Many of you know how important our schools are to me, and as mayor I believe they are a critical thread in the fabric of our community. There are great things happening in all of our schools, whether district, charter, or private, and it is an honor to be invited to speak to students, meet with them at the capitol, and attend spelling bees, D.A.R.E. graduations, plays, assemblies, cultural nights, classroom presentations, constitution events, and music and athletic events. I am often welcomed with open arms, high fives, and sometimes even hand-drawn pictures (that I save in my office). Our students remind me of how the simplest gestures of kindness can go a long way and how grateful I am to be part of such a wonderful community.
In March, I had the opportunity to attend a special inclusion assembly with Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox at Mountain Creek Middle School, where students with special needs and their peer tutors performed skits demonstrating ways we can include each other on the bus, in the classroom, and on the playing field. It was wonderful to see our students, teachers, and administrators working together to build a sense of community and belonging for everyone.
Each year I am able to travel throughout South Jordan and the Jordan School District with other board members of the Jordan Education Foundation to surprise our Outstanding Educators of the Year. We are blessed to have so many incredible teachers striving to lead our children to a bright future and for beautiful facilities for them to feel safe and welcome in.
Thank you to everyone in this community for your contributions that make this possible and to those who are teaching and leading children, whether formally, through donations, as a volunteer, or by example. Together we are making a difference.