Aspen Peaks (Central):                                             

SEAT 1- Lehi

Megan Mullins (Full Endorsement)

Is a library board member; former math teacher; has been a classroom volunteer; PTA involvement; and SCC for elementary, middle school, and high schools. Believes teachers are the professionals and need to be retained as a top budget priority. Is actively involved in working with legislators on education issues. 

Wants to work with the Association- she made it clear the board needs to collaborate with teachers. Make sure employee concerns are heard and what impact changes will have. Gathered signatures for the Referendum to repeal HB267. She will work toward supporting fair pay, professional development, and the resources they need to succeed.

Diane Knight (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 2 - Lehi

Stacy Bateman (Full Endorsement)

As the current ASD Board member, she believes she can create a smooth transition to a new district. She is a current substitute teacher and has served on PTA, SCC, and DCC. Wants to have changes made based on data in order to expand opportunities for students. She is a Doctoral Candidate in the Educational Leadership program at the U of U. Priorities- expand course offerings for students, offer options for benefits, and reduce class sizes. 

She wants to use the new district to find ways to make it better with the right changes. Said that the new district is a time to look at innovations and improvements. She wants to hire a long-term Superintendent and create a smooth transition into the new district.

Steve Sparti (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 3- Highland

Mary Thomas  (Full Endorsement)

Lone Peak PTSA president involved in PTA elementary and jr high also. Expressed how teachers care for kids and need to be supported. She wants to work with the Association- because the association is the advocate and champion for kids and teachers. She wants to let the admin run the district with board approval. Wants teachers' voices to be heard and support them with pay and benefits.

Hiring the right Superintendent is key to a new district. Take care of SpEd and protect electives while focusing on each school’s specific needs. Is passionate and has lots of in school experience which helps her understand the complexities of how to be a board member. She wants teachers to feel supported and have every advantage so that they can keep their schools running smoothly. Priorities are: salary and benefits, support teachers and classrooms, and innovate to meet future needs of students. 

Nicki Brammer (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 4 - Alpine, CH, Draper

Amber Bonner (Full endorsement)

Former ASD board member, current Utah PTA State leadership, and served on many USBE committees. Been involved in ASD schools for over 20 years. Willing to look at all budget options to protect class sizes and teacher compensation. Priorities: hiring a superintendent, making data driven financial decisions, and planning for the future. The new district needs to protect SpEd, aides, and teachers’ time. 

Said she feels it is critical that the district and our teacher’s union have a cordial working relationship. The Association needs to have a voice in policy and how to improve compensation and working conditions. She has previous experience as a board member which will help create the new district and has worked with legislators for many years to improve Public Education. 

  

Wendi Jensen (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 5- Lehi west

Jason Hart (Full Endorsement)

He is a former teacher, instructional coach, and currently is a district Elementary Math specialist in Jordan School District. He has a PhD Ed in Education. Priorities- Growth, safety & school climate, excellence in ed, fiscal responsibility. He wants to maintain compensation for teachers and see how to ease the workload of educators.

The Association is a partner because the board can’t know everything. As a current educator, he wants to take care of students and employees by having a seamless transition from ASD to the new district. Wants to make wise fiscal decisions while prioritizing students and looking at data to determine best options for balancing the budget. 

Melinda (Mindy) Quist (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 6 - South Lehi and AF

Tyler D. Bahr (Dual Recommendation)

Parents were ASD educators. He is currently the CFO for the SLC library. Priorities- class size, classroom resources, employee compensation, fiscal sustainability. Keeping what is working currently in ASD and being competitive is important for employee compensation. 

Welcomes anything the Association will give to the new board and wants good communication with employees to make sure their voice is heard. His finance background will help communicate issues related to the budget and will be clear on why they are doing it. Wants to maximize district funds and ensure his priorities will be accomplished. 

Jeanne-Marie Burrows (Dual Recommendation)

PTA in Lehi elementary, middle, and high schools. Hates HB267 and publicly supports the referendum. SCC for 10 years. Asking for public input on issues for the new district. Teachers are the reason students learn and need to retain them. 

The Association represents teachers for good to address issues. She wants to hear teachers’ concerns and make sure to address them- about salary, benefits, and work conditions. 

She has worked at state level and with the legislature to help increase Land Trust and fight against HB267. She will represent students and teachers as a board member. 

SEAT 7- AF

Stephanie Jones (Dual Recommendation)

Is a retired ASD educator as a teacher, librarian, and ASD Media Specialist. Wants a smooth transition with the key being to hire the best Superintendent. Wants to preserve programs and protect SpEd and ELD classes. Made it clear that she has the time, expertise, and commitment this moment demands. Feels that decisions we make now—on leadership, finances, teacher support, and student programs—will define the future of the new district.

Will fight for all current benefits and policies to establish the new district. Was a career association member and has been a UEA Policy Ambassador. The Association is essential to call out the board and protect teachers. 

Jason Theler (Dual Recommendation)

Is a former ASD teacher, principal, and district admin and is currently working at BYU. He wants to make sure all 3 districts work together to make sure students are not harmed. Need to have the district be competitive for employees in order to attract and retain the best. He believes that he has a proven record of educational leadership and has the commitment needed for being a school board member. 

He stated that AEA cares about the kids and teachers and should be an active partner to help the school board set new priorities. PD and collaboration need to be protected in the new district. Has a lot of depth to his exposure to all things it takes to run a district over his career.

                                                  Lake Mountain District (West):

SEAT 1 

Julie Myers (Full Endorsement)

A 26 year school librarian in ASD, husband is a former ASD teacher and career AEA member. Priorities- support teachers, strong SpEd programs, protect schools and communities, smart transparent growth plan, parents as partners, fiscal responsibility. 

She believes that the Association is a very prominent part of creating a district. The Association will help protect salary and benefits for employees. She wants to reduce training and keep teachers in the classroom as much as possible. She stated that she has lived the school life and it will help her as a board member. 

Ashley Lott (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 2 

Julie King (Full Endorsement)

Current ASD school board president and has served on board for 7 years. Has served on PTA at Riverview, Vista Heights, and Westlake. A degree in Family Sciences and a Masters degree in Constitutional Studies. Priorities are to take care of employees and speciality classes: CTE, ALL, ELD, DLI, etc. 

She wants to have conversations with the association and make it a priority. She wants to take care of employees and said she’ll have hard conversations when needed. Making sure employees are taken care of, she is always talking about solutions. Will protect OPEB in a trust for all districts. She has many connections with Legislators and fights to get funding for all the unfunded mandates by the legislature.

SEAT 3 

Michael O’Connor (Full Endorsement)

Is currently a teacher at Westlake HS. Priorities- Comprehensive schools (teach every program); retain and attract teachers; partner with parents; build trust. Doesn’t want to cut any programs or support for students or teachers. Will make the district a place where educators want to work and will maintain current salary and benefits and will push to make sure future salaries are competitive. 

Believes the Association creates a positive work environment for teachers and is a member of AEA. Stated he has the most experience with the ‘whole system’ of a district. This is due to having taught ESL, Health, middle school Social Studies, high school classes, coaching many sports, being an Athletic Director, his daughter is an ASD elementary teacher, and his wife is a school Registrar. He said it’s important to brand the district as positive and stronger for future improvements. 

Charity Judkins (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 4 

Ilene Strong (Full Endorsement)

A former teacher and administrator in ASD. Wants to support all employees to ensure students have all the help they need with programs like: coaches to support teachers, programs to support the ‘full student’- like Ag, CTE, etc. She feels that coaches, smaller class sizes, and other resources help teachers not be overworked.

She sees the Association as a partnership with the board to be the voice in each school and will help make sure employee concerns are heard. She also said she wanted to give teachers more strength and support and have them backed up by the admin. A collective voice is important to help employees stay in the district. She is a leader who understands budgets and schedules with schools. Her life experiences in schools will make her a good board member. 

Holland Rymer (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 5 

Matt  Isaacson (Full Endorsement)

His kids have all attended ASD schools; where has volunteered. His business background and building his current successful business gives him an understanding of budgets and financial needs of starting something new. He saw the anxiety of teachers during the district split election and decided to run for school board to help alleviate those anxieties. He said he could help by stepping up and giving back. Says he wants to protect and help teachers, decrease absenteeism, and fund SpEd. 

He wants to protect employees’ financial obligations and create a good culture for emotional support. He sees the association as the best resource, since they are the voice of what is happening in the classroom. He brings different experiences and perspectives with his professional Executive experiences. 

Amanda Clawson (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 6 

Melissa Sauser (Full Endorsement)

Served on a school board in Minnesota for more than a decade- has hired Superintendents and made agreements with other school districts. Has lobbied in Washington D.C. for Public Education Trustlands and SpEd issues. Has been on the PTA at Cedar Valley HS. Works part-time SpEd at CVHS. For the budget, she wants greater transparency.

Wants to ensure employees are treated like professionals. She wants to make sure employees understand they are valued by honoring all salary steps and lanes to attract teachers to transfer to the new district. She wants to do the research and talk with teachers - make sure we are doing what is working. She wants to make sure the board and Association work together and be present with concerns from the teachers. 

Marion Cline (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 7 

Edon Davenport (Dual Recommendation)

PTA president at Saratoga Shores. Masters in Human relations business with 15 years of grant writing and getting funds for schools and charities. Priorities- Growth for kids, support teachers, Fiscal responsibility, open communication. All 4 children have attended ASD schools and her mother taught for 30+ years in Kearns. She wants to make sure every child has a reason to come to school by providing specialty and elective classes.

Sees working with the association as a collaborative effort and can give a perspective to the board that board members don’t have. Wants to protect compensation and alleviate uncertainty teachers are feeling. Will work to keep coaches, collaboration, and PD for educators. She sees the impact teachers have on kids and wants to make sure they are confident in the district. 

Joylin Lincoln (Dual Recommendation)

Current ASD board member. Says she loves policy and is a policy expert. Shared that education is in her blood and has always been involved in education in Utah. She meets with legislators and the USBE often. Wants to provide opportunities to reach all types of students. Seeing PD and aides in classrooms will help prevent teachers being overwhelmed. She also said teachers are overburdened with meetings which takes away time from data & planning.

She said working with the association leads to better policy because more voices equals better results. Feels that the more the board talks to stakeholders, the more the board will learn. Wants to protect teachers by allowing district transfers to keep all years on the salary schedule. Her experience in education and on the board makes her “the real deal.”

                                      

                                                                                Timpanogos (South):

SEAT 1 - PG

Lori Bullock (Dual Recommendation)

24 years educator in ASD as a librarian at PGjr. PTA PG jr. Has lived in PG whole life and loves ASD. Priorities- hire superintendent, safe and supportive schools, academic excellence. Wants to offer competitive benefits and pay for employees to retain teachers. She understands what teachers go through everyday in the classroom, because she is in a school building working with them.

The Association is the way for employees to have a voice with the school board. She is a member of AEA. Need to create a good culture and climate by supporting teachers and administrators. She is still in the school working and understands what it takes to have a successful education for students. 

Guy L. Fugal (Dual Recommendation)

A former ASD board 20 years ago and current Mayor of Pleasant Grove. He has lots of history, knowledge and invested 19 years on the Alpine school board in the past. He wants to keep all programs and he wants to keep the retirement stipend, salary, and Benefits.  He does not want to come in and start from ground zero on policies and procedures. 

He feels what Alpine has is great policies and procedures in place already, so why start over.  He feels it is extremely important to get a great superintendent and a great business administrator hired in this district- if they do this great teachers will follow. He also stated working with the association is a must, the association has always had a great working relationship with the District and the board so why change that now.

SEAT 2 - Lindon

Jennifer Lyman (Full Endorsement)

Has a Business degree with experience in insurance, banking, and financial counseling. Has been on PTA, SCC, DCC and her husband is an ASD educator. Was asked to run by many employees of ASD and she wants to provide stability for them. Priorities- address budget deficit, retain and attract educators, cultivate stable learning environments.

Working with the association makes negotiations easier. She has served on ASD committees with AEA leadership and saw them as a voice for educators. Wants to protect steps + lanes, insurance and provide stability for employees. She is willing to make tough choices to continue quality education for students.  

John Gadd (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 3 - Vineyard

David H. Smith (Full Endorsement)

Is a retired teacher, principal, and district office admin for ASD. Kids all went to ASD. Teachers are the best way to help students, because they make the difference. A new Superintendent and their vision are key to a successful district. Wants the school board to function as a team in order to best serve the students, employees, and community.

Need to keep policies and have the Association prevent harm in the new district. Benefits and salary must be competitive to keep the best employees. His career experience in ASD will help him be a good member to ensure good views of education are implemented.  

Nikki Bristow (declined opportunity for meeting with AEA)

SEAT 4 - West Orem

Julie A. Walker (Dual Recommendation)

15 years on PTA and SCC in kids’ schools. Spouse was a career ASD teacher and AEA member. Priorities- support teachers, expand CTE, community transparency. Priorities- teacher pay, smaller class sizes, transparent budget. Very actively involved in fighting against the Orem City district split.

Must keep salary, retirement benefits, and rights for employees. The Association knows where the line is with changes to policy and procedures. It is the Association’s role to tell the board when to pull back. Her finance background will help the new district when working with budget. She is running to fight for the resources, respect, and trust employees deserve.

Ada Wilson (Dual Recommendation)

Is a current ASD board member. Very actively fought against the Orem City district split and the current ASD district split. She understands all children have different learning needs, so the district needs to support all teachers and educators. Member of United Way and UVU Education Department of Education. 

Need to protect employees beyond the 1 year required for salary and benefits. Having the Association voice will allow communication of concerns. Keeping a good relationship with the Association will help students and teachers. Ada will be the only possible carry-over board member from ASD, which will help establish a strong district. 

SEAT 5 - East Orem

Michele Sorensen (Full Endorsement)

Has a degree in Early Childhood education. Has served on PTA, SCC and is a Stronger Together leader who fought against the split. She lobbies for public education with the legislature and she has many connections with ASD employees at every level. Priorities- student success, empower teachers, strengthen public ed. 

She will consult with the association because they represent the voice of teachers’ needs. She will protect steps + lanes, salaries, and will advocate for teachers' work environment. She will try to retain teachers and programs to prevent a negative impact on students. She believes that her service track record and longevity in the community make her well qualified to be a board member. 

Emily Peterson (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 6 - Southeast Orem

Aerwyn Whitlock (Full Endorsement)

23 years involvement in ASD on PTA, SCC, DCC, and many district committees. Stronger Together leader against the split. Kids all attend ASD. Priorities- teacher support, parent voice, communicate with the community, proactive on issues, hire superintendent, fiscal responsibility. 

Wants to make sure employees are treated as professionals and protect collaboration. The Association can help the board understand consequences of changes and improve what is happening. Her leadership and experience will lead to a better district. Her only agenda is to help students and employees. 

Grace Rex (No endorsement or recommendation)

SEAT 7 - South Orem

Sterling Hilton (Full Endorsement)

BYU professor Ed leadership where he trains principals all along the Wasatch Front. Has over 20 years professional experience working with the public education system. All kids went to Orem schools- SpEd for 2 children gave him knowledge about SpEd. SCC member. Priorities- hire superintendent, divide assets equitably, and attract and retain the best teachers.

He hopes the work between the board and the association will continue. He wants all stakeholders’ voices to be at the table. He wants to take care of compensation because teachers are the greatest asset and resource. He has worked with many districts and has seen the pros and cons of how districts operate. Says his economics degree helps use data to make decisions. He cares about public education as an essential part of a democratic society.

Cara Kretschmer (did not respond to AEA requests to meet)

 

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