Utah Education is My Priority
Educational Excellence: A Commitment to Prioritize the Student Always
Education has been my passion since I was young. Playing school with my younger siblings and teaching them to read was a favorite childhood pastime.
I graduated with a composite degree in English and Humanities, with a secondary teaching certificate. I taught English and Stage Tech in Boise, Idaho, and musical theater at two Junior Highs and one high school in Davis County.
I have served on Community Councils, Curriculum Councils, worked in classrooms with teachers, with legislators and USBE members, I have served as the head of the children’s organization and twice as the head of the youth organization in my church, and as a Classroom Manager for 12 years.
I am a strong believer in the Education Partnership: students, parents and teachers collaborating together to achieve higher standards and improve academic outcomes.
I believe we need more compassion for each other, more collaboration to create better outcomes, and more community involvement that will enhance education opportunities for our students.
High Expectations for Students•Evidence-based Curriculum• Politically Neutral Classrooms
My husband and I have four incredible kiddos who have all been through public, charter, and homeschool. I am very grateful for the diverse education opportunities we have available to us.
Endorsements
“Melanie is truly someone who treats everyone like family. We fully support and trust her to make decisions for our children and families, with complete confidence that her decisions will reflect our own choices. She is resilient, intelligent, and had-working, and will make informed decisions-only after putting in the time and effort to understand fully the situation and issues at hand. She won’t be swayed or prodded to do anything contrary to that which she would do for her own children. She will work for our children and help maintain and restore that which is just and right.”
— Ben and Mindy Murdock
“I have known Melanie for many years, and have seen her be involved with many educational aspects of our community such as Community Councils, PTA and working with members of the USBE. I have been impressed with her knowledge and understanding of education rules and policies in our state, and have turned to her many times with questions from my children’s experiences at school. I am grateful for her honesty and her capacity to earn respect from individuals on all sides of any issue.
I wholeheartedly endorse her!”
— Suzette Jackson, North Salt Lake City Council Member
“I wholeheartedly support Melanie Mortensen for Davis School Board. Her experience with legislators and members of the State Board of Education gives her a unique perspective on stature and policy. She has a deep understanding of Utah code and her common sense approach encourages understanding and collaboration. She will ensure that families, teachers and students are well represented.”
— Karianne Lisonbee, Representative House District 14, Majority Whip Leader
“Many challenges face Davis School District in the next few years. The challenges ahead will require thoughtful, careful consideration and someone who will listen to the public and see through the partisan politics that have crept into our schools. Melanie has spent years as an educator, parent and community member getting to know the challenges our kids face to attaining a world class education. We believe that Melanie is the only candidate running who has the knowledge, ability, and desire to put ambition and politics aside and place our kids front and center where they belong. We need someone like Melanie, and our children need somebody like Melanie, which is why we will proudly be giving her our vote for Davis County School Board.”
— Josh and Steffanie Holdstock
“We wholeheartedly endorse Melanie Mortensen for the Davis County School Board. We have full confidence in her ability as a leader, as a decision maker, and we know that she will always advocate for what's best for our students!”
— Jeff and Shannon Simmons
North Salt Lake:
Dave and Stefie Munk, High School Counselor and Special Education Teacher
Brian and Linda Horrocks, North Salt Lake City Mayor
Angie McMillan
John and Wendy Hyde
Mindy Taylor
Chad and Susie Gardner
Gene and Robyn Chidester
Mike and Pam DeLange
AJ and Suzette Jackson, North Salt Lake City Council Member
Frederic and Hade Bosteels
Iliana Clift
Rick and Debi Winder
Carol Chomjak
Job and Leslie Cyril
Paul and Michelle Rapp
Lane and LaVona Lewis
Dennis and Jane Crandall
Wayne and Tammy Clayton, North Salt Lake City Council Member
Greg and Wendy Fenn
Bob and Brenda Brisko
Erik and Kimberly Shupe
Jeff and Jennifer Smith
Kathy Perry
Amy Cowley
Eric and Jamey Nofsinger
Larry and Carol Fisher
David and Carrie Crocket
Bountiful:
Matt and Lynsi Neve
David and Holly Jordan
Ben and Mindy Murdock
Jeff and Kiersten Creer
Nate and Nelle Pugsley
Dalane England
Brett and Lisa Bradshaw
Kevin and Patrice Laurence
George and Pam Makris
Paul and Anna Ayala
Josh and Steffanie Holdstock
Judy Rankin
Ben and Sally Alley
KC and Tara Bramwell
Mark and Michelle Brooks, Elementary Secretary
John and Taressa Earl
Jake and Trish McSwain
Nathan and Sarah Hunter
Peter and Camille Mauerhan
Lance and Jill Poulsen
Josh and Steffanie Holdstock
Craig and Juliana Burrows
Clarke and Maren Hilbig, Physician and Charter School Founder
Blaine and Cathy Phillips
Dr. Jen Brown, Dentist
Rick and Jamie Brey
Trevor and Becky Paulson
Carl and Mary Jane Biehn
Greg and Karla Mortensen
Joe and Jamie Atkin
Ryan and Nicole Anderson
Nelson and Susan Holzer
Jeff and Jenny Noall
Dave and Amberlyn Gill
Mike and Laura Duncan
Jeremy and Rachael Brisko
Adam and Danielle Taintor
Joe and Jamie Atkin
Paul and Kimberly Hansen
Rich and Susan Humphreys
Summer Willis
Garhett and Carrie Colton
Troy Sessions
Scott and Alana Rogers
Nate and Shelby Webster
Hai Fitzgerald, owner Thyme and Seasons
Kimball and Rita Jacobs
Becca Lund
Merrill and Karen Bunker
Marla Keller
John and Ginnie Andrews
Brad and Alison Madsen
Brandon and Christie Pearson
Nancy Nelson
Jeff and Cindy Anderson
Roger and Pam Lee
Don and Bobbi Trimming
James and Rebecca Stout
Jared and Becca Thompson
Steve and Tara Call
Paul and Debby Clements
Bekah Johnson
Chris Lassig
Jared and Brandi Wendel
Gary Widders
Rick Smith
Eric and Julie Hattabough
Mike and Renee Hurst
Greg Frazier
Lisa Woodward
Steve and Deedee Adamson
Wayne Smith
Ashley Smith
Curtis and Michelle Trader
Sara Subardjo
Debbie Miller
Mike Brown
Virva Sandorf
Scott and Alli Samuelson
Becky Hale
Dan Paxton
Chris and Becky Fisher
Marc and Teana Error
Charles and Lisa Livsey
Dave and Heidi Peterson
Kirk and Trish Adams
Derek and Preot Oaks
Merrill and Karen Bunker
Rae Ann White
Tyler and Crystal Loveland
Bob and Kathy Smith
Frank and Patricia Jorgensen
Paul and Carmen Anderson
Cam and Sarah Nelson
Roberto and Alssanie Gaertner
Bret and Tracy Wahlen
Jeff and Cindy Anderson
West Bountiful:
Ken Romney, West Bountiful Mayor
Ryan and Jen Morton
Don Guymon
Shawna Richards
Craig Johnson
Woods Cross:
Ryan and DeAnn Westergard, Woods Cross Mayor
Todd and Elizabeth Weiler, Utah Senator
Kevin and Heather Anderson
Jeff and Shannon Simmons
Ryan and Marly Ferrin
Terry Findling
David Axenty
Valerie Hill
David and Tammi Lewis
Gordon and Kim Grotepas
Shauna Midgley
Char Whipple
Centerville:
Representative Paul Cutler, House District 18
Robert and Diane Prince
Scott and Sherry Russon
Loren and Carrie Pankratz, Pastor at Bridge Community Church
Paul Welch
Northern Davis County:
Representative Karianne Lisonbee, Majority House Whip Leader, House District 14
Representative Trevor Lee, House District 1
Representative Mike Shultz, Speaker of the House, House District 12
Representative Katy Hall, House District 11
Rusty Cannon
Kristen Hogan, current Davis School Board member
John Crofts, Davis Utah Weekly
Geoff and Coty Erickson, Elementary Teacher
Damon and Anna Kirchmeier
Todd and Janet Heiner
Jason and McCall Erickson
Martha Felt
Matt and Cami Erickson
Adam and Danielle Taintor
Outside Davis County:
Mike Lee, US Senator
Ron and Leslie Burt
Deacon and Livia Goldman, Special Education Teacher
Rob Axson
Representative Kera Birkeland, House District 4
Republican Women Lead
Megan Jay
Kelly D Sansom
“I have seen Melanie be involved with many aspects of our community, from the South Davis Recreation District to City Council meetings. I have been very impressed with her knowledge on current issues, and how the decisions of our elected officials affect our constituents. She has a great capacity and understanding, and is someone I trust to make decisions on behalf of our children and their education. I fully endorse her candidacy with great enthusiasm and know she is the best choice to represent us on the Davis School Board.”
— Mayor Brian Horrocks, North Salt Lake
“We are pleased to endorse Melanie Mortensen wholeheartedly for the role of Davis School District Board Member. Melanie has spent decades championing the cause of children's education right here in Davis County. She has shown that her goals include refocusing our district on data-supported instructional practices that build knowledgeable students and principled thinkers. We are confident she will focus on evidenced-based instruction, help parents feel included in their child's education and be able to intermesh all stakeholders together peacefully. We have seen firsthand that Melanie is a vivacious leader that will build bridges and unite parents, teachers and administration for the benefit of all children.”
— Clarke and Maren Hilbig
Physician and Charter School Founder
“Melanie Mortensen is an amazing and talented mother who has always been a passionate advocate for families in the education of their children. We have known Melanie for 18 years as our kids have grown up together, and we can not think of anyone who would represent the families of Davis county with more integrity and determination than Melanie Mortensen as a member of Davis School Board.”
— Craig and Juliana Burrows
“We have seen Melanie work in our schools for more than a decade. She has a tenacious work ethic and is never afraid to stand up for what she believes is right.”
— Lance and Jill Poulsen
“We have been impressed with Melanie’s involvement in community issues and the way she generously gives of her time to serve and help others. She is honest, approachable, hard-working and is not afraid to fight for what is right and take a stand.”
— Nathan and Sarah Hunter
“We strongly recommend Melanie Mortensen to the position of Davis District School Board. She has always been an advocate for our educational system. As a teacher, an educator, and a mother, Melanie understands first-hand the issues that face our local school systems today. She has served on several community councils, worked with legislators, and headed up several youth organizations. She is an excellent communicator and listener and is passionate about education. She will bring a voice of reason to the decisive agendas that have infiltrated our schools. She is not afraid to stand up to CRT, Transformative SEL, or CSE. We need an advocate like Melanie standing for pure education that is void of personal and political agendas! In addition we know Melanie will stand for better educational curriculums, better teaching methods, and better student comprehension. As Benjamin Franklin said, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest!” We know Melanie will work towards a future where the excellence of our education is unparalleled.
— Peter and Camille Mauerhan
“Educating children for over fifteen years in Davis School District has been one of the greatest joys and also one of the most difficult pains of my life. I feel that we as a school community are all in for what is best for kids, but our district feels removed from the trench. I’m tired of hearing “that is how we have always done things,” or “we don’t hear those concerns from other schools.” It is not good enough anymore for a teacher that wants what is best for every child in her room, and every teacher on my team.
”Melanie Mortensen is absolutely the person I want on my team—she is willing to look for solutions outside the box, dig in the trenches with teachers for new resolutions, and imagine new approaches. Melanie is teachable, curious, steadfast in pursuit of goals, and dedicated to our children. These are all qualities that I want on my team.”
— Coty Erickson, Elementary Teacher
“Please support Melanie Mortensen for Davis County School Board. Melanie is organized and very capable. She understands that parents need to be listened to. She would be an excellent member of the school board.”
— Jen Brown
“I’ve known Melanie for many years and she has always been willing to listen to both sides of an issue and be vigilant in protecting taxpayers."
— Rusty Cannon, recent President of Utah Taxpayers Association