LeAnn Wood

LeAnn Wood was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and lives in Kaysville, Utah. She earned a bachelor's degree in zoology from Brigham Young University in 1991.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Science in Zoology. My emphasis was in teratology. I spent the early years of our marriage studying what chemicals caused fetal birth defects. As our 5 children grew, I chose to change my focus from protecting the unborn to protecting all children and families.

25 years ago, I walked into my son’s school for the first day of kindergarten, and I didn’t leave. I chose to support my children and support their teachers. From math facts to reading groups, science fair judge and school community council chair. For my own child, I fought for 504 accommodations to support his high functioning autism and I didn’t stop with my five children.

For the last 1 0 years I have served on committees and boards at the State level to advocate for children and public education. I believe a quality public education is critical for our state and our nation. I am a #passionatepreparedparentvoice.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Family engagement in education is the one factor that overcomes socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Family engagement is a partnership between families and educators focused on helping individual students meet their goals. Board policies need to engage parents in the education of their child.Utah teachers are our family, our community members, and our neighbors. Utah teachers need to be respected as experts in their field. Board policies need to build teacher capacity and empower teachers to meet the individual needs of students.Strong leadership within our school creates a culture of learning and belonging. Quality principals help retain teachers and increase attendance. Board policies need to build strong leaders.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about assessment and accountability. It is critical that we hold our schools accountable, but we need to look at what is actually happening in schools. Utah currently rates our schools with a single letter grade that is based mostly on the growth and proficiency of students taking the statewide assessment at the end of the year. Many of our parent opt-out of this test, which impacts those schools negatively. It's time to get beyond the single end of the year assessment and look at what's happening within our schools both positive and negative. When we test our students, we need to have a way to share those results in a timely manner with teachers and parents so that our students can actually get the support they need to increase their academic learning.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Utah Constitution gives the "general control and supervision" of public education to the Utah State School Board. I believe there are four main purposes for the Utah State School Board. The first is to set the vision for education in Utah. What competencies do we want a K-12 student to have when they leave the Utah Public Education system. We create that vision through the standards setting process. The second role is rulemaking authority. We take the education laws that are passed by the Utah Legislature and we determine how they will be applied. This role is critical in determining what the State will mandate at the top level and how much flexibility and burden we place upon our local districts and schools. The third role is oversight. Every dollar that comes from the federal government and state legislature has a string attached. We make sure that our districts and schools are following the laws associated with the money they receive. Finally we play a support role. The State Board provides the teacher training, professional development, and support to our smaller districts.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Her children were grown up, her husband was working, and she was an avid quilter, so what made this vivacious woman dedicate so much time to crafts at a Cub Scout Day Camp? That was the question I wanted answered when I first met Mary Jo Brentari. Later, I would come to find out that the loss of her 13 year-old son a few years earlier had put her at a crossroads in her life, she could sit in a dark room in self-pity or she could work to save the lives of countless other young men.

Saving lives became her quest. A safari hat replaced her Native American crafts as the next year she took on the role of Cub Scout Day Camp Program Director. Following that, she would wear a space suit as Day Camp Director, dance the Chicken Dance better than those half her age, and work to earn Quality District as Island District Committee Chair. She would serve as the Mount Baker Council Training Chair, because she knew that every boy deserved a trained leader. I traveled with her on early morning ferry rides out to remote islands to train up a group of leaders for a new Scouting Unit. I walked the trails with her during National Camp School, and heard her tales of Philmont Experiences. If there was an area where there was no unit for boys to participate in, she created one and served as a leader until parents were ready to take on the responsibility.

I have never met anyone more dedicated to the Scouting program or more committed to doing things the right way. She is an example to all of what one person can do who chooses to look beyond their own losses and seeks to make a difference for others. Through her involvement as a local cub scout unit leader, Mary Jo personally made a difference in the lives of numerous young men. She created a foundation of scouting values within her community. She has changed the lives of those of us that have had the opportunity to work with her as we have come to realize that adversity can be overcome when we serve others

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official needs to listen and recognize that they do not always have the answers. An elected official needs to talk to the people that will most be impacted by a policy that is being created. We can't think we know best. An elected official needs to have good communication skills and be willing to provide information to their constituents and connect with them. An elected official needs to have integrity. An elected official running for the school board needs to be truly vested in the public education system and want to see it thrive. An elected official needs to remember that they represent ALL of their constituents, not just the ones they agree with politically.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the ability to take a complex issue and break it down so others can understand and apply it better. I am willing to look at all sides of an issue and try to make the best decisions based on all information. When I am not familiar with a topic I will study it out and learn and am not afraid to admit that I don't have the answer, but I will find the person that does. I believe that good leaders are willing to accept criticism, recognize their shortcomings, and learn from others. I have the time and the desire to reach out to others and I will listen.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It speaks to me as a women who wants to make a difference in my sphere, whether raising my family, being a supportive wife, or moving beyond myself as a productive citizen of my town, state, country, and world. My favorite quote in the book states, "My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds." I recognize that by myself, I cannot change the world, but I try to do what I can. I have another quote that lives on my wall in my office. Helen Keller once said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

I believe the responsibility of regulation and oversight are the most important. Holding districts and schools accountable to the students of Utah, but also passing policy that allows for flexibility and innovation at our local levels.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I don't believe that holders of this office need experience in government or politics. I think they DO need to have a vested interest in the public education system and an innate desire to see it thrive and provide meaningful learning opportunities for ALL children. I think they need to have been inside the schools and understand what our students and teachers are going through.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I believe that someone with this position needs to understand the specific roles of the State School Board. They need to value local control and not come in to this office with a desire to take over local districts and schools, but instead create policies that allow our districts and schools meet the individual needs of students. I think they need to have some understanding of education funding, standards and assessment, and other important education topics. I don't think they need to have been a teacher or administrator, but they need to have had some connections within the public education system so as to understand its vital role.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

After serving on Capitol Hill for 7 years as a child advocate following policies that affect children and families in the areas of education, safety, and health, LeAnn Wood is ready to hit the ground running as the next member of the Utah House of Representatives. She has spent 20 years volunteering at local, county, state, and national levels for PTA and the Boy Scouts of America. Her service has always been about doing what is best for families. Recently LeAnn's experience as a parent representative on the School Fees Task Force, the Early Childhood Education and Services Workgroup, and the Assessment and Accountability Policy Advisory Committee have given her the opportunity to help draft and implement policies at the state level. LeAnn is currently serving on the Utah PTA Board of Directors as the Advocacy Vice President and Federal Legislative Chair, where she oversees the legislative efforts of the organization at the state and national level. LeAnn is married to Darren Wood and they have 5 children and 1 grandchild. They have lived in Kaysville, Utah for nearly 13 years. LeAnn graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis on teratology.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will support policies that protect children and families. Each and every policy decision should be looked at through the lens of how it will affect our families, from education, tax policy, to business regulations. Education funding should allow for the greatest local flexibility and should be aligned with best practices. Best practices in Education must be focused on leadership, teachers, family engagement, student learning climate, and standard alignment. There is no "government funded" programs, they are all "taxpayer funded." It is important that we recognize in this economic crisis our citizens are struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, and manage their day to day lives. Government spending must be prioritized and limited.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education Funding, Assessment and Accountability, Tax Reform

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Her children were grown up, her husband was working, and she was an avid quilter, so what made this vivacious woman dedicate so much time to crafts at a Cub Scout Day Camp? That was the question I wanted answered when I first met Mary Jo Brentari. Later, I would come to find out that the loss of her 13 year-old son a few years earlier had put her at a crossroads in her life, she could sit in a dark room in self-pity or she could work to save the lives of countless other young men.

Saving lives became her quest. A safari hat replaced her Native American crafts as the next year she took on the role of Cub Scout Day Camp Program Director. Following that, she would wear a space suit as Day Camp Director, dance the Chicken Dance better than those half her age, and work to earn Quality District as Island District Committee Chair. She would serve as the Mount Baker Council Training Chair, because she knew that every boy deserved a trained leader. I traveled with her on early morning ferry rides out to remote islands to train up a group of leaders for a new Scouting Unit. I walked the trails with her during National Camp School, and heard her tales of Philmont Experiences. If there was an area where there was no unit for boys to participate in, she created one and served as a leader until parents were ready to take on the responsibility.

I have never met anyone more dedicated to the Scouting program or more committed to doing things the right way. She is an example to all of what one person can do who chooses to look beyond their own losses and seeks to make a difference for others. Through her involvement as a local cub scout unit leader, Mary Jo personally made a difference in the lives of numerous young men. She created a foundation of scouting values within her community. She has changed the lives of those of us that have had the opportunity to work with her as we have come to realize that adversity can be overcome when we serve others.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the ability to take a complex issue and break it down so others can understand and apply it better. I am willing to look at all sides of an issue and try to make the best decisions based on all information. When I am not familiar with a topic I will study it out and learn and am not afraid to admit that I don't have the answer, but I will find the person that does. I believe that good leaders are willing to accept criticism, recognize their shortcomings, and learn from others. I have the time and the desire to reach out to others and I will listen.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe a member of the Utah House of Representatives should represent the constituents in the district where they live. I believe that is done by developing relationships of trust with voters and listening. I am aware that a legislator will have constituents that think the exact opposite on certain issues. The important role is to reach out and help voters understand why you made the decision you did. I do not think it's the role of the legislator to tell voters that bills are too complicated or that voters do not have all of the information regarding a certain vote. If your voters do not understand or do not have the information then it is the role of the legislator to help them understand and provide the information. We are asked to serve with fidelity - that means loyalty. Loyalty to those who put us in office, loyalty to the party we are representing and most importantly loyalty to ourselves. We should not be pressured by leadership, by lobbyists, by threat of losing valued committee positions or anything else to vote against our own belief systems.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

It was January 28, 1986. I was 14 years old, sitting in a junior high classroom, where we anxiously watched the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Classroom to classroom and in the library, students were gathered around the screens to watch, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, become the first teacher in space. We held our breath with excitement. It was if every child's dream of becoming an astronaut was being realized through one regular woman who was going to change everything. 73 seconds into flight we watched a burst of fire as the shuttle erupted and pieces fell from the sky. I can still feel the horror of that day. In my childhood journal I read about the struggles of students who had anxiously waited for this day. A feeling of somberness and dread filled the school. Screens were quickly silenced and the school day continued. I wonder how many childhood dreams ended that day out of fear and unbelief.

What is your favorite book? Why?

One of my favorite books is "essentialism The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown. He lays out the criteria for determining what is essential so we can make a greater contribution doing those things that really matter.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The Utah House of Representatives is more responsive to the voters. As the entire House is reelected every two years, they tend to do a better job at representing their constituents through the votes during the session. The Senate often takes the long view of things. They can be less responsive as they are elected every four years and only half are reelected at a time. The Senate also tends to be more protective of its body.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe a state legislator should have some experience with policy making. This experience can be gained through local participation in boards or planning commissions, or at a county or state level participating in government work groups or task forces. Creating policy and seeing it implemented gives one an awareness of impact on various groups, unintended consequences, and seeing a topic through various lenses. I do not believe they have to have served in an elected position. In Utah, where we have a part-time legislature I believe that varied opinions are needed and necessary. The varied and unique life experiences of different legislators coming together will create better laws overall.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is one of respect for the critical role of each division of government. The governor respects the right of the state legislator in creating laws and monitoring the state appropriations. The state legislature respects the role of the governor as the executive branch. In areas where the executive branch as oversight I do not believe the legislature should then create laws that try to undermine the role of the governor.