Parents Know Best. Period.
Parents are the primary educators of their children—not the government.
My education in Behavioral Science - Family Studies taught me something that politicians often forget: families are the fundamental unit of society. When we strengthen families, we strengthen communities. When government tries to replace parental authority, it weakens both.
Utah's large families and limited education budgets mean we need to be smarter about how we invest in education. That means empowering parents with choices, reducing administrative bloat, and putting resources in classrooms—not district bureaucracies.
No one knows a child better than their parents. You have the right to know what your children are being taught, to review curriculum materials, and to opt out of content that conflicts with your family's values. No exceptions. No bureaucratic runarounds. I'll fight to ensure that transparency isn't optional—it's the standard. When parents are empowered with information and genuine partnership with educators, students thrive.
Utah ranks 50th in per-pupil spending, yet too much of what we do spend never reaches a classroom. Teachers buy supplies out of their own pockets while administrative budgets grow. That's backwards. I'll push for reforms that direct funding to teachers and students—not consultants and central office overhead. Every dollar should be felt where it matters most: in the classroom where your child sits every day.
AI is transforming how we work and learn—and our kids will graduate into a world shaped by it. I meet weekly with some of the nation's top AI and cybersecurity engineers, so I understand both the opportunity and the risks. Utah's students need the critical thinking skills to use these tools wisely, not be replaced by them. I'll advocate for curriculum that prepares the next generation to lead with technology, not follow it blindly.
Voters approved splitting Alpine School District into three new districts, including Lake Mountain District serving Eagle Mountain. I respect that vote and will work to ensure the transition serves families well. Smaller districts mean local control, reduced bureaucracy, and decisions made closer to the communities they affect. Parents and teachers deserve a district that knows their schools by name—not a distant administration managing from miles away.
As a husband and father, every policy decision I consider gets filtered through one question: "How does this affect Utah families?" My education in Behavioral Science - Family Studies wasn't just academic—it shaped how I see the world.
Strong families build strong communities. Government policies should strengthen families, not replace them. When we empower parents to make the best decisions for their children, we get better outcomes than any one-size-fits-all mandate could ever achieve.
"I trust Utah parents to make the right choices for their children. Government should support that trust, not undermine it."
Help bring parent-focused education policy to the Utah Senate
Sources