Core Values
- A happy teacher makes for a happy classroom
- A student who is supported at school and home is a student set up for success
- A teacher who is supported at school & district levels is set up for success
- Parents involved in the classroom and at school events make for better relationships & communication with teachers and administrators
Jordan School Board Mission:
"Students in Jordan School District will reach their potential to achieve academically, prosper economically, and contribute responsibly to society."
I firmly believe in educating and raising a brighter generation than came before. Our future as a state, nation and world community is precarious and we need to prepare our students to go out into the world as kind, responsible citizens of society.
Questions from Citizens
In this section you'll find questions that were emailed to Erin from JSD parents. Hopefully these questions and answers will give you insight into Erin's thoughts and ideals and show that she is always willing to hear all viewpoints and work with individuals in any kind of situation. Erin believes a good leader is someone who listens to others around them, taking in all information as a whole, and is humble enough to say "I was wrong" when they find the truth.
As your representative on JSD Erin will reach out to teachers and parents and seek different view points on issues in order to make an educated decision and stand up for her constituents.
Please feel free to email Erin your questions at: electerinbarrow@gmail.com
(Names and some personal information has been left out.)
Q: I am a parent in JSD who works with a bigger group of parents and we are interested in your feelings on cell phone policy in schools.
Do you support Senator Fillmore’s Bill?
What degree of restriction do you feel is most effective - class time only or all-day for elementary and/orsecondary?
A: I am in favor of a cell phone ban at schools. I've been watching the school board meetings and attended the forum Board Member Dunford put together a couple weeks ago. It has been very enlightening hearing the results from the in depth survey the board had done and to hear experts speak on this topic. It was also helpful to hear from so many parents and educators at the last School Board public hearing.
I think a bell to bell in all levels would be the most beneficial. I hear board members and others talk about how lunchrooms are not a place where students are engaging with each other face to face and that is concerning to me.
I can also see and understand where parents' concerns are with needing to get a hold of their child during the day, or the "hassle" of locking and unlocking pouches if students frequently leave campus. I think that if plans (similar to other schools that already use pouches) can be put into place it would help resolve some of these potential issues.
I think the way the current JSD board is headed with bell to bell in Elem & Middle Schools, and only during class time in HS will be beneficial for students. But I'd like to explore bell to bell in HS down the road.
There was also talk/questions about educating students on healthy cellphone use. This might be a good thing to implement down the road as a separate class, but would take time planning and money. As of right now I wouldn't want that responsibility to be put on our day to day teachers. They are already focused on teaching a specific curriculum and we shouldn't add something else to their plate.
When first reading about Senator Fillmore's Bill I felt it was a little confusing and redundant. It made it seem like this would be law, but left a hole for districts to say cell phones are ok to use.
After re-reading it I see now that the Senator's Bill is trying to make districts more proactive in the cell phone issue. It tells districts to make a "no cell phone" policy or to actively state how/when a cell phone is appropriate to use in school. I'm fine with this bill and am glad it's making districts look more closely at the cell phone issues that are in their own areas.
Q: Your website seems to show a great deal of support for teachers and the classroom, which I like. I have one kid who already teaches SpEd and two more of my kids want to be teachers. But I have to ask, what are your thoughts on Utah Parents United?
A: I believe that parents should be involved in a child's education (as much as their situation allows.) I know there are many refugee families and underprivileged families in JSD and those parents can only do so much when they're trying to simply survive.
Children should have support from teachers, parents and administrators to truly thrive in their education journey. I think Parents should support teachers as best they can and all parties involved should lead from a place of understanding for different viewpoints.
I do not agree with UPU from the tidbits I've heard about them. I feel they attack teachers too much and stir up issues instead of trying to work hand in hand with teachers and districts.
I align more with Utah Parents for Teachers who strive to work with a teacher and not against. I think public education is a vital tool to building a strong community and should be bolstered, not torn down.
Q: What do you think about boys using girls bathrooms, or playing in girls sports or vice versa?
A: Regarding bathrooms I think having a gender neutral option in schools would be a good middle ground option. But I do understand that might be difficult because then students might be having to walk a very long distance to use a bathroom or using a single occupancy bathroom normally set aside for teachers only. From what I’ve read and heard about transgender individuals (including my own family members) they don’t seek out ways to abuse or attack others, it’s almost always the opposite with others lashing out at them for being different. For their safety a separate bathroom might be best.
Q: What do you think of the furry situation that is going on in Nebo District?
A: I know what furries are but wasn’t aware of this situation in Nebo so I looked up news articles about it from Fox 13, KSL and the Salt Lake Tribune. They all pretty much reported the same thing. It appears that there was hostility in the schools that got blown out of proportion. The articles said that only headbands with animal ears were being worn, not full masks for suits. I know that masks covering a person's face aren’t allowed in schools for safety reasons, so I would hope that masks would not be tolerated at all. In the articles the district said that there were a lot of rumors that are unfounded. It is my opinion that nothing should be allowed in classrooms that distracts from a safe learning environment for all students. If there is something that makes a student uncomfortable it should be looked into and addressed so that all students can feel safe at school. Each situation is different and should be looked into to find facts and taken care of on an individual basis. Not only should students be learning academically in schools but there should be an atmosphere of respect for all and if lines are crossed or rules broken it should be addressed and steps taken to correct those issues.
Q: What are your thoughts on wit and wisdom? Did you look into the program at all?
A: When JSD announced they would be switching to Wit & Wisdom my husband and I went to the open house they had to talk to the employees and see the books. We were impressed and thought the individual books, as opposed to one giant text book, would be more engaging for the students. We liked that the curriculum would help a student stretch and grow and think more critically and hopefully be encouraged to ask more engaging questions. I was able to participate in the review of the books, but was placed in the Kinder/1st grade book group. I thought the books for that age group were appropriate.
Q: How do you feel about all day kindergarten? Should it be manditory?
A: Concerning all day kindergarten I don’t think it would be wise to make it mandatory. I currently have a Kindergartener and talk to other Kinder parents and hear a wide variety of experiences. There are benefits to all day because the kids get to have extra classes like library, art, stem and PE, but I know lots of kids aren’t ready for all day and it wouldn’t be healthy for them emotionally to be forced to go all day. Parents know what their child can handle and should have the option to choose half or full day. I am grateful that JSD has made all-day kinder available in every elementary school because I know that working families do rely on that option. My child is in all day because he is one of the oldest in the class and I knew he was ready for it.