Presidential Award-winning teacher solves the problems with math
By Jet Burnham
Math is innovative and fun when taught by a nationally recognized expert.
The math teacher who has the loudest classroom and whose students are constantly out of their seats has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Riverton High School teacher Melissa Brown was one of six Utah educators to be awarded the prestigious award after being named a semifinalist two years ago.
“I want students to do math, not sit and watch me do math and copy it down,” Brown said. “So, as much as I can, I try to limit the amount of talking I’m doing and have students do more of the talking.”
Carolyn Gough, Jordan District Administrator of Teaching and Learning, is impressed with the creative and personalized methods Brown uses to make math visible and tangible.
“Sometimes you see kids writing on desks with dry erase markers and sometimes you see them handling manipulatives and doing something that makes sense visually, because so many students really need to see it,” she said. “She’s not opposed to using words, having them write out their thinking. That is huge. I can’t even tell you how big of a deal that is in terms of helping students learn. Writing out thinking really matters when you’re trying to help kids be thoughtful about their approach to math.”
Brown also has fun with her classes. She’ll challenge students to solve problems to find puzzle pieces in the room to complete a
puzzle or to earn facial features to turn a potato into a Mr. Potato Head character. Calculus students apply their understanding of the concepts of minimizing and maximizing to design efficient and cost effective packaging for a product. Statistics students gather data at grocery stores.
Melinda Van Komen, who teaches across the hall from Brown, said her own children,
who took Brown’s classes, still remember class-specific inside jokes.
“She’s just a genius at creating a classroom culture,” Van Komen said. “Melissa just understands how important that feeling of a culture for a classroom is and she just would allow it to happen organically. But I know that behind the scenes, she’s got a method to her madness. It’s not just about being silly, it’s
about making kids feel really good when they walk in her room.”
Jonathan Haag, who co-teaches a math class with Brown, said connecting with and having fun with students is the key to fostering an openness to learning.
“If they’re in a good mood and they’re involved and engaged in it, then we know we can get them to understand the concepts,” he said. “The problem is can we get them to try? If they’re not trying, then we need to do something different to get the effort there, because we know we can get it. They’ve just got to be engaged and sometimes it needs a different method.”
GAP teacher Amy Goodrich, who helps students recover credits, said she used to hear a lot of students complain about math—“I can’t do math, I don’t understand, I don’t get it, I’m bad at it.”
Several years ago, Brown worked with Goodrich to develop a curriculum for specific credit recovery classes so students could qualify for graduation. It created some good experiences and wins for students in math and the negative comments stopped.
Students are up and engaging with each other in Presidential Teaching Award Winner Melissa Brown’s math classes. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Brown)
Ladies Take the Lead with Experience, Passion and Purpose at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals
“Ido this work for my father, for families like ours, and ultimately, for the glory of God,” said Martha Boutsikakis Gamble, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Holy Cross Hospital - West Valley and registered nurse for over 20 years.
For many, a career in healthcare is more of a calling - a decision made that was shaped by past experiences with loved ones, or even personal health scares of their own. This type of desire to care for others and passion to pursue a career in healthcare rings especially true for the ladies who are taking the lead at our CommonSpirit Health Holy Cross Hospitals in West Jordan and West Valley City.
Martha was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents from Crete, Greece. While her parents spoke conversational English, her role as the eldest child often involved translating for them in settings where language wasn’t necessarily the barrier but rather, cultural understanding wasthis included translating at her dad’s appointments with his dietitian.
“When I was only about 11 or 12 years old, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,” said Martha. “It quickly became clear during his appointments that the meal recommendations we were receiving didn’t align with the food we grew up eating, nor did they consider the cultural context of our meals.”
In an attempt to adapt to the dietitian’s recommendations, the meals Martha and her family ate were repetitive… for nearly a decade.
“These early experiences fostered in me a calling—not only to serve but to advocate for
communities like mine, where language and culture can create unseen barriers to quality healthcare,” said Martha.
For Christine McSweeney, President of Holy Cross Hospitals - Jordan Valley and West Valley, her path to healthcare leadership began as a passion to explore the science behind nutrition and how to properly fuel our bodies.
“I’m a science nerd at heart,” said Christine. “I get excited about seeing people and myself thrive and improve through proper nutrition and care”
Christine’s career began at Banner Health in Arizona where she was a clinical dietitian. Over the course of 20 years, Christine climbed the ranks to eventually serve as Chief Operating Officer of a large academic center in downtown Phoenix before she joined the CommonSpirit Health leadership team five years ago, stepping into her current President role in 2023.
“My experience here in Utah has been like no other. It is full of neighbors helping neighbors, strong family values, amazing outdoor beauty and a true haven for healthy lifestyles. This way of living and thinking really brings me back to my roots as a dietitian” said Christine. “In addition, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the people we have working for CommonSpirit in the Greater Salt Lake market are loyal, dedicated and lean into our mission with their values first!”
Katie Flores, CNO at Holy Cross HospitalMountain Point and Interim CNO at Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley, kicked off her healthcare
career in 2001 as a registered nurse - initially caring for patients at the bedside in Med/Surg and in the Emergency Department.
Over the years, Katie transitioned into leadership roles and has been serving as CNO for the last 10 years. A passionate caregiver, Katie’s background actually started with a dream to work in broadcast media… but that quickly changed.
“I realized early on that broadcast wasn’t the right fit for me - I felt a lack of connection and fulfillment so I pursued a career that would allow me to make a meaningful impact on others,” said Katie. “After going through some personal life experiences that led me to seek healthcare myself, I decided to make a change. I went back to school to pursue a career in healthcare—one that I could feel passionate about every day and truly connect with on a deeper level.”
Though different backgrounds and experiences fuel this leadership team’s passion to do what they do every day, Christine shared that the common thread between them all is, “This team of women lead with strength, confidence, curiosity, determination and heart…. it is present in everything we do and apparent in the quality of care our hospitals provide. I cannot wait to see all we continue to accomplish, together.”
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
Riverton honors businesses and employees in the city
The annual awards event was held at the Old Dome Meeting Hall during the Riverton State of the City address.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
During his State of the City address in February, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs recognized people and businesses who have improved the lives of people in the community. In conjunction with the South Valley Chamber, Riverton City announced its 2024 business and community award recipients at the Old Dome Meeting Hall (1452 W. 12600 South).
“The city has worked hard to provide and foster a business-friendly environment,” Staggs said. “In 2018, we became the first city in the state to eliminate the business license fee…We like to think that Riverton is the ideal place for businesses to thrive and we think that our record proves it.”
Riverton’s Business of the Year is Peterson’s Fresh Market (1784 W. 12600 South), owned by Monte Peterson and Jan Horrocks. The store supports charitable initiatives, sponsors city events and partners with schools and nonprofits to foster community connection. Considered a cornerstone of Riverton, Peterson’s Fresh Market embodies the spirit of a hometown grocery store.
Nicki Bullard was selected as the Business Woman of the Year. She and her husband Steve Bullard run Bullard Fire, a company that specializes in protective gear for emergency services personnel. The home-based business serves all of Utah and Wyoming.
“We work here, we live here. Riverton just has a small-town feel. There are great
people in the city and the South Valley Chamber is like family,” Bullard said. “We are actually setting up a fire extinguisher day with Riverton City to help out small businesses.”
Business Man of the Year was awarded to Nathan Freeman, owner and operator of the Chick-fil-A at Mountain View Village (4627 W. Partridge Hill Lane). He employs 100 team members at the popular eatery and has the vision to be the “Most Caring Company.” Freeman sponsors Riverton community events and feels blessed to live in his dream town with his dream job.
The South Valley Chamber Apex Award was presented to Carmella Anderson of Carmella’s Cuisine (12652 S. 2700 West). Anderson’s passion for food, family and friends, along with her dedication to customer service, has made her catering company a valued part of the community.
“We’re a small, woman-owned business and it was extremely nice [to receive the award]. I’m just more of a behind-thescenes person. I don’t like a lot of attention,” Anderson said. “It was validating and fulfilling and very appreciated.”
Unified Fire Authority Captain Darren Park was presented with the city’s Excellence in Public Safety Award. Park is a 31year veteran of the fire service and a resident of Riverton. He also serves as chair of the Riverton City Planning Commission. Described by colleagues as a “selfless leader,” Park is the heavy rescue captain at Fire Station 121.
The Outstanding City Employee Award was given to Riley Burgess of the Riverton Public Works Department. He was recognized for his strong work ethic and commitment to excellence that he demonstrates on the job and in the community.
Intermountain Health Riverton Hospi-
tal was presented with the Mayor’s Service Award for its role as a pillar of care and community support.
“We are deeply honored to receive the Riverton City Mayor’s Service Award. This recognition reflects our commitment to community health and well-being through outreach, education and wellness initiatives,” said Intermountain Health Riverton Hospital’s Hospital Administrator, Todd Neubert. “Thanks to our caregivers for their dedication and efforts to support our community.”
The hospital has sponsored city events and initiatives including Riverton Town Days, Mission Slim Possible and Public Safety Night.
“A huge thank you to Riverton City
for hosting such a fantastic event and to all the businesses, leaders and public servants who continue to shape the future of our community,” the South Valley Chamber posted on its Instagram page. “We look forward to another year of growth, collaboration and success.”
Since 2013, Riverton businesses have built more than three million square feet of new commercial development, including Mountain View Village, Costco and the Intermountain Health Riverton Hospital expansion. The city welcomed 86 new businesses in 2024 and 134 home-based businesses. For more information about the award recipients, visit RivertonUtah. gov. l
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(From left) Riverton City Councilmember Tish Buroker, Mayor Trent Staggs, South Valley Chamber President Jay Francis, Apex Award winner Carmella Anderson, Councilmember Tawnee McCay and Councilmember Spencer Haymond recognize Anderson’s achievement during the 2024 business and community award celebration. (Photo courtesy of Riverton City)
AI technology spouts new experience at Mountain View Village
Water fountain is the second in the country to feature this motion-activated “symphony.”
Mountain View Village and its large water fountain now has a new ripple to its effect.
Aquarius Interactive™, a new patented artificial intelligence technology created by design-build construction company Outside the Lines, was recently installed and will respond to visitor’s movements by shooting water jets up into the air or changing light colors, or both.
Outside the Lines CEO J. Wickham Zimmerman said the amenity, designed to attract guests and increase lengths of stay at the property, is the first AI technology offering consumers control of the water, light and effects based on motion alone.
“Imagine you’re at your favorite shopping center, and a guest stands and lifts their arm. Suddenly a jet of water streams 50 feet into the air. Like a maestro, the guest raises both arms and, with no wires, wands, or other devices, controls a visual symphony of water, lights, and extraordinary effects. This is the power of Aquarius Interactive™,” Zimmerman said in a press release. “Depend-
ing on how the fountain is programmed, which can change through the use of AI based on crowd engagement, it can interact with guests in a number of ways, such as mimicking movements, chaseand-follow, or almost anything you can imagine.”
The fountain at Mountain View Village is the second water feature in the nation enhanced with Aquarius technology. The first was in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Powered by AI, the technology uses machine learning principles to improve its performance, aiming to increase immersive experiences for audiences. The system detects users’ location and motion and responds with displays of water, lights, and effects all without having to touch the fountain.
According to Zimmerman, the interactive technology is the first of its kind.
“As the retail and hospitality landscape evolves, demand for ‘retailtainment,’ experiential destinations and immersive technology is pushing new boundaries,” he said. “With Aquarius Interactive™, we’ve created something that feels like magic and has never been seen before. It’s a breakthrough technology, and we’re proud to bring it to market.” l
When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.
Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
The water feature at Mountain View Village will now respond to visitor’s movements by shooting water jets up into the air or changing light colors. (Photo courtesy Outside the Lines)\
“One of the biggest things that as a GAP teacher I see with students is they’re failing all their math classes and they just stay in that downward spiral,” Goodrich said. “And so I usually have them placed in one of her classes and then things turn around, and it just creates a whole kind of a ripple effect with everything else.”
Last year, Brown helped 117 students outside of her regular classes complete makeup work which she had customized for each of them.
Colleagues said Brown meets students where they are, is fair and always gives them another chance. She also has fun and celebrates their wins and she strives to build-up others. Van Komen said Brown’s patience is inspiring.
“She just goes back and back and back with those kids who would honestly rather be left alone, and so because I’ve seen that example, I’ll take another crack at a kid who’s really struggling,” Van Komen said.
Brown said she struggled learning math in her own educational experience and said a good teacher turned things around for her.
The fact that math is hard is what makes it so rewarding to learn and gives those who struggle a sense of accomplishment, Brown believes.
“Nobody’s going to ever come up to you really fast and ask you, ‘Can you solve this quadratic equation?’ I mean, come on, that just doesn’t happen. I’m not under some delusion that that happens,” Brown said. “But I like the struggle it provides students. I like the sense of accomplishment. I like that it leads them to try things they didn’t think they could do.”
Brown expects her students to try and her classroom is a judgement-free place where mistakes are made, redos are commonplace and anyone can answer questions.
She also expects students to learn life skills in her classes. She incorporates opportunities for students in her advanced math classes to teach the class something to help them develop skills in public speaking, critical thinking and planning.
“Realistically, I think no matter what your career trajectory or focus is outside of school, social interaction is key—how you can work with your peers, how you can communicate ideas to an individual,” Brown said. “I just think that’s so vital in anything we do. And I think technology has made it so we don’t have to interact as much with actual live people, and these students need to practice those skills. That’s what school is for, to learn skills we can use later in life. And so when I know most likely no one’s going to ask them something crazy, like, ‘Does this infinite series converge?’ No, but they might be asked to do a presentation in front of a group, or just to sit in a group and discuss a problem and come up with a plan of attack. And so I think they get a little more comfortable doing that and I think it’s really important.”
Van Komen said Brown embodies everything that makes a great teacher.
“She is a very educated educator, so she knows what she’s doing,” she said. “She studied all the methodologies, all the different ways to teach, and in addition to that, she really enjoys what she does and enjoys the kids. So it’s kind of that combination of really understanding what to do, and how to do it and when to do it, with her passion for the profession.”
Goodrich believes Brown may be one of the busiest teachers in the school.
“She puts in long hours because she’s covering so much content from lower levels to AP, so she teaches it all,” she said.
As head of the math department, Brown expects all math teachers to teach all levels of classes and to co-teach two classes a day.
Haag said co-taught classes, with two licensed math teachers customizing instruction, are more fun and engaging for both students and teachers. He enjoys co-teaching with Brown.
“She’s insanely knowledgeable about everything, so it doesn’t matter what the concept is, we’re just able to play off each other so easily,” Haag said. “It’s great because we’re both involved in the lesson—it’s not one person teaching and the other person standing in the back. We are both active in the lesson, and so there’s not really a chance for the kids to hide.”
Brown said co-teaching also shares the workload and allows for teachers to use “some strategies that can be a little bit chaotic.”
She said the co-taught classes are popular with students, too.
“Students are giving us overwhelmingly positive feedback. They like it because maybe one teacher does it one way they don’t quite understand, but they can understand the other method the other teacher did, and it’s easier to get questions answered when there’s two adults in the room,” she said.
Brown’s reinvention of the math department has encouraged teachers to rethink their instructional methods.
“She’s not afraid to say, ‘Hey, we need to be looking out for not just doing the same old, same old, and look for ways to get higher engagement, finding ways that have been proven to help students learn the concept more, not just because that’s how you’ve always done it, or that’s what you’re comfortable with,’” Haag said.
Brown has been teaching for 24 years. She shares her methodologies and philosophies with other teachers as an instructional coach. Brown credits her own mentors with helping her become a nationally recognized teacher.
“I’m not the same teacher today that I was 10 or 12 years ago, and I think that’s because of the people that had enough faith in me that I surrounded myself with that made it such that I wanted to try to change,” Brown said. “If it hadn’t been for people that I respect, who have given me so much assistance and support, there’s no way I would be the
teacher I am today, or be able to do what I do on a daily basis.”
Gough, who was principal at Riverton High School for nine years, has been impressed with Brown’s deep understanding of instructional strategies and pedagogy, and her use of task-based and inquiry-based questions to make math relevant to students. She nominated Brown for the Presidential Award because she is “breaking out of the old fashioned mold of ineffective math classes” and “inspires kids to think creatively and critically.”
“The old way of doing math, where a teacher gets up at the board, they talk through the homework problems, they ask if
there’s any questions, they let kids do their homework—that is not enough. It cannot be enough anymore,” Gough said. “Melissa is really keying into there has to be hands-on. There has to be opportunities for kids to teach each other in collaboration, conversation, getting up, going to a whiteboard, writing on desks, spending time in small groups, using words, talking with each other, sharing, having rich conversations about math concepts. And that’s what she’s doing. And that is not typical of an average math class. We need more teachers to think like that.” l
Melissa Brown’s students complete math problems to earn parts to create a Mr. Potato Head. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Brown)
At Riverton High School, engaging activities keep students interested in learning in Melissa Brown’s math classes. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Brown)
Mayor touts city’s ‘reinvigorating phase’ in State of the City
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Riverton is transitioning from an “invigoration phase” to an “age of maturity”
Mayor Trent Staggs said in his annual State of the City address in early February.
2025 marks 12 years for Staggs serving the city as an elected official.
“And the last decade,” he told those in attendance. “I think all of us that have lived here in Riverton, we’ve recognized significant progress, a lot of change that we’ve undergone here in the last decade.”
He called that decade a “reinvigoration phase as a city.” The city was growing previously, he said, but he highlighted the businesses, smart housing development, city beautifications, infrastructure projects and self-provided services like law enforcement to emphasize the city’s growth.
Between an increase in sales tax revenues and low utility fees, “that I think is a confirmation that our plans have been successful,” he said.
But as the city reaches its buildout, the mayor noted the city is only 12 square miles, the sales tax revenue will start to plateau, which is why Staggs called the next phase an age of maturity as city officials need to remain diligent on being efficient.
Staggs spoke of four primary impacts to
the community: beautification, public infrastructure, finance and economic development. Beautification and Public Infrastructure
The city’s water source changed in 2014, Staggs said, as it transitioned to the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and the city has kept water rates low or close to what they were a decade ago. They’ve done it through procuring state grants for the installation of their secondary water meters and a federal grant that will help the city reengage Riverton’s Green Well, the city’s largest city well. With the help of Salt Lake County, the city will install a reverse osmosis plant to improve water quality.
Staggs said he hopes the Bangerter Highway interchanges will be complete within the next 10 months. Then all four interchanges in Riverton will be complete at Redwood, 2700 West, 12600 South and 13400 South.
“It’s going to provide a significant improvement to our traffic,” he said.
Parks saw three new pavilions installed, 120 trees planted, batting cages at CR Hamilton park constructed, Jordan River gazebo project completed and an ADA playground at Canyon View Park added. Going forward there are two new parks planned for the city’s west side and a new pedestrian bridge going across 13400 South at the Welby Jacob Canal (4150 West).
Finance
Staggs touted the city’s financial effi-
ciencies, highlighting the low utility rate and low rate of full-time employees. He said it illustrates their “ability to do more with less.”
The move to create its own law enforcement has saved over $21 million for taxpayers, Staggs said.
Exiting the countywide tax district for fire, he added, has saved almost $2 million.
He noted the city was recognized by the Utah Taxpayers Association for having the 14th lowest municipal tax burden in the state, lowest in the southwest part of the valley.
“We’re proud of our fiscally conservative principles and the courage demonstrated by staff and elected officials to live them every day,” he said.
Economic Development
“The city has worked hard to provide and foster a business-friendly environment,” Staggs said, highlighting a 2018 decision to eliminate business license fees.
He added they consolidated their fee schedule this year that eliminated 85 additional fees.
“We like to think that Riverton is the ideal place for businesses to thrive, and we think our record proves that,” he said.
Since 2013, Riverton businesses have built over three million square feet of commercial development. Last year they registered 86 new businesses and 134 home-based businesses he said.
Coming up, 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurants will be built across from City Hall along with a Western Commercial District between Bangerter and Mountain View Corridor.
For the next decade, as the city approaches its full buildout, Staggs emphasized the need for smart growth and keeping municipal service expenses to a minimum.
“I think that Riverton is really uniquely positioned to take full advantage here in the next decade,” he said. “More importantly, it will, I believe, remain the most conservative, fiscally conservative, hometown-community-feel city that we all love and that we’ve come to expect.” l
Mayor Trent Staggs speaks during his annual State of the City address. (Screenshot)
After challenging regular season, Silverwolves bow out of postseason in second round
Playing in a difficult region, the Riverton girls basketball team fought hard and earned four league victories.
By Josh McFadden
Justabout every time the Riverton girls basketball team took the floor, the players knew they were going to be in for a battle. And still, the Silverwolves had a respectable showing, finishing 4-6 in league play.
In a difficult region, Region 2, that features defending Class 6A runner-up Copper Hills, along with strong opponents in Bingham and Mountain Ridge, Riverton had its work cut out for them. The Silverwolves placed fourth in the region and finished the regular season with a 13-9 mark.
“I feel like we have really had a really good season and definitely took a big step this year as a program,” head coach Jonathan Haag said.
Riverton made big strides in Haag’s third season at the helm of the Silverwolves’ program. The team was 4-19 last season and won just once in 10 region outings. In 2024–25, Riverton opened up with three losses in league play before finishing 4-3 down the stretch. The biggest moment of the regular season came on Feb. 4 when Riverton de-
feated Copper Hills 43-42 at home. It was the only loss the Grizzlies suffered in Region 2.
“We have shown that we are capable of playing with anyone, with our highlight victory being a thrilling victory over the No. 1 6A team in the state, Copper Hills,” Haag said.
In the victory over Copper Hills, Riverton scored 28 points in the second half after scoring 15 in the first two quarters. Maggie Hamblin scored a team-high 15 points, all on three-pointers. She also added four rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Faythe Stauffer contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. The win was also sweet considering earlier in the season, on Jan. 14, Riverton had lost to Copper Hills in a 67-33 rout.
In league action, Riverton also defeated Herriman twice—66-54 on Jan. 23 and 44-29 in the regular-season finale on Feb. 13—and upended Corner Canyon 58-46 on Jan. 21. Riverton was 9-3 in nonregion games, with the three defeats coming by a total of 13 points.
Stauffer, a senior guard, was the team’s top performer and leader. She led the Silverwolves in scoring with an average of 16.7 points a game. Stauffer chipped in 4.2 rebounds a game (good enough for second on the team) and was second in assists (2.8 a game) and first in steals (just under three a contest). She was held to single figures in points just twice on the season. She had 20
points or more in a game six times, with a season-best 25 points on Dec. 6 at home against Skyridge. She recorded seven rebounds in a game three different times and had a season-high six assists in the win over Skyridge. She also had seven steals at Cyprus on Dec. 10.
Hamblin, a junior forward complemented Stauffer with 8.2 points a game to go along with nine rebounds a game, topping the team. Hamblin had some massive rebounding efforts this season, including 17 at Davis on Dec. 12 and 16 at Taylorsville on Dec. 27. Hamblin’s best scoring output of the season came on Dec. 19 at Syracuse.
Junior guard Gabby Murdock wasn’t far behind, totaling 158 points during the regular season for a per-game average of 7.2. She had a season-high 15 points at home against Weber on Jan. 7 in the final contest before Region 2 action tipped off. Yet another junior, guard Halle Talbot, scored 5.1 points a game and dished out 3.1 assists a game to lead Riverton.
The Silverwolves lost in the 6A state tournament second round to defending threepeat champs Lone Peak.
The 2025–26 campaign could be a promising one for Riverton.
Only four seniors make up the team’s varsity roster, while several younger players will be eligible to return next season. Hamblin, Murdock and Talbot should be the top
players when play resumes this November. Sophomore guard Kenadee Farnsworth, who averaged nearly five points a game this past regular season, will likely take on a bigger role. l
Riverton’s Maggie Hamblin takes a shot in a game earlier this season. Hamblin was a key player for the Silverwolves this season and helped the team to 13 regular-season victories. (Photo by Dave Sanderson)
Cultivating family culture: Meet the impressive fifth generation of RGS Exteriors and Construction
Who knows what else the next generation will bring to the company.
By Rebecca Olds rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
RGS
Exteriors and Construction owner
Tim Brown Jr. is the fourth generation in his family to run the business. At 14 years old he started working with his father Tim Brown Sr. to learn “how to work,” but he told his son that he didn’t want him to stay in the business forever because he expected him to “have a better life.”
“Ironically enough, I think that I have an amazing life, better than I can even imagine,” Tim Brown Jr. said.
Since partnering with his father in 2000, together they expanded the business to not only include the original gutter service but to be a one-stop shop for anything home exterior.
By being a family-led business, they also make their customers feel like they are a part of that family with personalized service. The reason they became a “one-stop shop,” Brown said, was to give the community a trustworthy option for all of their home exterior needs.
Four generations of the company have been trusted by the wider Utah community to help with needs from gutters to full exterior renovations and despite what his father wished for him, Brown remained in the business and is even passing that same work ethic and company culture to his four kids as the fifth generation of the family-owned company.
“There’s not an advertisement that we have that doesn’t have our generational picture,” he said. “It’s to show and to tell everybody what we care about and what we’re going to do.”
Ranging in age from 18 to 24, Brown said his kids have been involved since the same age he started. All four have found ways to stay involved despite full schedules of school, athletics and more throughout the years.
Connor (18)
Brown described his youngest son, Connor Brown as “Mr. Everything,” alluding to his involvement in a lot at school. The 14-year-old start time to work in the family business has helped cultivate a work ethic that translates to school.
“He’s a student body president, Sterling scholar, captain of the wrestling and football teams and an academic all-state in both football and wrestling,” Brown said. “I mean, he just does it all, so he doesn’t have a lot of time to work, but when he does, he just comes and works in the shop.”
Adalee (20)
While in school full time to become a
“There’s not an advertisement that we have that doesn’t have our generational picture,” said Tim Brown Jr., owner of RGS. “It’s to show and to tell everybody what we care about and what we’re going to do.”
nurse practitioner, Adalee Brown works on the company’s social media presence. She started at the age of 16, sweeping the shop as her first job.
Currently, she creates posts on Facebook and Instagram highlighting the happenings in the company.
“If she has time this year, what we’re going to have her do is go out on job sites with customers and talk to them and highlight what they’ve done,” Brown said.
The larger goal closer to the end of the year is to create a brand ambassador program to highlight more customer testimonials and expand the social media presence of RGS, making customers an even larger portion of the company’s focus.
Kaden (22)
The only full-time employee of the fifth generation, Kaden Brown works on the backend of the website. He started full time about a year ago. He’s currently in school to become a programmer and is using that knowledge to improve the online experience of RGS.
But he was involved long before his programming days, Brown said.
“Before he did that, he worked really kind of as a grunt, sweeping the floors, going out to job sites, taking trailers, going to the dump, just kind of being a project assistant and doing all the tedious things just to teach him how to work,” Brown said, recalling his similar experience during his
teen years.
The two oldest boys even worked in the company’s full sheet metal shop where RGS does their custom bending projects for homes, working their way up in the company like everyone else.
Talmage (24)
Talmage Brown is the oldest son. He’s currently attending college in Southern Utah playing football and is the farthest away from home.
“We work hard, every generation of the company does,” Talmage said. “It is a great place to work and grow in this industry, I’m very blessed to have been there so long and have the opportunity to grow with it.”
For Brown, his oldest could be the reason the company expands further south in the future.
“If he doesn’t make it to the NFL, which is his dream, he is probably going to be involved in the company,” Brown said. “In the next five years, we’ll have a new division of RGS exteriors in southern Utah, because that’s going to be an opportunity for my son to get his feet wet in the business and do that in the southern Utah area.”
Brown said that his kids are critical to the culture that has been a part of the company since its beginning.
“I think having my kids around continues to solidify the culture and how important the culture is to us,” Brown said. “It’s not just my family, but we’re like family
within a family— we have a ton of family working for us and together.”
As an example of the culture, he pointed to his sales team.
Despite the national presence of the company, which in other companies feeds competition among salespeople, Brown said his sales team is the opposite.
“They have a text group where, when somebody sells something, they text it, and it’s always congratulations,” he said. “They always want to help each other.”
Cultivating that culture within the company expands to a culture of caring outside of the company for customers.
Keeping with the family theme, many teams in the company include father-son duos.
“Summary from the top down to the bottom is that everybody’s really there to help each other,” Brown said.
RGS trains their employees regularly, introduces new products every one to two years and continues to impress customers with their business, shown in their overall 4.9 star Google review.
Brown said that just like the company has grown to include much more than when it first started with gutters, he’s excited to see what the future holds.
Who knows what else the next generation will bring to the company as they plan to be around for a lot longer still. l
RIVERTON REVIEW
Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
A Decade of Growth and a Bright Future Ahead
By Mayor Trent Staggs
Riverton City held a fantastic State of the City and awards ceremony last month. I thought it suitable to summarize my speech here and further extend my heartfelt appreciation to the many individuals who have contributed to the progress of our city.
A Decade of Transformation
Over the past decade, Riverton has experienced significant change and progress. We’ve moved from a period of reinvigoration to a stage of buildout and maturity. Our city has seen incredible growth in business development, smart housing initiatives, and infrastructure improvements, all while maintaining the lowest utility fees in our part of the valley. Our economic development strategies have been effective, with sales tax revenue tripling from $4 million to $12.5 million, enabling us to cut property taxes while ensuring a stable and prosperous future that saves taxpayer money.
Beautification and Infrastructure
Riverton’s commitment to beautification and infrastructure
development has also been a priority. We’ve renovated City Hall, adopted a new flag and brand, installed “Welcome to Riverton” signage, and built a Veterans Memorial to honor our local heroes. Our parks and community spaces have also seen substantial improvements, including the restoration of the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center and new civic center plaza, the construction of new playgrounds, and the installation of secondary water meters, which will save residents millions of dollars in the long run.
Significant transportation upgrades have been completed or being finalized this year, including major enhancements to Bangerter Highway interchanges and pedestrianfriendly improvements such as new sidewalks and trails. Our advocacy efforts have also secured the UTA bus routes to Riverton starting in the next few months, providing muchneeded public transit options for residents.
Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth
Riverton has remained steadfast in its commitment to fiscal discipline. Our utility fees remain the lowest in the southwest part of the valley, and we’ve successfully reduced bonded debt to the lowest level in 25 years. The transition to our own law enforcement service has resulted in over $21 million in property tax savings, while our
independent fire service district has saved an additional $2 million.
Our pro-business policies have fueled economic development, with over three million square feet of commercial space added since 2013. New businesses continue to open, and both the western side of the city along with the commercial corridor near city hall is poised for further expansion, bringing additional retail, dining, and entertainment opportunities to Riverton.
Looking Ahead
As we approach full buildout, maintaining efficient city services while fostering development that sustains our high quality of life will be crucial. We will continue to invest in public safety by strengthening our police force and enhancing emergency services. Infrastructure improvements and responsible financial management and innovations will ensure Riverton remains a desirable and prosperous community for generations to come.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as your mayor. Riverton’s future is bright, and I am confident that through continued collaboration, fiscal prudence, and a shared vision for our city, we will sustain the vibrant, hometown atmosphere that makes Riverton such a special place to live.
We’ve renovated City Hall, adopted a new flag and brand, installed “Welcome to Riverton” signage, and built a Veterans Memorial to honor our local heroes.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Trent Staggs - Mayor
Andy Pierucci - District 1
Troy McDougal - District 2
Tawnee McCay - District 3
Tish Buroker - District 4
Spencer Haymond - District 5
COUNCIL MESSAGE
What is a PAFR and Should I Care?
By Council Member Tish Buroker
CITY MEETINGS
CITY COUNCIL
March, 4 & 18, 7 p.m.
PLANNING COMMISSION
March, 13 & 27, 6:30 p.m.
CONTACT US rivertonutah.gov 801-254-0704
Report a problem at rivertonutah.gov/report UPCOMING
Each year, Riverton City finances are audited by an independent auditing firm. In 2024, the audit was performed by the firm of HBME. During the audit, compliance requirements are tested in the following areas: fund balance, justice court, fraud risk, governmental fees, public treasurer’s bond, restricted taxes, related restricted revenue (such as police and fire services), and compliance with the open and public meetings act.
City employees and elected officials take these audits very seriously. They provide us with feedback regarding weaknesses and potential improvements. Ensuring that tax dollars are spent wisely and in the best interest of taxpayers is a primary responsibility of your elected officials.
Having served on the audit committee for several years, I am always eager to view the latest audit. It is with pleasure that I can report that the conclusion of the audit team indicates that Riverton continues to perform at a very high level. In the audit for 2024, no deficiencies were identified. Detailed information can be found in the ACFR (Annual
Comprehensive Financial Report). This report is 133 pages long and is available to any resident that requests a copy.
However, because this report is so inclusive, it is not necessarily an easy-to-read document. Thus, the PAFR (Popular Annual Financial Report). This report is only 10 pages long and contains an easy-to-understand summary of the city’s financial activities. Riverton City has received national recognition for the PAFR and has been awarded for outstanding achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for each of the last 13 years. This report is also publicly available, and I encourage residents to read it. You can pick up a hard copy at the front desk in the recreation department or access the digital
copy at rivertonutah.gov/finance/ reports.php.
There are several easy-to-read bar graphs—such as one on page 7—that shows that the total debt-per-capita (resident) has reduced from $996.00 in 2020 to $708.00 in 2024. It also shows the top employers in Riverton with the top three being Jordan School District, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Riverton Hospital.
As I review the PAFR and ACFR, I am so proud to live in Riverton. We are financially sound, fiscally conservative, and community oriented. Please reach out to your elected officials with any questions or concerns.
SPRING CLEAN UP DAYS
Riverton City is sponsoring two Spring Clean Up Days with community dumpsters at two locations. Residents are invited to spruce up their yards and homes those days and dispose of waste at the community dumpsters for free.
Saturday, April 5 and 12 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Riverton City Park, 1452 W 12600 S Western Springs Park, 4570 W Goshute Drive
PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE
Why Fire Engines Respond with Ambulances to EMS Calls
By Chief Wade Walkins
In many emergency medical situations, both fire engines and ambulances respond together. This dual response is essential for ensuring faster patient care, sufficient manpower, and efficient resource allocation. Here’s why fire engines and ladder trucks respond with ambulances.
Faster Response Times
To minimize community impact and ensure the fastest possible response, Riverton City has strategically placed fire stations throughout the city, equipping firefighters with advanced training as paramedics or EMTs. Every fire engine and ambulance is electronically tracked, allowing dispatchers to send the closest available unit to an emergency.
ventions, such as CPR or emergency medications, like epinephrine for allergic reactions. In severe cases, such as cardiac arrest or trauma, every second counts—immediate treatment can significantly increase survival rates and reduce long-term health impacts.
By continuously refining response strategies and leveraging technology, Riverton City remains committed to protecting lives while reducing the overall impact of emergencies on the community.
“This dual response is essential for ensuring faster patient care, sufficient manpower, and efficient resource allocation.”
This precision in response is critical for administering lifesaving inter-
Resource Efficiency and Scene Safety
By ensuring seamless teamwork between all responders to include law enforcement, Riverton City and Unified Fire Authority enhance emergency response efficiency, improving patient outcomes while reducing the overall impact of medical emergencies on the community.
Additionally, Firefighters assist with patient extrication in car accidents, lift assists for immobile patients, and scene stabilization in hazardous environments. They also support law enforcement and hazardous materials teams, ensuring a safer response.
In conclusion, the combined response of fire engines and ambulances ensures faster, more effective patient care and transport to definitive care that ultimately saves lives. This system maximizes resources and improves outcomes for those in medical distress when seconds count.
UPCOMING EVENTS RIVERTON
Be part of a Riverton tradition and come participate in one of the valley’s best races. Medals and prizes will be awarded for participants and winners.
Riverton Half Marathon, 10K & 5K is on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Races begin at 9 a.m. at Riverton City Park. Register at: rivertonutah.gov/half
Town Days Parade Entry Applications
Thousands of happy citizens gather for the Riverton Town Days Parade—don’t miss this incredible opportunity to showcase your business or organization! Sign up today. Apply online at rivertonutah.gov/parade.
• Application Deadline: Friday, June 13 Parade: Thursday, July 3, 6:30 p.m.
Start Smart Sports For Kids 3-5 Years
This program is designed to help children and parents develop the skills necessary to have a positive start with organized sports. Parents will work one-on-one with their children during four 1-hour classes. Cost is $30
• Classes Start April 29, Start times at 5pm and 6pm Register at rivertonutah.gov/startsmart
Hope Walk for Suicide Awareness
Join us at Riverton’s annual Hope Walk for suicide awareness. Together, we walk to show those who are struggling that they are not alone and that our community stands with them.
• Saturday, March 8, 9 a.m., Riverton High School
For 140 years, families have come to trust Larkin Mortuary as the leading funeral service provider along the Wasatch Front. Family owned and managed for seven generations, we are committed to providing meaningful, healing experiences for every family who turns to us for guidance.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
3/13/25 Thursday @ 12 PM
Larkin Sunset Lawn: 2350 E 1300 S, SLC, 84108
3/18/25 Tuesday @ 12 PM & 6 PM
The Chateau at Le Jardin: 1910 E Dimple Dell Rd, Sandy 3/26/25 Wednesday @ 12 PM
Elysium Legal: 1802 W South Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan
3/27/25 Wednesday @ 12 PM
Elysium Legal: 1802 W South Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan
Lutheran Church offers hybrid approach to build relationships in homeschooling
Concordia principal Deanna Smith said the hybrid program is a chance for homeschoolers from kindergarten to sixth grade to get more involved with kids in the community their age.
By Rebecca Olds rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
It’s been about five months since Concordia Lutheran Elementary School and Learning Center in Riverton implemented a new hybrid home school approach and welcomed eight new students to their school.
Concordia principal Deanna Smith said it’s a chance for homeschoolers from kindergarten to sixth grade to get more involved with kids in the community their age.
“We run our traditional school, and then our homeschool kids ajust see right into what we already do,” Smith said. “It was an easy transition.”
She said homeschooled kids’ parents are wondering “how do we get our kids involved in outside situations so that they can see situations outside of home.”
Rachel Haymond, Riverton resident and parent of Graham and Harry who attend Concordia, said it’s been great for her two boys to interact with other children who aren’t their sib-
lings and gain “different perspectives.”
The school, on the grounds of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, includes activities such as reading Bible verses and Christian morals but doesn’t include strong religious teaching, Haymond said.
Haymond, whose family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that it’s been a perfect balance of strong education in smaller classes, diverse viewpoints and Christian morals.
“The whole experience has been wonderful for them, and I think it’s really cool how they’ve integrated homeschoolers into their day,” Haymond said.
The schedule for the school year is flexible to accommodate different types of homeschooled students and make it the easiest for them to participate. Parents can pick and choose to have their children attend on select days in the afternoon or two full days every week in the school.
Subjects offered in the program differ depending on the day of the week. Monday afternoons focus on art, science and physical education. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, kids work on Latin, social studies, coding and keyboarding. On Wednesday afternoons, students can be seen learning art, ukulele/guitar, science and life skills.
“Families have a lot of options on how to make our schedule fit their schedule,” Smith said.
Two part-time teachers enter the school a few times a week to teach Latin and music, the three full-time teachers teach the rest.
New kids have not only benefited from the program, but the kids who’ve attended Concordia previously have benefited from knowing them.
Smith explained that for Veterans Day, Haymond’s father was invited to present to the class about his experience in war.
“It was just a really educational moment for all the kids to be able to ask him questions,” she said. “He had actually been in a war and lost his leg and some fingers on his hands, and just shared his story with us, and that was really a great way for the kids to experience what Veterans Day is.”
“My staff adores these kids and I adore them,” Smith said. “They just bring a little bit of their personality, different from the personalities that were already here. l
Students from third to sixth grade learn the guitar during music lessons, while kindergarten to second graders learn the ukulele at Concordia Lutheran Elementary School and Learning Center in Riverton. (Photo Courtesy of Deanna Smith)
Riverton boys place seventh in state; Olson wins individual title
“This was our best state tournament as a school since 2004”
By Josh McFadden
The Class 6A field was deep and talented in boys wrestling this season, and Riverton made a strong showing in the state meet.
The Silverwolves placed seventh in 6A at the tournament, held at Utah Valley University Feb. 14, 15. Riverton scored 93.5 points, well ahead of eighth-place Skyridge. Riverton placed ninth last season.
“This was our best state tournament as a school since 2004, so I am extremely happy,” head coach Joseph Gorman said.
In the 106-pound class, Riverton’s Easton Olson captured the individual state championship after a tremendous tournament. Olson entered the tournament with a 35-7 record, seeded second. Olson defeated Kacen Jones of Corner Canyon 11-9 in the final round. Jones had defeated Olson earlier in the season by the score of 4-3. Gorman was thrilled to see Olson avenge that loss. Olson is the latest in a family of excellent, accomplished wrestlers.
“Easton is a scrappy, tough kid and a smart wrestler,” Gorman said. “He doesn’t really make mistakes, so he is hard to beat. He’s the third Olson that has placed in the state tournament. Kaden took second in 2022, and Carter took sixth last year. It’s a great wrestling family.”
Olson began his title march with a win by technical fall in 1:31. He then won by fall in 3:18 before prevailing in the semifinals in overtime. Olson is just a sophomore, so he still has two more season to wrestle for the Silverwolves.
He wasn’t the only Riverton wrestler to advance in the tournament.
Sophomore Sam Moody, who took first in the 106-pound class last season, placed third in this year’s tournament. He wrestled in the 126-pound weight class this time around after going 38-9 during the season. Moody won by technical fall in 1:41 in his first match and then reached the semifinals with a 13-1 victory. There, Moody was upset 10-7. Gorman said Moody might have been looking ahead to the finals. Still, he was happy with Moody’s efforts as he rebounded in the consolation bracket. Gorman expects Moody to come back next season prepared to recapture his state crown.
“He did not wrestle his best in the semis, but he showed resilience and beat two tough kids afterwards to take third,” Gorman said. “I’m proud of him win or lose. This will serve as motivation to win state next year.”
In the 175-pound group, Riverton’s Dylan Shafizadeh finished fourth. The
senior was 31-14 during the season. He began the tournament with a pair of victories, first winning by fall in 1:57. In the quarterfinals, he won by fall in 2:19. With a chance to get to the finals, Shafizadeh faced a tough opponent from Fremont, losing by fall in 44 seconds. However, Shafizadeh won a consolation bracket match by fall in 3:28 and got to the thirdfourth match. His season ended with a loss by technical fall in 2:40.
Sophomore Colton Peshell was fifth in the 132-pound class. He opened with a victory by technical fall in 4:46 and then lost in the quarterfinals by fall in 3:31. Peshell rebounded with a win by fall in 26 seconds and another victory, by fall in 5:51, before losing 15-4. In the fifth-place match, Peshell won by fall in 4:20.
Another Riverton wrestler, Garrett Bracken, finished fifth at state. The sophomore joined Olson in the 106-pound class. Bracken won his first match in dominant fashion, prevailing 13-0. After a loss by technical fall in 2:41, Bracken won by fall in 4:55 and then again by fall, this time in 5:50. After a 19-6 loss, Bracken won the fifth-place match.
Gorman loved how Shafizadeh, Pe-
first-time state placers this season.
“Dylan turned a corner this year and got way more confident with his attacks, so it is awesome to see him place as a senior,” he said. “Neither Garrett nor Colton qualified for state last year, so for them to both place is crazy. They put in a ton of work in the offseason and improved dra
Shafizadeh will graduate at the end of the school year, so his wrestling career at Riverton is over. However, the other state placers have two more seasons to go, so the Silverwolves’ program could be in good shape. Gorman is optimistic that the team could be a force in 2025–26.
The Riverton boys wrestling team placed seventh in the state tournament. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Gorman)
Riverton City Council supports eliminating fluoride from water systems
Officials appreciated the benefits, but preferred individual choice in how to administer it.
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Expressing support for HB81 that would eliminate fluoride from Utah water systems, the Riverton City Council unanimously passed a resolution in February to formalize that support.
The bill, brought forward during the recent legislative session and sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius, prohibits the introduction of fluoride into public drinking water systems.
Salt Lake and Davis counties still add fluoride to their water streams and officials in Riverton worked on a resolution with what they hoped would be simple language of general support.
Mayor Trent Staggs said there’s “questionable benefit” in adding fluoride from both a health and financial position.
“Why are we spending money putting this into our water stream,” he said during a February council meeting.
Councilmember Andy Pierucci, who serves on the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District board, added the expense to do this “is just an unnecessary cost that
is just being flushed down the drain daily across the county and in our city.”
Officials referenced the incident which occurred in Sandy in 2019, when a power outage enabled a concentrated amount into their water stream.
“That imbalance introduced a mass quantity of fluoride,” City Attorney Ryan Carter told the council. “That goes downstream, it starts eating lead, eating copper and starts corroding the metal pipes and then you ingest that as well as everything else.
“Sometimes those things are not understood to have taken place until well after the fact.”
Officials were quick to point out how the issue is also a matter of personal choice.
“If you’re being medicated it should be their choice so I am happy to support this,”
Councilmember Tawnee McCay said.
Carter said, like many others, his mother gave him small fluoride tablets at breakfast every morning growing up.
“I am not an enemy of fluoride, but this is not the method I would choose.”
Under the bill by Gricius, prescriptions for fluoride would still be allowed at pharmacies without requiring a doctor or dental visit.
Some dentists spoke against the bill when it was presented before the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environ-
Funeral arrangements are a deeply personal choice. Preplanning provides you with the time needed to make practical, detailed decisions that reflect your standards, lifestyle, taste and budget. And we assure you and your family that the choices you make will be carried out as planned.
ment Committee highlighting the health benefits noting the inclusion of fluoride leads to less fillings, less cavities and stronger teeth.
After the council passed the resolution, Staggs expressed his pleasure at the city being the first to support the bill in a statement.
“I believe it reflects the sentiments of Riverton residents and the concerns over continuing to add fluoride,” he said.
He instructed public works to suspend fluoridating culinary water in city owned water systems as soon as the bill passed.
“Regardless of fluoride’s purported health benefits, Utahns and their families should be able to choose for themselves whether and how to apply it,” Staggs said. l
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Riverton officials passed a resolution supporting the removal of fluoride from water systems. (City Journals)
High school students call for cellphone education
“It feels a little bit bossy or controlling coming from an adult, but when it’s coming from one of my close friends, it feels a little bit more like they’re trying to look out for me,” senior Hanah Park said.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
WhenJordan School District announced a new cellphone policy prohibiting cellphones during class, high school students felt like they were being punished.
“For a lot of students, this felt, like, very extreme—it felt very harsh,” Mountain Ridge High School senior Hanah Park said. “I know phones are a huge problem in classes— students are definitely not focusing to their full ability—but I myself, was like, I feel like this is too much.”
Park and her fellow business class peers Sadie Miles and Kennedy Haymond, both juniors, chose to focus on the cellphone policy for their DECA club competition project. They researched the topic and met with administrators, district representatives and legislators to understand the reasoning behind the policy.
“I started to understand, like, this is actually beneficial towards us,” Park said. “It’s not, ‘Oh, they hate us and they hate our phones.’ They’re trying to help us be better students and become better friends and create more social connections.”
The girls realized that educating their peers could help improve understanding and reduce pushback against the policy.
“They feel like it’s a punishment, but until they actually learn and know why phones are harmful, they’re never going to understand why the phone policy was put in place,” Park said.
The girls developed an education campaign strategy called “The Disconnect Effect.”
“Our main goal is educating students about why the cellphone policy is in place and how the cellphones are affecting them or harming them,” Haymond said.
Miles said because the harms related to cellphones have not been directly addressed before, education is a necessary part of the solution.
“We were looking at how important it is to educate people so that we don’t have to keep just making these stricter policies and taking things away,” she said. “Because ultimately, what we all want is for kids—whose brains are still developing—to learn these mindful habits that will help them inside and outside of school.”
As part of their education campaign, the three girls organized a Social Strength Week at Mountain Ridge High School. They shared statistics and facts about the harms of cellphones and social media through fliers
and daily announcements, but the main focus of the week was to encourage students to make social connections.
“We wanted to educate kids in a way that was more of ‘Think of all the fun real-life connections you can have,’ while also kind of sneaking in why phones are bad for you,” Miles said.
The girls wrote and, with the help of students from a variety of social circles, filmed a short movie about a teen who was alone and depressed because she didn’t have social interactions outside of her phone. The movie ended with someone reaching out to include the girl in their friend group.
“There were a lot of kids that told us, ‘I felt that way before, I was able to kind of see myself in that video and it helped me just realize how important it is to focus on those real life connections rather than my online friends,’” Miles said.
Sophomore Tytan Hinton said the movie showed how cellphones can prevent you from talking to other people. “It makes it a lot harder for you to make those connections with people that are really big in life, and it’s what can bring you joy,” he said.
The girls hoped the video would inspire students to make an effort to connect with each other during the social activities they’d planned for the week. They partnered with school clubs and student government to organize activities such as a group service project, a pancake breakfast and lunch-time games. The girls said it was good to see people at the activities engaging with each other instead of sitting alone, scrolling on their phones.
Hinton said students who joined him in a game of nine square during lunch period were cheering on and encouraging each other. “Even if you didn’t know the people, there was just a lot of social interaction and not a lot of cell phones that I could see—that was really nice,” Hinton said.
He enjoyed socializing with games so much that the next morning, when the girls held a Positive Pancake Breakfast, giving pancakes to students who shared something positive with them, he joined in to help with the cooking.
“It was really good that I went and did that because I feel like I met a lot more people, made a lot more friends,” he said. “You could really tell that when you were talking to them as you were making their pancake, that they were really, like, zoned-in on the conversation and really intensely wanted to talk to you.”
Rachel Merrill, president of Savage Service Club, said there was a lot of socializing at the co-sponsored afterschool service project making blankets for Primary Children’s Hospital.
“We met tons of new friends, and no one had their phones out,” she said. “We were all just talking, so it was really fun.”
Social Strength Week culminated with a
challenge for students to leave their phones at home. The phone-free Friday included a social at Classic Skating’s Throwback Night.
The three girls surveyed students at the beginning of their project, when 5% agreed with the school cellphone policy, and then again after Social Strength Week, when 88% said they understood why the policy was in place and agreed with it.
“I think that there’s been a very significant change in attitude towards the cellphone policy and cellphones in general,” Haymond said.
They were pleased with the schoolwide impact of their project and want to expand cellphone education to a curriculum for elementary students.
“Teaching somebody before they’re faced with that decision, I think is so important, and I hope that we can make it like a societal norm to talk about that with kids,” Haymond said.
They also want to hold parent nights to teach parents about the harms of cellphones and how to teach their kids to self-limit their screen time.
“Because cellphones are a relatively newer technology, and parents aren’t fully equipped with the knowledge of how to help their kids have a healthy relationship, I think that’s really the best way to solve this issue, is to be able to teach both the kids and their parents,” Park said.
Jordan District Board of Education member Darrell Robinson has advocated for an education piece to the district cellphone policy since the beginning of the board’s discussions.
“I believe that cellphones are as dangerous as cars,” Robinson said. “And with cars, we give a student some training. They have
drivers ed. They drive with a parent for six months or a year. And even after they do get a full license, we put restrictions for the first six months or so. So we teach them how to use it. And in my estimation and my experience, they don’t really teach anybody how to use the phone. We just hand it to them.”
Some parents and legislators would like to ban cellphones all day in secondary schools like they are in Jordan District elementary schools. Haymond, Park and Miles are concerned that would cause teens to have an even more unhealthy relationship with their phones.
“Banning phones completely doesn’t solve the problem,” Park said. “It solves a problem for eight hours while they’re at school, but then they go home and they’re just on their phones continuously. It doesn’t teach them why they need to get off their phones, they’re just being forced to get off their phones. So the solution, really, is teaching people how to have a healthy relationship with their phones, because students don’t 100% understand the correlation between mental health and body image or depression and their cellphones.”
The three girls began their project in August and presented it at a competition in February. They hope to qualify for the state competition this summer, but even if they don’t, the project will continue.
“We’re definitely not done—to us, it’s honestly more than just a project,” Miles said. They plan to continue to work with Rep. Candice Pierucci and hoped to attend some of the hearings for the statewide cellphone bill during the Legislative session and share their ideas.l
Sadie Miles, Kennedy Haymond and Hanah Park make pancakes for the Mountain Ridge High School student body to encourage them to interact with each other instead of their phones. (Photo courtesy of Sadie Miles)
Kennedy Haymond posts a flier at Mountain Ridge High School to encourage students to strengthen their friendships as part of Social Strength Week. (Photo courtesy of Sadie Miles)
We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, and justice OG Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.
President Trump’s executive order mandates a pause on federal events promoting diversity, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day. But I’m not a federal employee and refuse to follow his directive. Happy Women’s History Month!
Throughout the ages, women are described as the gentler sex, the homemakers and the caretakers. And, yes, women are given those roles. But women are also fierce queens, savage muses, legendary goddesses and wild forces of nature.
We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and Supreme Court Justice (and original-gangster) Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.
Women like Mrs. Strange who made storytime at the Murray Library a magical experience. Her rendition of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” was an Oscar-worthy perfor-
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
A Woman’s Work
mance. When the biggest billy goat knocked the mean, ugly troll off the bridge, we all cheered in triumph.
Or women like Frankie Whipple, my long-suffering, patient, eternally-frustrated piano teacher. She listened to my musical scales, arpeggios and recital pieces without visibly wincing. Usually. The only annoyance she displayed was when I didn’t do my music theory lesson for five years straight.
Mrs. Lambert taught my second grade class at Viewmont Elementary. Under her guidance, I went from reading to show off to reading for pleasure. She taught me poetry, art and a life-lesson about friendship. Plus, she wore hip,‘70s polyester pantsuits that looked amazing.
Grandma Brickey was a fearless powerhouse. She loved her grandkids without judgement and let us eat all her chocolate raisin cake. Widowed for decades, she had many boyfriends but refused to give up her independence. She was a dancing queen, a
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vivacious flirt and a woman who lived life on her own terms.
When I was 12-years-old, a neighbor lady trusted me to watch her children all summer. Thanks to her, I quickly learned I was a terrible babysitter and should probably never have children.
Women like Ms. Pettis, my ninth-grade English teacher at Riverview Junior High, taught me that even when I thought my life was over, I was valuable to her. She showed up at my home every week to make sure I stayed on top of my assignments and she encouraged my writing. She is a hero.
My Aunt Judy created a safe place for 8-year-old me when I ran away from home because Mom was censoring the books I read. She didn’t think “Jaws” was an acceptable summer read for a third-grader but Aunt Judy let me stay the night until I calmed down. Then I read “Jaws” in secret.
Renee Smith was my dance instructor for eight years. She taught me tap, jazz and ballet, and encouraged me to try out for “The Nutcracker”. But because I wasn’t actually coordinated, I never landed a part. She always believed I would. At least she said she did.
Mom was an unrivaled teacher, encouraging me to read (except “Jaws”), write poetry, make music, dance, ride bikes, play basketball and try new things. It wasn’t her
fault I didn’t see her value until I became a mom.
My daughters, my granddaughters, my sisters, my nieces, my cousins, my aunts, my grandmothers, my friends, my colleagues, my teachers: all these women have made me what I am today. Yes, it’s their fault.
Even when the president (and Google) removes Women’s History Month from the calendar, women will do what we’ve always done: help other women to be powerful, to find their voice, to live their passion, to stand up for what’s right, to lead and to shine brighter than ever. Don’t mistake our gentle demeanor for passivity.
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