Riverton Journal | March 2024

SHANE TAYLOR IS SWORN

NEW POLICE CHIEF

It could be hard to maintain a positive outlook after serving for nearly 40 years in law enforcement, but Riverton’s new police chief Shane Taylor seems to have figured it out.

At a city council meeting on Feb. 6, Taylor was sworn into office, receiving a standing ovation from the friends, family, city officials and police officers in attendance. A Riverton resident, Taylor served 10 months as the city’s deputy chief and more than two years as commander.

With decades of public safety experience, mainly with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Unified Police Department, Taylor is optimistic about his new role.

“The first thing I want to do is support a positive environment and let the guys know my philosophy is a little bit different. I work for the officers, not the other way around,” Taylor said. “I’ve been part of this community since I was little, offering service to the community. I want to provide positive outcomes and influence and hear suggestions and opinions from the community.”

Taylor appreciates the support of city officials and credits them for creating a

peaceful city. He said it’s nice serving in a quiet community after working in areas more prone to crime and violence.

When he needs to feel grounded, Taylor heads to his cattle ranch in Goshen, Utah, to be around the animals and land he loves. He also acknowledged the support of his wife of 32 years, LeAnn, who helped raise their three daughters.

“She’s very supportive of law enforcement and she has a great attitude,” Taylor said. “My wife is really active with the horses and the cattle as well. I think that grounds me. The other part of that is my daughters and my grandchildren, they really ground me.”

As Taylor begins his tenure as chief, he’ll command 36 officers and one K-9 officer in Riverton. He is the third police chief for the city, replacing Blair Barfuss who served for 10 months. Don Hutson was Riverton’s first police chief when the city organized its own force in 2019.

Before the swearing-in ceremony at city hall, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs said Taylor was an “outstanding individual”

Continued page 4

Shane Taylor is sworn in as Riverton’s new police chief at a city council meeting in February. Taylor has been with the city for more than three years, serving as deputy chief since February 2023. (Photo courtesy of Riverton City)

High-quality, innovative health care with a heavy dose of compassion

With a focus on health care excellence, community service and faith – the doctors, nurses and care teams at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West are committed to compassionate and high-quality care for their neighbors.

It has been nearly a year since CommonSpirit Health took over five Wasatch Front hospitals that now bear the name Holy Cross, a reference to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who brought Catholic, faith-based health care to the people of Utah nearly 150 years ago. Today, the hospitals are reinvigorating the Sisters’ vision while caring for all with open arms.

“Our care is focused on neighbors helping neighbors, whether they be in West Jordan, West Valley City, or our surrounding communities,” said Christine McSweeney, CEO of Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Interim CEO at its sister hospital in West Valley City. “Our care providers live in these communities, and we are committed to playing an active role in improving the health of those around us – inside and outside of our hospital walls.”

Besides innovative health care in services that include orthopedics, bariatric programs, a cancer center, heart care, stroke accreditation and a Trauma III ER, the hospital’s teams are actively involved in helping to make the communities better, from leading food drives at local schools to partnering with the American Heart Association to educate our communities on heart health.

Through its Hello Humankindness program, CommonSpirit is actively promoting the health benefits

of kindness and recognizing employees who go above and beyond the call of their jobs to help those in need.

“We believe that simple acts of kindness have a profound impact on the lives of our patients and communities, in addition to the medical expertise that our doctors and nurses provide,” McSweeney said.

The community-focused work also involves close partnerships with local first responders, including fire departments and EMS agencies, who understand the advanced medical care that CommonSpirit provides at its Holy Cross hospitals when patients need an ambulance.

“They know we have some of the most advanced stroke care in our communities and some of the most advanced heart care,” McSweeney added.

CommonSpirit’s mission includes advancing social justice for all, and last fall, it bestowed eight grants from its Health Equity & Advancement Fund to local nonprofits that are working every day to improve lives in ways that include health screenings for Spanishspeaking neighbors and mental health treatment for children and families.

With a long legacy of service and healing, CommonSpirit is just getting started in extending health care excellence for all Utahns at the Holy Cross hospitals.

“Our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity,” McSweeney said.

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Christine McSweeney, CEO

Continued from front page

with “character and integrity.”

“He’s been in law enforcement for 36 years, and has been in leadership since the founding of our police department back in 2019,” Staggs said. “I know that he has the trust and the confidence of each and every one of the police officers in our department.”

Taylor said he was raised with a legacy of service. His father taught science and served in school administration before becoming an area superintendent. His mother was an English teacher for 34 years. Taylor’s great-grandfather was John Butterfield, the namesake for Butterfield Canyon.

“I just basically want to support the community that I’ve lived in for over 30 years,” he said. “I support the officers and city officials and I’m always open for suggestions. With the years and the experience I have, I think I have a lot to offer. That’s what I’m bringing to the table.” l

Haymond adds new voice to Riverton City Council

By Dylan Wilcox | d.wilcox@mycityjournals.com

With a commitment to principles over politics, Spencer Haymond emerges as a new voice in Riverton’s political landscape. Stepping into the limelight as the newest member of the Riverton City Council, Haymond brings with him a wealth of experience and a steadfast dedication to serving the community.

Terry Cox, a friend of Haymond who has known the new councilman for over 10 years, said that Haymond is committed to making meaningful change in the community.

“My first impression of Spencer was ‘Here is a hardworking man with integrity, who loves his family and all people; he is willing to give a hand to anybody who needs it,’” Cox said.

For over two decades, Haymond has navigated the intricacies of the mortgage and finance industry, spearheading the growth of a successful brokerage spanning 36 states. However, his true passion lies not in the boardroom, but in the halls of governance, where he finds solace in the history and foundational principles of the United States.

“My hobby over these years has been reading and studying the history of this great nation and the founding documents that set it in motion,” Haymond reflects. “I have grown to love the principles behind our great republic and representative government.” United States history has intrigued Haymond, and his intrigue became a desire to enter the realm of public service.

This love for the foundational pillars of democracy led Haymond to immerse himself in local politics, starting from the grassroots level. From state delegate

to precinct chair, Haymond’s journey through the political landscape has been marked by a commitment to upholding the rule of law and advocating for limited government.

“I generally dislike all things involving politics, but I love correct governing principles,” Haymond asserts. “I seek to push back against anything that is outside of its legal jurisdiction.”

His dedication to serving the community has not gone unnoticed. Endorsements from neighbors, colleagues and even city officials speak volumes about Haymond’s character and integrity. Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs attests to Hay -

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Mieka

Jason

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Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

mond’s unwavering commitment to fiscal conservatism and freedom, emphasizing his endorsement for the city council seat.

“Spencer listens to all sides, gathers information and tries to make decisions based upon the principles set forth by our founding fathers and not special interests,” notes Jeff Barker, echoing the sentiments of many supporters.

But Haymond’s appeal transcends political affiliations; it lies in his genuine desire to represent the diverse interests of Riverton’s residents. “It is a sobering thought to be asked to represent thousands of people with differing backgrounds, interests, needs and wants,” Haymond said. “My promise to you is to do all I can to continue to improve Riverton.”

Central to Haymond’s vision for Riverton is a commitment to transparency, accountability and community engagement. His pledge to work with fellow council members, city employees and law enforcement agencies underscores his collaborative approach to governance.

As Riverton residents selected Haymond to lead District 5, Haymond extends an invitation to the community to join him in shaping the future of their city. “Please call me...with questions or to request a yard sign,” Haymond urges, emphasizing the importance of grassroots engagement in the political process.

“Through the years, his actions have confirmed those first impressions [I have had] over and over. We are blessed to have him live in and serve our community,” Cox said. l

Shane Taylor was sworn in as Riverton’s new police chief in February. Taylor has been with the city for more than three years, serving as deputy chief since February 2023. (Photo courtesy of Riverton City)

Spencer Haymond was elected to the City Council. (Photo courtesy Spencer Haymond)

AI provides real-life experiences in the classroom

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham

Editor’s note: this is part of a series of articles about artificial intelligence in schools.

AItools in the classroom immerse students in historical context, help them realize real-world applications for math skills and provide them the freedom to demonstrate what they’ve learned in creative ways that develop their skills and interests.

Jordan School District teachers are encouraged to utilize AI tools such as Canva, Adobe Suite and SchoolAI.

“It’s been exciting to see so many teachers jump on board, learn more and start to use AI for themselves and to help their students,” Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said.

Godfrey experienced for himself an AI-augmented history lesson created by a JSD teacher. In a choose-your-own adventure activity, he experienced being a soldier in the Revolutionary War and then an explorer on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“I had to make decisions about whether to camp for the night, where to travel next, how to avoid dangers, and as a result, it really pulled me into that experience in a way that no other tool could have,” he said. “The interactive nature of it, the immersive nature of that learning is something that we’ve only begun to explore.”

JSD Digital Learning Specialist Kasey Chambers helps teachers find and utilize digital tools to enhance their lessons and engage students. One popular activity called ‘chat with a historical figure’ brings people like Abraham Lincoln or Rosa Parks to life through an AI-generated interaction which responds realistically to students’ questions and comments. Some teachers use this activity as part of the research process.

“Students research a historical figure, plan questions to ask and then chat with the historical figure,” Chambers said.

Another AI interaction teachers are using to help students understand a historical event is to have the student and the AI both write an essay with opposing perspectives of an event. Then the students compare and contrast the points in both essays.

AI activities are also being used in math classes to bring the equations off the page and into the real-world.

An interactive AI activity gamified math skills practice for a sixth-grade class. Students were motivated to calculate the ratios for ingredients to formulate a potion to save a wizard.

One instructor reached out to district math specialist Amy Kinder to collaborate on an engaging exercise to allow students to practice on-the-job math skills in a medical assisting class.

“We decided to use AI to help us plan so that we could make a strong lesson,” Kinder

said. “It was quick and easy to set up.”

Instead of converting fractions to decimals and ounces into milliliters on a worksheet, the students worked through real-world scenarios, such as calculating medication dosages for a specific patient. The AI responded to the students’ actions, adjusting follow-up scenarios based on the student’s responses, providing more examples if the student had calculated inaccurately or increasing the complexity of the tasks if they demonstrated understanding.

The exercise took just 15 minutes of class time; however the majority of the students accessed the activity again on their own time.

“About 70% of them went home and practiced more,” Kinder said. “They chose to practice on their own when they didn’t have to so that they were prepared for the assessment. I think they really liked the instantaneous feedback that they were getting.”

The JSD math department team is still figuring out how AI can best be applied in

the math curriculum. Kinder said as math instruction moves to rich problem-solving and real-word applications, AI can provide engaging math skills practice.

“We want to make sure that we’re doing real-world math that makes sense to kids, and not just teaching them steps,” Kinder said.

One area of education in which AI shines is in allowing students more ways to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and mastery of skills. Instead of answering comprehension questions from a story they read, students can use image creation tools to produce a digital visualization of the characters, setting and plot points to demonstrate they understood what they read.

Chambers said AI can add a fun twist to a common critical thinking exercise teachers use called Think-Pair-Share, in which students think about what they’ve learned, discuss it with a partner and then share their ideas with the class. Adding a step for students to bounce their ideas off a chatbot helps them develop their ideas further, Chambers

said.

West Jordan Middle School teacher Dan Clark believes AI will be part of future jobs and that by learning to use AI tools in school for creative problem solving and collaboration, students will become more employable.

“It’s more about interacting with people, creative creation and skill building,” he said. “I think ultimately what we want them to do is to be able to interface with those models, but then create something beyond that.”

He said having AI tools available to him and his students has changed the way he assesses his students.

“Instead of a multiple-choice vocab quiz, what I’m asking them to do is to create something, like an infographic, that shows their knowledge rather than just test them on memorization skills,” he said. “A student might want to show their knowledge in several different ways, so if you can be clear to students what you expect, and then allow them to show their knowledge in any way, they can pick through Adobe Suite or Canva or create a video or podcast. They’re learning skills that are not going to be replaced by AI.”

Jordan District’s Digital Learning Department regularly shares tips and tricks for teachers on social media to get them excited about the technology tools available to them. They also provide large group and customized small group trainings on using AI tools.

“The majority of teachers that come to our trainings, that see how it works and have those demonstrations, they are so excited,” Chambers said. “The response we’ve had is just full positivity, full excitement.”

Chambers said it doesn’t take long for teachers to learn to create and implement AI activities based on their teaching goals while ensuring students have accountability for their own learning. She emphasizes that AI is a tool, not a replacement for a good lesson plan.

“One thing I have been doing is trying to help teachers understand that AI is a tool within the learning process, not the entire process,” she said. l

Students can have an interactive chat with historical figures in SchoolAI. (SchoolAI screenshot courtesy of Kasey Chambers)

Teachers create customized AI interactions that augment their lesson plans. (SchoolAI screenshot courtesy of Kasey Chambers)

An example of an AI interactive classroom activity. (SchoolAI screenshot courtesy of Kasey Chambers)

It has been four years this month since Jordan District schools announced they would temporarily shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years that followed, the pandemic significantly impacted students’ academics, their habits, and how, where and when they attended classes.

Four years later, the majority of students are back to attending in-person classes and extracurricular activities without limits or requirements for social distancing, masking or quarantines. On the surface, schools look much like they did pre-COVID. However, there are some impacts of the pandemic that are still lingering, and some that have changed education permanently.

“The pandemic exaggerated the good and the bad,” Jordan Board of Education Member Darrell Robinson said. “It made the bad really bad, and made the good really good, but there’s never been a better time to be in public education. There’s fantastic things that came out of that horrible experience.”

Increased Innovation

Robinson, who had pushed for virtual learning options for years, saw them get approved when the pandemic made it necessary. Suddenly, every teacher was learning to use virtual platforms and experimenting with digital tools to enhance their lessons.

Carolyn Gough, who was the principal of Riverton High School in 2020, said the pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning tools.

“We were already moving in a good direction toward 1:1 with computers, but the pandemic expedited our progress,” she said. “Since then, digital teaching and learning has taken off and we are offering more and more to teachers in terms of programs, software and strategies they can use to assist students with technology.”After every student experienced online learning during 2020, some realized it was a better fit for them. To meet the demand for online options, Jordan District provided a virtual option for students for the 2020-21 school year and the following year opened the Jordan Virtual Learning Academy, with a fully developed virtual elementary, middle and high school.

“We had taught virtual classes for years,” Jordan District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said. “But the difference is that we were able to accelerate that effort in ways that would not have been possible without the pandemic, so that we now have options in every grade, at every grade level.”

In addition to providing personalized learning for students, virtual curriculum created an unexpectedly reasonable solution to sick days and snow days.

The wide-spread availability of virtual platforms such as Zoom also changed how parents participated in school meetings. Five years ago, virtual meetings were not an option, but now schools offer virtual parent

How the pandemic changed education

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

teacher conference appointments, virtual career and college preparation meetings and even virtual kindergarten orientation.

Stacee Worthen, a secondary counselor consultant for Jordan District, said providing the option for virtual PCCRs increased parent participation.

“It’s just allowed us some ways to think outside the box and say, ‘We’ve always done this, but we don’t always have to do it this way,’” she said. “COVID has given us the opportunity to say, ‘Maybe there’s a different way to do this and that different way is just as good, if not better.’”

District Counseling Specialist Hillary Emmer said this year most parents are opting for in-person meetings.

“Most of the time if people can connect in real life, they’re choosing that, but it still is a nice option for those that can’t come or if it is just more convenient,” she said.

The push for live-streamed board of education meetings never got momentum until during the pandemic when community participation increased and social distancing limited in-person attendance. Meetings continue to be live-streamed and accessible on YouTube.

Robinson is optimistic that advances in innovation will continue to improve education.

“I think what you’re starting to see with our district, now that COVID’s gone away and we’re moving back to being proactive again, you’re going to see some cool things again,” Robinson said. “We’re not done.”

Mental Health

A major impact the pandemic had on education was that it brought mental health to the forefront.

Jordan District Health and Wellness Program Administrator Dr. McKinley Withers said the pandemic didn’t necessarily cause new mental health issues, but it forced people to confront the problems they had been

ignoring.

“I think the pandemic just really brought to the surface a lot of the underlying issues in our culture and amplified some of that isolation and loneliness,” he said.

Withers said the pandemic had a positive effect by normalizing discussions about mental health and reducing the stigma of asking for help, which has helped people who are struggling get the resources they need.

In 2018, Withers was the only district employee responsible for addressing the health and wellness of students and employees. Now, in 2024, he works with a team of six full-time district employees and 24 school-based support personnel who promote wellness and provide mental health resources to teachers, students and families.

“Before the pandemic, our work was in getting buy-in for mental health,” Withers said. “Post-pandemic, people are bought in. So, it’s just a matter of getting the right kinds of resources matched to the support that students and staff need.”

Since 2020, JSD has prioritized mental health support. Now every school has fulltime assistant principals, full-time counselors and more campus monitors. Many schools also have a Wellness Room as a resource for both students and staff members.

Emmer said because everyone experienced the pandemic differently, the effects on different people and groups varied in length and severity.

“Some kids are really having a hard time, and some are just thriving and resilient and as successful as ever,” she said.

Middle school counselor Alyson Law said among her students, the mental and social effects from the isolation during the pandemic are ongoing.

“One of the biggest problems we’ve seen, especially in the mental health side, is the loneliness that kids are feeling, the separation and the loneliness,” she said. “We

didn’t have a good way to deal with that, and we were all in this trauma response—parents included. There was this fear of survival for quite a while. And so the loneliness was very hard, especially for kids who were so used to social situations, to be so separated from one another.”

At Fort Herriman Middle, where Law works, the school year’s theme “You Belong” was chosen to address those lingering effects.

Many schools have addressed mental and social interruptions to their students with themes and activities to encourage students to resume making social connections and to access tools for dealing with the side effects of the pandemic.

Beginning in February 2021, Jordan District has set aside an annual Health and Wellness Day to encourage employees and students to prioritize their mental and physical wellness.

Academic Impact

Mental health can have a direct correlation to academic performance, however academic gaps are another major effect of the pandemic and the COVID-related disruptions to educational instruction.

When instructional hours were interrupted during the last few months of the 2019-20 school year with a sudden closure of schools, and then by frequent quarantine requirements during the 2020-21 school year, it caused gaps in the academic, social and behavioral development of children that continue to impact students’ academic performance.

Godfrey said there were expected academic gaps during the pandemic because teachers had to focus on the essentials. He remains optimistic that students are progressing and closing those gaps.

“We have to be thoughtful about making sure that we don’t fall into a deficit mentality and focus on the negatives,” Godfrey said. “We really do need to focus on being able to move forward. At the same time, we have to be realistic about the lasting impact of the pandemic. And what happened is we lost academic time, and we lost time for students to make social progress.”

Catherine Crosby, a middle school reading teacher, sees evidence of the interruption at particular developmental stages which affects students’ learning, even four years later.

“This year, I’m seeing kids that really struggle with making connections [in reading],” she said. “The kids I have now would have been in fifth grade when the pandemic started. What were they learning in fifth grade that they missed? Because this is where their struggle is this year and I’ve not ever seen that—usually that’s one of the easier strategies for students but that’s been really hard for these kids this year.”

Literacy specialist Tara Pearce was not surprised when there was a big dip in elementary students’ reading scores because of

The switch to virtual learning that was forced upon students and teachers in 2020 accelerated innovations in digital education tools and personalized learning opportunities. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

so many interruptions to their learning. The deficits have resulted in more students arriving in middle school lacking foundational reading skills.

Pearce said this year’s seventh graders were in fourth grade in March 2020, which is the year that reading skills transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’

“If they struggled with any of those fundamentals before COVID, it’s really hard to get caught up unless they’re getting really explicit instruction,” Pearce said. “After COVID, we had a lot more students coming to us that had a hard time decoding or reading the words, so we realized we needed to step up what we’re doing here. We didn’t have any specific reading teachers in seventh grade before, but now every seventh grader right now has a reading class based on their reading level.”

Pearce said the biggest difference between pre-COVID and postCOVID was among the low-performing students.

“The numbers aren’t necessarily different, but how low they are is,” Pearce said. “So, we’ve had to adapt and learn to teach those lower level skills.”

Ben Jameson, director of JSD’s Evaluation, Research and Accountability Department, said the pandemic emphasized the inequity among certain groups of students.

“We noticed right off the bat that there were certain demographic groups that were more impacted in a negative way from the switch to online learning—demographics like students with disabilities and students that are learning English as a second language,” Jameson said. “So I think one of the positive outcomes is, we were paying attention to those student groups before, but we’re certainly paying lots more attention to them now to make sure that we’re closing those gaps in the moment that they need it and getting them back on track.”

Jameson said the constraints on in-per-

READING SKILLS

2018-19 - 69.1% of K-3 students were at or above benchmark for early reading skills.

2021 - 63.1%

2023 - 70%

son interactions during 2020-21 impacted students’ ability to learn using the normal techniques, such as teachers modeling how to move their mouth to make specific letter sounds.

“In 2021, kindergarten and first grade students are learning those early sounds— how to make them, what letters make what sounds, diagraphs, blends and all of that stuff—it was modeled through a mask because everybody had to wear a mask at the time,” he said. “So that’s an example of how they would have been impacted. We actually saw in our early literacy assessment data that the kindergarteners especially lag behind in some of those early skills.”

The good news is that K-3 reading proficiency test scores are showing that students are bouncing back from the deficits. In 201819, 69.1% of K-3 students were at or above benchmark for early reading skills. That dropped to 63.1% in 2021, but was up to 70% in 2023.

“That’s an assessment where there’s an example that things have largely recovered back to pre-pandemic levels, and even starting to show an increase,” Jameson said. “In fact, that 70% in the spring of 2023 is the highest percentage of students at or above benchmark that we’ve had in the history of this assessment.”

ATTENDANCE

2018 - the average attendance rate was 90.9%.

2020 - when three months of the year were virtual, the rate was 93%

2021 - 91.7%

2022 - 88.9%

2023 - 87.6%

Attendance

To reclaim academic gains, teachers and administrators are stressing to students and parents the importance of regular school attendance. However, the current and troubling attitudes toward attendance are another result of the pandemic, Godfrey said.

“For all of us, I think, during and after the pandemic, we started to evaluate whether we were going to show up in person for something, even though our whole lives we had assumed we had to,” Godfrey said. “School suddenly became a question. Are we going to be virtual today? Are we not virtual today? Church, for many people, went virtual. Family gatherings—there were virtual conversations with family. So, I think we got used to not always showing up, and it’s taken some time to rebuild that.”

In December, Godfrey reported to the board of education that the number of students who are considered chronically absent, with 18 or more days of missed classes in one school year, has increased.

Crosby said she has students in her class that have no consistent academic records because of chronic absenteeism over the past few years. They continue to miss class for weeks at a time.

“We still are seeing things I think that are a result of COVID, just habits, and kids

that we’ve just never gotten back,” Crosby said.

The average attendance rate for JSD students has decreased. In 2018, the average attendance rate was 90.9%. In 2020, when three months of the year were virtual, the rate was 93%. That fell to 91.7% in 2021, 88.9% in 2022 and 87.6% in 2023.

Jameson said the low attendance rates could be impacted by other variables, such as the availability of being able to complete classwork virtually.

“I think in people’s minds, it’s easier for them to make up assignments because it’s right there on Canvas, and so it’s actually a little bit easier to be absent,” he said. “But they sometimes don’t take into account the fact that it doesn’t compensate for the kind of instruction that they would receive in person in the classroom.”

Robinson suggests that the increase in absences could be a reflection of more students staying home when they are sick, which has become a more acceptable norm in the wake of the pandemic.

While attendance has not yet recovered from pandemic thinking, Godfrey remains optimistic.

“Our focus is on moving forward, helping students be at their best, and having a wide range of meaningful educational opportunities every day they come to school,” Godfrey said.

Innovation, mental health, academics and attendance are the main areas the pandemic has impacted education, but Emmer believes there could still be unknown repercussions.

“There probably are still impacts that we just don’t even know and won’t really know for quite a while, and what we’re figuring out is that we won’t really know until we’re there,” she said. “I think it’s just hard to say, ‘This is exactly because of COVID or this isn’t because of COVID’ because I just think, in general, education isn’t what it was before COVID. But it is more like it was.” l

Masking, which was required for the 2020-21 school year when this photo was taken, is now a decision that is left up to the individual who is sick. (Photo courtesy of Doug Flagler)

Sanitizing has become more frequent in classrooms since the pandemic, but not as strict as the distancing and sanitizing protocols required in this Sept. 2020 classroom. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

From receptionist to department director:

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Sheril Garn marks a significant milestone this year as she celebrates 25 years serving Riverton City. What started as a receptionist job in 1999 quickly became much more as city leaders realized Garn had talents and skills that could be put to good use.

The city manager at the time suggested that Garn could create a recreation department. With her background teaching swimming lessons and coordinating her sons’ baseball teams, Garn accepted the challenge and began to research recreation departments in other cities.

Now, as the director of events and operations for Riverton, she’s introduced activities and programs to the city to help build community.

“They moved me from full-time receptionist to part-time receptionist. Half of the day was spent on recreation and community events and the other half was being a receptionist,” Garn said. “The City Council wanted me to create events that had the feeling of a small town. They told me they wanted the events to feel like when I was little, growing up in Riverton.”

As a life-long resident of the city, Garn took that challenge to heart and went about

developing the department. Starting with three interns, Garn now manages a staff of 14 employees. Together they plan and hold monthly events that include the popular Halloween Bash, Riverton Town Days, the September 11 flag display and the Christmas music concert.

One of the difficulties Garn faces is accommodating growth as the events gain popularity. For the Easter event, the city did away with the traditional egg hunt because it was over in seconds and not everyone was able to get a treat. Instead of 30 seconds of chaos, the Bunny Hop event features 30-50 stations where kids can participate and receive a prize.

“Most every one of our events are free,” she said. “We try really hard, for our community events, that a parent doesn’t have to spend any money. I love the fact that the city council and the mayor have been so generous with me for my events.”

Garn has worked with six city managers and four mayors in Riverton. She appreciates what each one of them brought to the city and has learned something new serving under a variety of leadership. Current city leaders often express their gratitude for the recreation department and the way Garn leads her team.

“Sheril is the heart and soul of the city,”

Riverton City Manager Craig Giles said. “She contributes so much to our success and makes us all smile in the process.”

Garn and her husband, Terry, raised five boys in Riverton and have 16 grandchildren. She doesn’t know what comes next for her, but she still enjoys creating fun activities, events and programs for city residents.

“Usually, when I’m done with something, I walk away and don’t look back,” she said. “I tease about being in politics one day, but that’s never been in my future. I think it would be hard for me to stay on as a politician and not micromanage this particular department.”

Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs commended Garn on her quarter-century of service to the city and her efforts to build a sense of community.

“Sheril is an exemplary public servant and often is the catalyst of success for Riverton City’s events,” Staggs said. “She works hard to maintain our community’s hometown feel. The years of experience and institutional knowledge she brings to the conversation is invaluable. Riverton residents are served well by her tireless work over these past 25 years.” l

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Stacy Haddock wants to help people get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

While practicing yoga, she noticed her reaction when things got uncomfortable. Did she give up? Did she take the road less traveled? Not just in a yoga class, but in life.

She didn’t enjoy her rst hot yoga experience. It felt like going to therapy and she was emotionally drained. She tried to do what the instructor asked, but she was so uncomfortable. She thought “How is this bene ting me at all?”

So why did she open VIBE Yoga Sound Wellness? Stacy said God directed her to give others a space to connect with themselves, to learn to love themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

Tell us about your yoga studio?

It’s a place where you can just be you on the mat, where you can take a pause from the world and learn to be uncomfortable. It’s a space where you can strengthen yourself physically, mental and spiritually. It’s a space you can grow.

Why is yoga important?

Yoga has taught me so many things, and I’m eager to keep learning. One of the most humbling things is my connection with my body, feeling the good, the bad, and the

Plan Ahead

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.

VIBE Yoga Sound Wellness

beautiful. Allowing it to have stretch days or days where I lift like Arnold Schwarzenegger. My body has never felt so good. In yoga, I nd mindfulness, I nd connection with Stacy, I feel God’s love for me.

What services do you o er?

I o er yoga classes, sound baths, workshops, breathwork and non-toxic living education

What sets you apart from your competitors?

At VIBE we utilize yoga practices and bodywork to empower awareness, connection and relationship to holistic wellness. By detaching from mental patterns, we allow the body to create new health habits. You’ll cultivate growth and togetherness each time you visit.

Does your business solve customer problems?

Stress Reduction: Yoga and wellness practices can help individuals reduce stress and promote relaxation, which is a common problem in today’s fast-paced world.

Physical Fitness: Yoga and wellness programs can improve physical tness, exibility, and strength, addressing issues related to poor health and sedentary lifestyles.

Mental Well-being: Yoga promotes mindfulness, meditation, and positive thinking, which can help individuals manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Pain Management: Yoga can o er relief from chronic pain, such as back pain, joint discomfort and migraines, providing an alternative to pharmaceutical solutions.

Community: VIBE creates a sense of community and social connection, addressing feelings of isolation and loneliness. We have groups of women who have found deep, meaningful friendships by coming to VIBE

Health: At VIBE we provide educational resources and classes on nutrition, holistic health, and holistic healing, helping members make informed choices for a healthier lifestyle.

Personal Development: Yoga and wellness is a pathway for personal growth, self-discovery and self-improvement. What we teach on the mat can be used on and o the mat.

How do clients choose between you or a competitor?

It’s the VIBE! Come see the beautiful space we’ve cultivated. It’s a unique, boutique-style feel. It’s a safe place to come and try something new. You don’t need to know what you’re doing to come. We have all levels of classes to nd the one you feel most comfortable.

What is your favorite class?

The Release class: Chill VIBE. It’s a slow, yin-style yoga practice, designed to develop mindfulness by nding a meditative state in the most stimulating long-held postures. Students utilize deep breathing techniques to let go of held tension and strain.

Are you currently running any specials?

YES!

I have a one week unlimited class pass for only $25.

Virtual learning, what it looks like four years after COVID shutdown

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Four years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to switch to virtual instruction, teachers were left scrambling to adapt. In the wake of that experience, Jordan School District’s Administrator of Digital Teaching & Learning Ross Menlove helped piece together an online curriculum for the 2020-21 school year. What he and his colleagues learned from that experience, they applied to the development of the Jordan Virtual Learning Academy which opened for the 2021-22 school year.

“There was a lot of debate of whether or not [online learning] was good for kids and good for learning,” Menlove said. “And so one of my driving forces was, if we’re going to create an online program, let’s do something that’s good for kids and then we can prove it’s good for kids and produces good results. It was based on research and experience and just good teaching practices.”

Menlove felt strongly that the school model should include both customizable virtual instruction and interactive in-person learning opportunities.

“We came up with our own model based on the idea of providing students with some more activities that are hands-on,” Menlove said, who became the principal of the virtual academy’s elementary school, Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary. “My goal as a principal is to make sure that kids have just as many as or more experiences with the different types of learning as they would in person.”

Rocky Peak Virtual Academy now has 260 K-6 students. The school day includes fun morning announcements with Principal Menlove, a daily minimum of four hours of live instruction with a teacher and classmates, and optional twice a week in-person sessions called Peak Time. Students attend Peak Time sessions at one of two locations, one at the north end of the district and one at the south end.

The purpose of Peak Time is to provide hands-on learning opportunities through art, movement and STEM activities. Students have access to a makerspace with a 3D printer, laser cutter, sewing machines and a wide array of art and crafting tools and supplies. They explore various art mediums and participate in games and physical activities. Students can also compete in STEM challenges, program robots or learn to sew.

“It’s really fun,” Menlove said. “And there’s no grades, there’s no homework, it’s just come and learn at your level.”

Peak Time also includes monthly field trips. This year, students have visited Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural Curiosity, This is the Place Heritage Park, Natural History Museum of

Utah and Hogle Zoo.

Menlove sometimes drives the bus for field trips, which provides more flexibility with time and budget. All grades are invited on every field trip, so students can go on up to seven field trips in one year.

West Jordan resident Jen Brown said Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary was her choice for her son Ryker over other online school options because of the in-person opportunities.

“I really like the fact that it’s more like a hybrid, so I can keep him home and then I can also send him to the school to do those extracurricular activity classes,” Brown said. “Peak Time offers a lot of fun and opportunities for the kids to be together and to socialize to do those activities.”

Ryker, a fourth grader, enjoys the Peak Time P.E. and art classes.

Cohen Barker, a second grader, likes that he gets to eat lunch with his classmates on Peak Time days. He also loves the hands-on activities.

“We made slime one time for science,” Cohen said.

Cohen’s mom, Kinsale Barker, a Herriman resident, said she loves the flexibility of the asynchronous option which allows her to do family activities during the day and to balance her daughter Chloe’s ballet class schedule with schoolwork. She said virtual school has been a better fit for her and her children than in-person school was.

“I love everything about it, I don’t think I’d ever go back,” Barker said. “The staff is incredible. I feel like the teachers and the staff all care so much about your kid and making sure that they’re where they should be and getting better at everything.”

Menlove said the school offers research-based curriculum, utilizes engaging activities and taps into the latest technology trends, but it’s the teachers that make it such an effective learning experience.

“Technology is great, but it’s the teachers who have the expertise, it’s the teachers who are the magic in the classroom,” Menlove said. “We wanted to highlight that as we built a program and so the curriculum teachers use, the way they deliver it, it’s designed and created by the teachers. We don’t buy anything pre-made. Ours is completely created and delivered by the teachers. It’s delivered live, so the teachers are the ones who can adjust as they go along. There’s a lot of creativity and innovation on the teachers’ part, and I believe that’s what makes a difference, is our teachers.”

Menlove said the smaller class sizes, the customizable content, the hybrid options and the technology are all what makes Rocky Peak Elementary a good fit for students with disabilities, anxiety, health concerns, for those who just need a different

environment or who need a flexible schedule because of extracurricular activities or frequent travel.

“We know this school isn’t for everybody,” Menlove said. “But we do know that

there are certain kids who this is what they need, and they love it, and they thrive on it, and parents love it, and this is the best learning environment for them.” l

Peak Time Specialist Ame Jensen provides students and teachers with a hands-on experience with a large snake. (Photo courtesy of Ellery Goudy/Rocky Peak Elementary)

Rocky Peak Elementary School students do creative hands-on arts and movement activities twice a week at Peak Time. (Photo courtesy of Ellery Goudy/Rocky Peak Elementary)

Riverton’s Not Your Parent’s Art Show highlights young artists

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

In February, the Riverton Old Dome Meeting Hall gallery featured art created by youth from ages 7 months to 18 years old. The Not Your Parent’s Art Show had nearly 200 submissions that showcased talented artists who live in Riverton and the South Valley area.

“This is one of my favorite exhibitions each year. I love seeing how talented and creative our youth can be and hearing the stories that inspired their work,” Riverton Arts Administrator Vicki Wartman saisd. “My hope is to encourage youth to color outside the lines and use art to express themselves. I truly believe in Pablo Picasso’s quote ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.’”

The Old Dome Meeting Hall will be the site for Jordan School District art exhibits in April. Visit rivertonutah.gov/exhibits to learn more. l

A Chance Meeting was created by Aurora Whall, 16, using gold leaf and acrylic paint. (City Journals)

Mikayla Nelson, 11, used acrylics for her painting Jellyfish (top). Six-year-old McCoy Crane also used acrylics for his artwork Cowboy Stuff. (City Journals)

Cadence Blake, 7 months old, created Beautiful Disaster (top) out of baby food while 1-year-old Lainey Love used acrylic paint for her artwork Baby Love. (City Journals)

Using watercolor, pen and ink, Lillian Dickes, 16, and Sammy Westermen, 17, created Kavaitham, a drawing of “artistic pretty men.” (City Journals)

This Titanic replica was built by Davy Mitchell, 8, out of cardboard. Scraps the Seagull (right) was crocheted by Ava Glazier, 7, and Tushie, the bear (left) was sewn by Avery McClellan, 13. (City Journals)

Artists participating in the Not Your Parent’s Art Show contributed works from every medium including photography. (City Journals)

Mr. Penguin was painted by Victoria Martinez, 9, using watercolors. (City Journals)

RIVERTON REVIEW

Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

Waste Management’s New Overfill Policy

By Mayor Trent Staggs and Council Member Troy McDougal

Waste Management is introducing a new policy addressing the overfilling of garbage cans so that lids cannot close. As Mayor and a city Councilmember, we want to articulate together the city’s perspective on this topic and answer the various questions that have been raised.

We will also discuss which materials can be placed in your recycling can. And lastly, we want to inform you of our thoughts on whether the city should continue to participate in Waste Management’s recycling program.

Dispelling Rumors: Fines for Wind Opening Garbage Can Lids

Unfortunately, an erroneous news report on Waste Management’s new overfilling policy has spread incorrect information. Let us be very clear: no one will be fined because wind pushed open their garbage can lid. We have expressed our disappointment with that news organization, and we encourage all to dispel this rumor.

Waste Management’s concern is garbage can lids that cannot close due to an excess of waste piled up in residents’ garbage cans. Garbage can lids should not be prevented

from closing because of waste that extends beyond the edge of the can opening. Beginning this April, residents may be fined $5 from Waste Management each time their garbage cans are filled to exceed capacity when their trucks stop to pick up waste.

The goal of this policy is to correct egregious violations, not incidental occurrences. Below are photos from Waste Management that give examples of unacceptable overfilling of garbage and recycling cans.

Waste Management’s smart truck cameras are equipped with the ability to distinguish between when a lid cannot close due to excess waste and when a lid could close but is being propped up due to an errant piece of waste, or if the wind pushed open the lid.

Review Process: How fines will be assessed

Riverton City has discussed at length with Waste Management how fines will be assessed. We have agreed to a process that will be fair and give residents ample opportunity to voice their concerns.

If the Waste Management smart truck cameras determine that a resident is in violation, both Waste Management and Riverton City staff must agree before the fine is levied. A photo of the violation will be emailed (if available) to the resident, and the resident may contact either Waste Management or Riverton City’s utility billing office to appeal the fine.

The Riverton City utility billing office phone number is 801-2083133. Riverton City staff will be the residents’ advocate in reasonable dispuites with Waste Management.

Riverton’s sanitation portion of utility fees are among the lowest in the valley. We work hard to negotiate great rates for our residents. Additionally, each year the city subsidizes the real cost of trash collection to each resident by using city-wide sales tax revenue.

If residents find that they need an additional garbage can, please call

Riverton City utility billing to order one.

Recycling: Do’s and Don’ts

Waste Management tells us that Riverton City has a high rate of recycling contamination. This means that nonrecyclable material placed in resident recycling cans are spoiling the collection. Over one in every four recycling collection efforts are contaminated.

Too many of our residents are “wish-cycling.” A term that refers to residents’ best intentions and hopes that items can be recycled but it is not. Sometimes an item may have a recycling symbol on it and not be recyclable in our area. Below is a list of materials that Waste Management sees the most of in our residents’ recycling cans that are not recyclable through their program.

NOT Recyclable in Riverton Recycling Cans

• No Wood: Especially large portions of wood, 2x4s, or sheets of plywood

• No Glass: Riverton City has a free glass recycling bin located at 13400 S on 4050 W, east of the Maverik and South Hills Middle School and west of Holiday Oil.

• No Clothing

• No Household non-recycle materials (plastic toys, cardboard with wrapping paper on it, etc.)

• No Diapers

-

Examples of inproperly filled garbage and recycling cans. - continued on page 2

Trent Staggs - Mayor

Andy Pierucci - District 1

Troy McDougal - District 2

Tawnee McCay - District 3

Tish Buroker - District 4

Spencer Haymond - District 5

Waste Management’s New Overfill Policy

- continued from page 1 -

Materials to Recycle in Riverton

• Cardboard (pizza boxes are not recyclable)

• Paper

• Simple plastics

• Small quantities of metal

Again, Waste Management’s new program is meant to discourage the most egregious behavior. For example, one resident placed a whole engine block in their recycling can and another resident placed an old kitchen sink in their recycling can. While a scrap yard may be able to recycle the material off these items, placing them in the recycle can is not acceptable.

Waste Management reserves the right to remove a resident’s recycling can on the 4th violation of contamination. Residents may contact the Riverton City utility billing office if they feel their recycling can should not have been removed.

Riverton City’s Partnership with Waste Management

Some residents have inquired about whether Waste Management is the ideal trash collection vendor for Riverton City. There are a few reasons why we feel confident that Waste Management is the best partner for the city at this time.

In August of 2022, Riverton City received several bids from various trash collection vendors. Waste Management’s bid was millions of dollars lower over the purposed fiveyear contract than the next lowest bid.

The city has also explored providing our own hauling services with our own trucks and drivers, but this too proved to be more expensive. Waste Management staff are good partners with the city, and we appreciate their work in our community.

Riverton City’s Future Participation in Recycling

Riverton City elected officials and staff are committed to helping residents be good stewards of the environment. Recycling, when done properly, can be a great way to take care of our resources.

There are concerns however, that the recycling is not actually happening and instead the material ends up at the Trans-Jordan Landfill. We share these concerns.

As elected officials we are actively evaluating both the costs and whether the hoped for benefits of recycling are achieved. Riverton City has the contractual option to end Waste Management’s recycling program in our city if we so desire. Moreover, we want to ensure recycling is actually effective and not a misnomer.

PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

The Value of Riverton’s Fire Inspections

By Chief Wade Watkins

Riverton’s local fire crews will be out in the community performing routine inspections soon. This means your local firefighters will be visiting select businesses within the community to ensure the businesses are safe and compliant with the adopted fire code. Each Riverton business receives this inspection biannually. Unified Fire Authority’s Fire Prevention Division performs the inspections for businesses that are more complex related to fire inspections, for example businesses that have manufacturing or hazardous materials.

The first and most obvious benefit of a fire inspection is that it provides an opportunity to educate business owners and the community on fire safety. As the firefighters inspect the businesses, they have a perfect opportunity to perform pre-incident planning. Simply doing a walk-

through of the business can expedite the fire response and provide key information to the fire crews, such as identifying the best way to access the building or locating the closest fire hydrants. There is no substitute for being prepared. Pre-incident planning is critical to safe and effective firefighting operations.

The crew will be using an inspection program on a tablet or phone to address the fire inspection list. The following requirements appear on each inspection list for commercial businesses:

• Maintain fire lanes free of obstruction

• Fire hydrants and fire department connections must be visible and accessible with 36” of clearance

• Fire extinguisher(s); annual certification required

The inspection should be viewed as an opportunity to learn and be mutually beneficial. Many times, businesses have areas that can be improved upon that greatly reduce

As the firefighters inspect the businesses, they have a perfect opportunity to perform pre-incident planning.

the fire hazard. Some of these improvements include providing signs indicating the location of fire extinguishers that can be difficult to spot. The fire code is ultimately in place to reduce the community’s risk to the hazard of fire. When you see your local firefighters out and about, please don’t hesitate to say hi and ask them about fire prevention and safety.

For more information or questions, please email me at wwatkins@ unifiedfire.org.

Start Smart Kids Sports

Register kids ages 3-5 in spring baseball, soccer and multi-sport Start Smart Sports programs to help them learn the basics. Register at rivertonutah.gov/startsmart.

• Registration opens March 2, programs begin April 30.

Pickleball League

Join Riverton City’s pickleball league to play in a fun, social and competitive environment. Partners rotate weekly. Sessions begin in April.

• Register at rivertonutah.gov/pickleball.

Spring Clean Up Days Coming in April

Dumpsters for trash, cardboard and tree branches will help you with spring clean up! For Riverton resident use only. See details at rivertonutah.gov/beautiful.

• April 13 & April 20, Riverton City Park & Western Springs Park

Chase the clues, win prizes!

Clues will lead teens to safe local destinations throughout Riverton to get candy and prizes. Pre-registration online is required to participate.

Friday, March 29, Noon-4pm

This event is FREE for Teens 13 – 18 years. Register online at rivertonutah.gov/teen-easter

Town Days Parade Entry Applications

Get your business or organization signed up for an entry in the Riverton Town Days Parade. Apply online beginning March 6 at rivertonutah. gov/parade.

• Deadline: Monday, June 17

Parade: Wednesday, July 3

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.”

l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

Comcast helps private school implement updated technology for security and connectivity

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

When high school students and faculty at American Heritage School went back to class last September, they were given a personal MacBook Air to use throughout their high school experience. With more people logging onto the internet, the need for connectivity soared. The school looked for a solution that would increase bandwidth.

Levi Crockett, the school’s education technology director, reached out to Comcast for solutions. Daniel Jasinski was the Comcast sales associate who helped work on the two main problems facing the school: the ability to manage their network and the need for visibility of the network.

“We brought in some specialty teams within Comcast business for a managed Wi-Fi solution, like the ability to have visibility and setting up managed firewalls,” Jasinski said. “They definitely valued the kind of innovative approach that Comcast business had. We’re honored to provide the necessary communication equipment and services that will fuel their school’s growth and educational initiatives.”

Internet safety was a big concern for American Heritage. Along with protection

against cyberattacks, ensuring students were safe online was imperative. With Comcast’s help, the school’s IT team will be able to set protocols in place to monitor websites students visit and to create safeguards and firewalls to increase online safety.

“That’s something that’s top of mind for them. As a private school in American Fork, they have some pretty significant concerns,” Jasinski said. “We’re actually taking that off their plate so they can focus on the important things, such as educating the kids. Let Comcast business be the security experts when it comes to your Wi-Fi.”

Not only will Comcast provide all the hardware and access points necessary to increase internet speed for the school, but it will help build a sustainable network to take the school into the future. It took several months to resolve the issue at American Heritage School, but moving forward, the school is in better shape for technology and growth.

Jasinski said many organizations and businesses should take a look at their current internet system to see if it has the appropriate bandwidth and be willing to

upgrade to avoid a potential crash. If the internet seems slow or if there’s an expansion into cloud computing, talking with Comcast could be the fastest way to increase speed and capability while keeping the network operational.

“There’s a general trend among businesses in Utah that are striving for business growth and initiatives and they need the technology to support those initiatives that will expand their network and their operational execution.”

The updated infrastructure for American Heritage will be completed in June, in time for the next school year. Crockett said working with Comcast was the best choice

they could have made.

“The expertise, professionalism and organization demonstrated in our interview and onboarding processes has been seamless,” he said. “Comcast has left no stone unturned. The lesson we learned that could benefit other organizations is that you can really tell the quality of an organization by how efficiently and exactly they implement well-thought-out procedures and operations.”

To learn how Comcast Business Solutions can support your business needs, contact Jasinski at daniel_jasinski@comcast. com, 801-946-7415 or business.comcast. com/contact. l

American Heritage School looked to Comcast to increase connectivity, internet safety and manageability for its high school students and staff. (Stock photo)

Butterfield wins title at 6A girls state wrestling tournament

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

All season long, Riverton’s Bella Butterfield has been one of the top wrestlers in her weight division in Class 6A. At the state wrestling tournament, held Feb. 14 and 15 at Utah Valley University, Butterfield proved she was the best.

Butterfield, a senior in the 110-pound class, took home top honors at the state tournament, winning first place after a dominant showing. Butterfield capped an impressive 46-6 season with three victories in the tournament, all by fall.

In the first round, Butterfield had a bye. She began her title run by pinning her teammate Jacey Hilton in 1:31. Her next victory came over Copper Hills’ Myah French, whom she pinned in 3:20 in the semifinals. In the championship round, she took down Syracuse wrestler Emily Ball in 2:57.

It was a sweet victory for Butterfield, who came close to winning titles in the two previous seasons.

Butterfield advanced to the finals as a sophomore and junior but lost both times. This time around, however, she wasn’t to be denied.

“She got it done as a senior—third time was the charm for her,” said Joe Gorman, a Riverton wrestling coach. “She wanted to

win state so bad and was motivated by taking second the past two seasons. [Butterfield] is the first girls state champ in school history. She is the hardest worker on the girls team and a great leader.”

Butterfield plans on wrestling in col-

lege next season. Her 46 wins this season was the most in school history.

As a team, the Silverwolves were 11th out of 16 teams at the tournament. They picked up 69 points during the two-day event, 18 fewer than 10th-place Weber.

Six other Riverton wrestlers qualified for state, with four besides Butterfield picking up points.

Mina Trinh, a 105-pound junior, placed fourth at state after entering as the No. 1 seed in Division A. She had a firstround bye and then won in the quarterfinals by fall in 4:40. After a semifinals loss by fall in 3:02, she pinned her opponent in the consolation bracket in 2:36. With third place on the line, Trinh lost by fall in 5:14.

Another Riverton wrestler, 130-pounder Alexis Pavlides, also got to the thirdplace match. The junior, who went 32-16 during the regular season, won third place by prevailing by fall in 3:33 in her final match. She won her first match by fall in three minutes before losing in the quarterfinals. In the consolation round, however, Pavlides went on a run of three wins in a row before her third-place-match victory.

Riverton’s Elena Hoker a 170-pound senior, and senior Avery Larsen, competing in the 235-pound class, also scored points for the Silverwolves. l

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Bella Butterfield won first place in the 110-pound class at the 6A state championship. (Photo courtesy Joe Gorman)

Moody wins state wrestling title as Riverton boys finish ninth in 6A

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

In a talented field of 18 schools, the Riverton boys wrestling team finished in the middle of the pack at the Class 6A state meet. Riverton placed ninth as a team at the state championships, held Feb. 16–17 at Utah Valley University.

The Silverwolves improved on last season’s 16th-place showing at state.

Riverton garnered 67.5 points at the two-day event, three better than 10th-place Bingham and 12 behind eighth-place Syracuse. Impressively, Riverton sent 16 wrestlers to state, 11 of whom scored points for the team.

Individually, the biggest news for the Silverwolves was the performance of freshman Samuel Moody. In the 106-pound class, Moody won first place, winning the championship match 12-9 over Tanner Telford of Corner Canyon. Moody won in the semifinals by fall in just 1:18 to reach the final round. Moody skipped his quarterfinals matchup because his opponent was injured. In the first round, Moody took care of Evan Foster of Davis by the score of 21-6 in a technical fall. Moody’s big championship win capped a successful year for the ninth grader, who went 43-9 overall during the regular season.

And he still has three more years to wrestle for Riverton.

In the 138-pound class, Riverton’s Carter Olson placed seventh. The senior went 26-15 on the year and 3-3 at state. Gage Watt, a 190-pound senior who went 38-10 on the year, placed fourth for Riverton. He won his first match 18-5, followed by a 4-0 win in the quarterfinals. After losing in the semifinals by fall to the eventual state champion, Watt won in the consolation bracket by fall in 2:50 before losing by fall in 2:58 in the third-place match.

Also for the Silverwolves, sophomore Calin Olson (115 pounds), junior Jacob Roy (144), senior Ryker Church (150), senior Kalob Baker (157), sophomore Sterling Johnson (165), junior Dylan Shafizadeh (175), junior Riley Hunstman (215) and senior Samuel Lee (285) got points for the team by winning at least one match at state.

With Moody returning for his sophomore year next season, there’s some excitement around Riverton wrestling. Five other point-scorers, along with five other state participants, are back next season. Easton Rolson, a 106-pound freshman, and fellow ninth grader Bennett Neilson at 150 pounds, join Moody as the future of Silverwolves wrestling. Rolson had a stellar mark of 41-10 on the year, while Neilson was 22-10. l

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Samuel Moody went 43-9 on the year enroute to a state championship. (Photo courtesy Joe Gorman)

Freshman Samuel Moody took state in the 106-pound class. (Photo courtesy Joe Gorman)

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.

“The