Joann (Joani) Stevens grew up in Davis County and her four children have all been in Davis County schools so she knows the district well. That positive experience fostered her desire to serve on the Davis School District Board of Education. She was sworn in on Jan. 7. Stevens is filling John Robison’s seat in Precinct 2.

“I’ve always enjoyed being involved in schools in any way I could,” said Stevens. “It’s neat to see people throughout the district working together and being engaged. I really appreciate the teachers and faculty.”

Stevens said people reached out and asked her to run. “I care about the community and kids and I wanted to make sure they have a positive experience and that they feel safe and welcome at school. That they have the opportunity to thrive in areas they excel at.”

What’s happening in the schools is a reflection of the community, she said. “I love to see the community get involved in our kids’ education. They offer their time and resources to contribute to the community. The Catalyst Center is working with the district to foster education with businesses, etc.”

If kids learn to be respectful they’ll be that way in the community, said Stevens. “What parents do makes a huge difference. It’s a huge help to the teacher if you’re reading to your kids, checking in and caring about what they’re learning.” 

Stevens said she doesn’t really have an agenda to what she wants to accomplish on the board. “So much is determined by the legislature. Community engagement is really important to me. I want to help educate parents to navigate the (school) system.”

As a parent, Stevens said she understands what it’s like to feel like no one cares or seems to listen to concerns. “I want to try and help mitigate that to let them know they have a voice and make sure they recognize the district does genuinely care.”

Teachers and administrators are professionals, she said. “They have studied education and know what they’re doing. A collaborative effort will make our schools better.”

Stevens said she’s excited to work with the other board members. “Our objective is to care about the students. That’s our top priority even if we don’t always agree. I feel like there will be a lot of cohesion. They really value and respect each other’s views. We can learn from each other.”

Get involved with the schools, said Stevens. “Reach out and see what they might need. Serve on a community council. When there’s an increase in trust land funding that money goes directly to the school and is allocated by the community council. It’s a great way to know what’s happening in your specific school. It’s a great way to get involved on a micro level. You can have a big impact.”

Be part of the solution by contributing to the community in a positive way, she said. “That’s part of what got me involved. Sometimes people complain but by doing something you can help be the solution.” λ