Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Alicia Alba
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Alicia Alba ran for election to the Alpine School District to represent District 5 in Utah. She did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 25, 2024.
Alba completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Alicia Alba was born in Orem, Utah. She graduated from Timpview High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 2002 and a graduate degree from Webster University in 2007. Her career experience includes working as an educator. She has been affiliated with Utah PTA and the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Alpine School District, Utah, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Alpine School District, District 5
Incumbent Mark Clement defeated John T. Gadd in the general election for Alpine School District, District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Clement (Nonpartisan)  | 65.1 | 15,147 |
 | John T. Gadd (Nonpartisan) | 34.9 | 8,135 | |
| Total votes: 23,282 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alpine School District, District 5
Incumbent Mark Clement and John T. Gadd defeated Tracy McMillan in the primary for Alpine School District, District 5 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Clement (Nonpartisan) | 48.5 | 4,512 |
| ✔ | | John T. Gadd (Nonpartisan) | 30.3 | 2,818 |
 | Tracy McMillan (Nonpartisan) | 21.2 | 1,975 | |
| Total votes: 9,305 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Alicia Alba (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Alba in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Alicia Alba completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Alba's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I grew up in Utah County, attended Brigham Young University, and taught elementary school in Alpine School District and Provo School District before moving to St. Louis, Missouri where I taught school for several more years. Our family moved back to Utah County 14 years ago. My husband, Jesse, and I currently reside in Lindon and have five children attending schools in the Alpine School District.
I am very passionate about service. I have previously served in many capacities in our local PTA’s and School Community Councils over the past decade. I have also held leadership roles in various humanitarian and advocacy organizations here in Utah. I am committed to working tirelessly to meet the unique needs of everyone in my stewardship. When I'm not engaged in advocacy, I love to travel, read, and spend time with my family.
- Advocacy: Every child has unique needs which must be met in order for them to reach their fullest potential. I believe it is essential that parents, teachers, and other community leaders find ways to partner together. This requires mutual respect, clear communication, and a willingness to bring people to the table. I believe decisions are best when they are made with input from the people who will be most impacted by them. As a school board representative, I pledge to be accessible, to actively listen to the people I represent, and to proactively seek input before making decisions.
- Accountability: I believe it is essential for school districts to be diligent in following all pertinent laws, policies, and best practices. When problems occur, I believe public servants have a responsibility to own their mistakes and work to fix them. Ends do not justify means. Also, schools boards have a responsibility to be transparent and open with providing robust and accurate data which will be used to drive decisions. As a school board representative, I pledge to work towards greater transparency and accountability in the Alpine School District.
- Having quality public education available to all our children is part of how we achieve the US Constitutional ideal of "promoting the general welfare." I am passionate about ensuring that our schools are equipped with the tools and resources they need to successfully meet the diverse needs of individual students.
I am passionate about ensuring that teachers and staff are adequately funded, that curriculum is appropriate and challenging, that schools districts are fiscally responsible and accountable, and that equal opportunities in education are available to all students. I am especially supportive of STEM and Arts programs as well as gifted, linguistic, and special education based programs which help provide differentiated instruction in our schools.
There are so many inspirational leaders in our world, but one who stands out to me at this moment in time is Hayley Smith, the founder of Lifting Hands International. She was serving as a volunteer at a refugee camp years ago when a boat filled with vulnerable individuals landed on the beach. She realized that there was a need for donations at these camps to be better organized and provided. So she started a non-profit to be the change she wanted to see. I've had the privilege of working with Lifting Hands International through the years and have been consistently impressed by their willingness to use communication and collaboration with the individuals in need and with the volunteers who serve them to meet their needs efficiently and effectively. I want to be like that. I want to be an individual who sees a need, who steps up and proactively leads out in meeting that need and making a difference in the lives of others.
"Have courage and be kind." This quote from the movie Cinderella captures the heart of my political philosophy. I am driven by compassion to make a positive difference for everyone within my sphere of influence, and I firmly believe in courageously standing by my values and principles in striving for good.
I believe elected officials need to be bridge builders. They need to be able to sincerely listen to the people they represent and work collaboratively to find creative solutions to problems we face. I believe leaders must be dedicated and willing to do the right thing, especially when challenging situations arise. Integrity, honesty, mutual respect, humility, and sincere engagement are all essential qualities of good leaders.
I bring people to the table. As a leader, I am very intentional about fostering relationships and ensuring that everyone who wants a voice at my table has one. I see great power and opportunity in connection, building on common ground, listening to a wide range of perspectives, bridge building, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to make their voice heard. I embrace diversity and unity, and I am passionate about upholding these ideals. I am also very effective at making plans, organizing, and leading a team of people to make things happen. This has been especially effective over the past few years as I've organized massively successful carnival fundraisers and theatrical productions at my children's school.
A school board member should be deeply engaged with the communities they represent. This means being willing to put in the hours to attend PTA and School Community Council meetings in addition to Board Meetings and Committee Meetings. It also means being accessible to the public in person, online, on the phone, and through other proactive means (including townhall and survey engagement) to ensure they are aware of the unique experiences and needs of students, parents, teachers, and everyone within the community they represent.
Additionally, school board members must be willing to put in the time to ensure they have a thorough understanding of issues before making decisions. They must be flexible and willing to adapt their perspective as they receive additional insights and information. They must maintain positive working relationships with district staff, with families, with legislators and city leaders, and with others who they must partner with in order to successfully serve students.
Additionally, school board members must be willing to put in the time to ensure they have a thorough understanding of issues before making decisions. They must be flexible and willing to adapt their perspective as they receive additional insights and information. They must maintain positive working relationships with district staff, with families, with legislators and city leaders, and with others who they must partner with in order to successfully serve students.
Our children are our legacy, and I am passionate about ensuring that every child in our society is able to access a free, quality education. I would like to leave behind a school district which is functioning more effectively and successfully than it was before I was elected.
When I was 6 years old, I remember tears coming to my teacher's eyes when astronauts perished in the Challenger explosion. As a young child, I didn't understand exactly what was happening, but I could see the sorrow and compassion that my teacher felt. This experience (among others) has inspired me to seek opportunities as I grew older to benefit people all across our nation and world who are facing distress and heartache.
My very first job was as an employee at a sheet music store. I worked there for several years to pay for piano lessons, and then I used my piano skills as an accompanist to pay for my college degree in education. Music has been a large part of my life, and I currently work part time as a piano instructor in my home. I am grateful for supportive family and for the positive influence that music has had on my life. As a school board member, I would work towards ensuring that every student in our district has a robust Arts program in their school.
I love "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. Her faith, hope, and compassion for all she encounters is inspiring.
I would love to journey through Narnia with the Pevensie siblings. I've always loved the world of Narnia and all the writings of C.S. Lewis.
"Scrub Scrub" from the new Wonka soundtrack. My family has really enjoyed how whimsical, fanciful, and fun that movie is.
I have loved ones who are currently battling cancer, and while it has been inspiring to see the way they've faced hard things with grace, grit, determination, optimism and humor, it has also been a very big struggle to watch people I love so dearly in pain and having such a hard time.
A school board member's primary responsibility is to represent their constituents at a district level in making decisions which take their communities' unique needs into account.
My constituents are the people who live in Pleasant Grove, east Lindon, and east American Fork. My constituents are also the parents and teachers of students in schools within my stewardship, even if their homes are located outside of our District 5 boundaries.
The first step is gaining a thorough understanding of what the collective and individual needs are. Maintaining open channels of communications and soliciting information from various groups is key. The second step would be making a plan for the most effective and efficient way to meet those needs while working within budget constraints. I believe in seeking creative solutions to problems, so rather than relying only on taxpayer dollars to fund our schools, I would also be proactive in looking towards grants, programs, and other ways to provide necessary resources and support to lead to the best possible outcomes.
I already have a strong relationship with the Utah State Board of Education, PTA, and with elected state and local leaders. I would continue to build these relationships as well as reach out specifically to the parents and teachers I represent to ensure they know their voice matters and that I am here to listen to their concerns and advocate for them.
Good teaching is based on connection. It is found when teachers have the ability to thoroughly understand the strengths and areas of needed improvement for each student in their class. This knowledge can be gained through a variety of qualitative/quantitative and informal/formal assessments which should be used to inform teaching. Good teaching then takes students from where they are to where they need to be. It seeks to meet every individual in their "zone of proximal development" and through scaffolding and differentiated instruction aids students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and strengths they need to become lifelong learners.
As a strong supporter of differentiated instruction, I would like to further expand opportunities to meet a wide range of students including programs for special education, multilingual learners, advanced learners, etc. I see a lot of value in the Career and Technology Education courses, AP courses, and concurrent enrollment courses, and other opportunities available in our high schools and would advocate to ensure those are available to every student who would like to participate in them.
I believe we are best served when we partner *with* our state legislature in addressing the financial needs of our schools. I appreciate the way our legislature has increased funding to our schools with an emphasis on ensuring taxpayer dollars make a direct impact in the classroom. I support increasing compensation for teachers and in being wise stewards of the taxpayer dollars allotted to our schools. Elected officials have a duty to be fiscally responsible.
Preparation is key. I believe it is important for us to take proactive steps to protect our students from harm- this includes making important upgrades to our buildings such as door cameras, front office accessibility tools, and seismic upgrades for aging facilities. Most of all though, it is essential that every school is empowered and guided to create plans and procedures for the possible situations that they may face, and these plans must be well understood and practiced in the school community. I have worked directly with School Community Councils in partnering with law enforcement to create plans which take into account the specific dynamics and needs of my children's schools, and as a school board member I would support similar steps being taken in every school across our district.
What do you call a witch on a beach?
A sandwich!!!
Through the efforts of parents and district staff I believe this change is already on the way, but I would like to eliminate the District Community Council. While it may have been an effective tool when it was first created, it has unfortunately been functioning as a wall instead of a bridge between elected School Board Members and the elected parents of each local School Community Council. There have also been many issues with a lack of transparency for the DCC where the roster has been secret, quarterly reports and minutes have been unavailable, etc. In its place, I would like to support greater connection and bridge building between school board members and the local school communities they have been elected to represent.
Another change I support that will hopefully also lead to increased connection and local representation between communities and elected officials is a district reconfiguration. I am supportive of pursuing through data and rigorous studies which examine the feasibility and potential ramifications of different options so that we can find solutions for an even better future for our students now and for generations to come.
Another change I support that will hopefully also lead to increased connection and local representation between communities and elected officials is a district reconfiguration. I am supportive of pursuing through data and rigorous studies which examine the feasibility and potential ramifications of different options so that we can find solutions for an even better future for our students now and for generations to come.
"Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care." An ideal learning environment is both nurturing and challenging. It is a place where experimenting is encouraged, mistakes and expected, and teaching moments are abundant. It is a place where every child knows they are valued and where every child knows they are valued and empowered by quality teachers, rigorous curriculum, and a supportive environment to understand their potential and achieve their goals.
I have an open door policy where I make myself accessible to parents. I invite them to reach out via email, text, phone call, or on social media. I especially appreciate hearing from individuals who may have a different perspective than my own as I believe diversity of opinions in a strength that can lead us to better solutions than we could come up with individually. I will also continue proactively attending SCC and PTA meetings in the schools I serve so I can connect directly with parents, teachers, and other school leaders.
In addition to advertising and offering competitive compensation packages, I believe it is important for us to build a supportive environment across our district where staff feel comfortable voicing their concerns and ideas. As we improve our work environment, we are better able to retain and attract quality candidates and have them join with us.
My concerns with Alpine School District's struggles to follow state and national laws and even their own policies are part of what inspired me to run. I have demonstrated my willingness to hold government entities accountable to the laws, even when doing so came at a great cost to me personally. I believe it is never too late to do the right thing, and that public officials must be circumspect and proactive in being transparent and accountable to all requisite statutes, policies, and standards. As a school board member, I will continue to work diligently toward this end.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 19, 2024
