Joann Brown
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Joann Brown ran for election to the Nebo School District to represent District 2 in Utah. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Joann Brown earned a high school diploma from Mountain View High School and a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1999. Her career experience includes working as a program director. Brown has been affiliated with the Refuge Utah, Utah Board of Education, and Utah PTA Mapleton City.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Nebo School District, Utah, elections (2022)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Kristen Betts and Joann Brown advanced from the primary for Nebo School District, District 2.
Endorsements
To view Brown's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.
2022
Video for Ballotpedia
Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released Oct. 6, 2022
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Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joann Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Joann Brown is an experienced community leader and a candidate for Nebo School Board. She has resided in Mapleton for the past 15 years, serving as director and advisor of the Mapleton Youth City Council for the past 9 years. Joann has been heavily involved in the community and in the schools, volunteering, sitting on school Community Councils, leading and helping develop local Nebo & Provo PTA leaders as PTA Region Director, supporting teachers and students, and actively advocating for and teaching leadership skills to the youth.
Joann is a champion for teachers and kids and supports common-sense policies that help our children & educators thrive. She is a listener who is passionate about finding common ground with all and especially values strong community connection.
Joann and her husband Mike raised their four children with a love of service, education and life-long learning. Joann serves on several boards in the community and state. She has always been a heartfelt supporter of teachers and education and is passionate about making the world a better place.
- I am committed to supporting our students, with a focus on creating safe schools that create an environment that helps our kids thrive emotionally and physically. I believe that it is important to approach all issues that arise with transparency and understanding, and I will work to support policy that is for the benefit of all children in our district.
- I am committed to being a voice for Nebo Parents and our Community. I am an active part of several community and state boards, and I commit to attending the local school and PTA meetings to best understand what our local school and community needs are. Through my years of service and involvement in the city and community, I am the perfect choice to represent Nebo School District.
- I am committed to supporting our teachers and staff and will prioritize addressing shortages, satisfaction, and retention. I value our teachers and their expertise - and I strongly believe that it is of important to advocate for common-sense and supportive policies that help our educators thrive.
Policies that affect children, families, and communities -- especially educational policies -- are always on my radar. I feel it is so important to look at all sides of an issue, and encourage supportive, common-sense policies that help kids and educators thrive.
I am open-minded and empathetic. I research issues and talk to people about their views and ideas. I love education, I am a supporter of kids and youth, and I can see the big picture. I am dependable, friendly, and open to conversations. I have a diverse range of knowledge about education, community engagement, government, and leadership.
School boards oversee public schools, and represent those that live within the district. School board members create and adopt district policies, hire the superintendent, attend board meetings, and take actions that serve students and align with determining priorities of the district. As a school board member, your responsibility is to be a representative of the community and advocate for students and teachers. School board members must be fiscally responsible and work to use taxpayers' money in the best way possible.
School Board members help set policies for the district and local schools and are responsible for fiscal management and budget creation. School Boards are responsible for the big-picture goals, which focus on the educational experience for all students. School boards determine the priorities for money expenditures, as well as understanding and determining curriculums. School board members should serve as a liaison between the district and the community.
Residents of Mapleton and North Spanish Fork
Nebo School District has an Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Specialist that focuses on the issues that the district experiences, and as a school board member, I believe it is important to work closely with the DEI specialist to understand what is happening in the district. Being inclusive and aware of the diverse needs of the families in our district is one of my top priorities. I have spent the past 4 years advocating for increased parental involvement in schools; it is one of the most important indicators of student success. It is so important to be aware of what prevents parents from being involved in the schools. In the Nebo School district, like all districts, we have a wide range of student demographics, but schools often hesitate to change how certain programs run to accommodate all families. PTA meetings, School Community Council Meetings, and parent/child activities must be more inclusive. PTA/PTC boards need to explore options that include more families, and schools could consider holding their School Community Council meetings at a time when more parents can participate. Schools need to do what they can to have translators available, and volunteer boards need to make extra effort to have representation.
Community relationships are key to success in education. I have a relationship with the Mapleton City Council members. I will work to build relationships with local and state businesses that focus on technology; I'd love to look into the possibility of forming partnerships with those who are invested in technical education.
Physical safety is a priority for me; I know many parents feel there is a need to make our schools safer. I support finding and using that which will ensure the most effective student and staff safety. It is important to understand the safety measures that would be the most advantageous to use in our district, exploring ideas and methods that other schools and districts are using. It is important for schools to conduct surveys and work with their community councils & parent volunteers to make sure they are doing what is best for their school community.
Nebo School District has a fantastic plan in place that addresses the mental health needs of all. The district uses a researched and effective 3-tier system that helps teachers and administration know what resources to direct a student to; and based on my current knowledge, I think it's a great approach. I support continued awareness and data-driven evidence to gauge if the system is working as planned, and adjustments to the current system if it fails in any way. District Mental Health support and awareness are important, and I support them fully.
It is important for School Board members to participate in local school meetings, attend school activities, and be engaged in the local schools in their jurisdiction to better address the needs of the district. Active involvement encourages relationships, and relationships and connections are key to understanding and collaboration. It is important to be aware of what prevents parents from being involved in the schools. Programs, activities, events, and meetings need to be adjusted to fit the majority of the school population, even when it feels inconvenient or hard.
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
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 6, 2022
