Rebecca Roberts
Rebecca Roberts was surprised to learn she would run unopposed during last year’s election for the Carson City School Board District 2 seat. But it was still important to be ready to receive input from parents and educators for the term she’s about to serve, she said.
“I know you can't please everyone, but I feel like the important thing is to remember to be respectful of all the varying views and opinions,” Roberts told the Appeal.
The mother of three children currently enrolled in Carson City schools chose to become an advocate for them and other students by running for office for the first time. Roberts graduated from Utah Valley University with a certificate in early childhood education and said it was important for parents to be involved with their children’s academic and social performance in school.
Roberts will succeed outgoing Trustee Laurel Crossman, who is termed out after 12 years on the board. She said she appreciates the trust the community is placing in her to do the work ahead of her to support the students’ growth in the classroom.
“My hope is to be a bridge that creates unity and trust between home and school,” Roberts said.
While she has no agenda to push, one goal is to develop a closer appreciation for what district staff’s priorities and needs are on a daily basis in the schools.
“I’m kind of excited to take it all in and gain a deeper understanding of what parents are looking for in their children’s education and their time spent in school, as well as challenges in things that teachers and administrators face,” Roberts said. “I hope to be able to learn how to create a balance between those two because parents and teachers are both such important influences in our children's lives.”
She looks forward to encouraging more hands-on learning for kids since children develop at different paces, by different methods and through different experiences, she said.
“I think we all learn better if it's something you can experience versus somebody standing in front of a classroom talking to you,” she said.
Roberts, who has lived in Carson City for 10 years, said she is thankful for the opportunity to serve the community and children in the district.
“I really love this community and the people in it, and even though I was running unopposed, I was really impressed by the number of voters who still took the time to go out and vote and to fill in those bubbles,” she said. “I am really excited for their support and to get to know more families and more school staff and be a voice as a school board trustee.”