today. People often ask me why I stay working in higher education, and my answer is simple: the students. Students are my first priority.
Policy Priorities:
- Funding: full-day kindergarten, increased teacher pay and teacher professional development resources, and increased technology opportunities in schools.
- Sustainability in Education: Update old HVAC systems, find ways to integrate environmental science studies in common core and healthy living programs in schools.
- Strengthen the P-20 pipeline (preschool to higher ed) by partnering with Utah System of Higher Education and do early intervention and education in middle school and early high school to promote and encourage students to pursue higher education.
- Fighting for: Justice, Equity, Inclusivity, and Equity through training and education to make our schools a more equitable place for ALL of our students.
- Push back against battles over teaching history, race, sex education, and science and stop unnecessary book banning.
- Trust our educators: Fight against increased forced teacher transparency and stop legislation complicating and weighing down their responsibilities.
- Build Bridges: Collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, local school boards, and legislators to do the necessary work to support our students.
- Innovation: Find and support grants that allow teachers to find new, innovative ways to teach their subjects that include technology, and provide resources for educators to integrate technology in their classrooms.
Good work takes real commitment, and I understand what it takes to create meaningful change. All change–whether cultural, structural, or policy–takes time. Successful projects are informed by research and data, and include sustainable plans for the future – and most importantly, the thoughts and input of constituents.
