ISSUES

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Welcome! I'm Dr. Malia Hite, and I'm running for Timpanogos School Board Seat 4. Choose the Hite! I believe every child in Orem deserves a high-quality education. With the exciting opportunity to establish a brand new school district, my expertise and deep passion for public education will be crucial in designing a system that truly serves our students, supports our dedicated teachers, and meets the unique needs of every child.

Together, we can build a district that fosters student success, ensures fiscal responsibility, and empowers our educators, guiding our community toward brighter futures. As we embark on this journey to create the Timpanogos School District, it's vital we strategically select leadership, like our superintendent, to ensure a comprehensive and community-focused educational program, especially with our evolving student population. I am committed to making our district a place where families feel supported and students thrive.

LIST OF ISSUES

Championing Student Success

Every child in Orem deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. For me, student success in the Timpanogos School District means fostering academic excellence through robust curriculum and high expectations, while also nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared for their future, whether that's college, career, or other pathways.

My Approach:

Academic Rigor and Support: Implement evidence-based curriculum with high academic standards, coupled with targeted support systems like tutoring and remediation to ensure every student can achieve proficiency.
Personalized Learning: Advocate for differentiated instruction and varied learning pathways that recognize and cater to the individual learning styles, paces, and interests of our students. This includes robust support for students with disabilities and those who are gifted and talented.
Safe School Environments: Prioritize creating schools where all students feel physically and emotionally safe, respected, and included. This is the bedrock upon which learning thrives.
Future-Ready Skills: Integrate opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, preparing them for success beyond the K-12 system.
Community Engagement: Foster strong partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations to create a supportive ecosystem for student learning and well-being. I will champion initiatives that involve parents and community members directly in our schools.

Supporting Our Teachers

Our teachers are the heart of our schools. To provide the comprehensive and high-quality educational programs our students deserve, we must attract, retain, and profoundly support our educators. When teachers are valued and equipped with the resources they need, they can create the dynamic learning environments where students flourish.

My Approach:

Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Advocate for salaries and benefits that are competitive along the Wasatch front, recognizing the professionalism and dedication of our teaching staff.
Manageable Workload and Resources: Work to ensure teachers have manageable class sizes, adequate planning time, and access to the necessary instructional materials and technology.
Empowerment and Voice: Foster a culture where teachers are respected as professionals and have a genuine voice in school and district-level decision-making processes that affect their classrooms and students.
Positive School Culture: Champion initiatives that build a supportive and collaborative culture within our schools, where teachers feel appreciated, respected by administration, and part of a committed team. This is essential for morale and retention.
High-Quality Professional Development: Invest in meaningful and relevant professional development opportunities that empower teachers with the latest instructional strategies and tools to meet the varied needs of their students.

Get to Know Dr. Malia Hite

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

As we establish the Timpanogos School District, particularly with a declining student population, sound fiscal management is paramount. We must be diligent stewards of taxpayer money, ensuring every dollar is used effectively and transparently to benefit our students and schools.

My Approach:

Transparent Budgeting: Commit to a clear and understandable budgeting process, with opportunities for public input and scrutiny. Financial information should be easily accessible to the community.
Strategic Resource Allocation: Prioritize spending that directly impacts student learning and classroom support. We will make data-driven decisions to ensure resources are allocated to programs and services with proven effectiveness.
Efficiency and Innovation: Explore innovative solutions and best practices to maximize efficiency without compromising the quality of education. This includes carefully evaluating administrative overhead and seeking opportunities for cost-sharing or grants where appropriate.
Long-Term Financial Planning: Develop a sustainable financial plan that addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals, ensuring the district remains financially healthy and resilient for years to come. This includes being proactive in addressing the challenges posed by declining enrollment.
Business Administrator Selection: Advocate for a business adminsitrator with proven experience in strategic financial planning and resource management, especially in the context of new or evolving district structures.

Careful Superintendent Selection

The success of the new Timpanogos School District will significantly depend on the vision, experience, and character of our first superintendent. This is one of the most critical decisions the new school board will make. Selecting a leader with a proven track record, especially in strategic financial planning, resource management, and navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of new or evolving district structures, will be paramount to setting our district on a path to long-term stability and excellence.

My Approach:

Prioritize Relevant Experience: Advocate for a comprehensive and transparent search process that actively seeks candidates with demonstrated success in leading districts through periods of change or establishment, and who possess strong financial acumen.
Focus on Collaborative Leadership: Our ideal superintendent must be a skilled communicator and collaborator, capable of building strong relationships with the school board, teachers, staff, students, families, and the wider Orem community.
Commitment to Our Core Values: Champion the selection of a superintendent who is deeply committed to our district's foundational principles of student success, unwavering teacher support, and sound fiscal responsibility.
Vision for Innovation and Excellence: We need a leader who can not only manage the district effectively but also inspire innovation and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and academic excellence.
Community Involvement: Support a selection process that includes opportunities for community input to ensure our chosen leader understands and reflects the values and aspirations of our local context.