Education in Utah

I first met Natalie Gordon during my travels through out the blogosphere (Davis County Watch, and Woods Cross Citizen). I then met Natalie in person at the home of Democrat Jay Vance during a meet the candidates gathering he held at his home.

Natalie is a Republican who understands the importance of the public education system. Her blog is titled Education in Utah, and is a discussion of education policy in Utah and the United States, and how it affects the ability of Utah's children to receive a free quality public education.

Natalie's blog is Highly Recommended by The Utah Amicus! Please take a moment to review Natalie Gordon's, Education in Utah.

Here is Natalie's bio.

I am the mother of three children - sons in 5th and 2nd grade, and a four-year-old daughter.

I have a BA in Political Science from BYU, where I met my husband Ron, an attorney who works in state government. At his graduation from BYU, then-university-president Rex Lee spoke on the value of public service, encouraging us to consider it - we both did, and are grateful we have.

I serve on my city's planning commission. I am the chair of our School Community Council, which is where my passion for protecting our school trust lands and keeping the interest and dividends coming to our schools began. I have served on the State PTA Board of Directors and as Trust Land Commissioner for a little over a year (but the views on my blog are not the views of Utah PTA). One of the best parts of that job is that I am a member of the PTA Legislative Action Committee - I love being up on the hill with this group of people that I respect so much, working for Utah's children.

I have a passion for public education - and believe that we all have a responsibility to work to make our public schools the best they can be and ensure that every child receives a quality education. I believe, like Benjamin Franklin, that "an investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

Quality public education strengthens our democracy. As Thomas Jefferson said, "Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government."

I love my neighborhood school (which is why I volunteered to be PTA Membership Chair this year, and have spent the majority of my free time in the last week filling out membership cards for all our new members!

I also do History Day in the spring - last year we had Dr. Don Lind, Utah's very own astronaut, come - this year we're learning about the three branches of government - do you think Gary Herbert will come and do an assembly?)

I am proud to be a moderate, pro-education republican, like some of my heroes - Olene Walker, Afton Bradshaw (who will be missed) and Sheryl Allen.