Joylin Lincoln

Protecting Students, Teachers, and Taxpayers

Effective policy begins with a clear purpose: supporting students, empowering teachers, and maintaining the confidence of taxpayers who fund our public schools.

Policies should be built on transparency, accountability, and trust. Every decision at the board level should connect back to what happens in the classroom and how it impacts learning.

When policies are clear, schools operate smoothly, teachers can focus on teaching, and families understand how and why decisions are made.

Fiscal policies should be easy for the public to understand and clearly show how funds reach classrooms. Educational policies should support teachers with flexibility while ensuring strong outcomes for students.

Core Priorities

• Transparent financial practices and clear public reporting
• Policies that keep decision-making close to students and schools
• Accountability measures that focus on results, not red tape
• Simplified systems that allow teachers to focus on instruction
• Open communication that strengthens public trust

Sound policy protects the interests of everyone involved: students who deserve quality education, teachers who dedicate their lives to it, and taxpayers who make it possible.

Programs Rooted in Family, Focused on Students

Strong educational programs begin with strong relationships between families, schools, and teachers. When parents are engaged and educators are supported, students thrive.

Programs should be designed to meet the needs of the whole child — academically, socially, and emotionally — while keeping families informed and involved.

My work leading statewide educator development has shown how effective programs can transform classrooms. From literacy and math initiatives to mentoring and teacher training, meaningful programs connect research-based practices with real classroom needs.

I also believe in offering students a variety of opportunities to explore their strengths through both academic and hands-on learning experiences. Programs that include career and technical education, arts, and community partnerships prepare students to succeed beyond graduation.

Program Priorities

• Family engagement that strengthens the connection between home and school
• Research-based instruction and targeted academic supports
• Professional learning and mentoring that help teachers grow
• Expanded opportunities in CTE, arts, and service learning
• Programs that support the social and emotional well-being of students
• Maintain and strengthen ALL (Accelerated Learning Lab) and DLI (Dual Language Immersion) programs to provide advanced and enriched learning opportunities

When programs are rooted in family and focused on students, schools become places where every child can reach their potential and every teacher feels empowered to make a difference.

Building a Strong Foundation for the Future

Progress means moving forward with purpose — not just making changes, but making things better for students, teachers, and families.

As our area continues to grow, we have a real opportunity to plan carefully and build schools that fit the needs of our community.

Growth provides us with the opportunity to think differently about how we design and utilize our buildings. When we plan new schools with a secondary purpose in mind — such as a community theater, recreation space, or gym that can later serve the neighborhood — we create lasting value for everyone.

This kind of planning helps us avoid becoming overbuilt, like in the Orem area, and makes it easier to adjust as enrollment shifts because the community can embrace those spaces for other meaningful uses.

Good progress takes teamwork. It comes when families, teachers, and the board are part of the conversation and decisions are made openly.

I believe in listening to feedback, sharing information clearly, and using data to inform choices, while keeping the community's voice at the forefront.

Progress Priorities

• Careful planning for new schools and future growth
• School design that includes flexible, secondary community uses
• Clear and transparent boundary studies that include public input beyond what is required in state code
• Budgets that balance growth, staffing, and sustainability
• Open communication between the board, schools, and families
• A focus on steady improvement and student success

Real progress happens when people feel heard and respected.

When we work together, we can build a district that serves our families well today and sets our students up for success in the future.