Diane Knight for School Board Seat 1

I’m Diane Knight—a recently retired kindergarten teacher with over three decades of classroom experience. After 36 years of teaching, I’m stepping forward to run for School Board Seat 1 in our newly formed Central School District, currently known as Aspen Peaks.

But this campaign isn’t about politics. It’s about purpose. We have one chance to build a district from the ground up—and I’m running to ensure we do it right.

From the Classroom to the Boardroom

It was my privilege to spend 36 years in the classroom.

• I taught second and third grades, ran a private preschool with a custom curriculum, and spent 16 years teaching kindergarten.
• I served on school leadership teams and RTI teams (Response to Intervention).
• I mentored new teachers and taught educators around the state for Utah State Board of Education, and locally for Alpine School District.
• I served on elementary and secondary School Community Councils as both a parent and an educator. As an educator, I won an award from the state of Utah for best use of Land Trust funds.

During my career, I developed practical programs that met real student needs:

• Rocket Readers – to support struggling early readers
• Carson Courage – to teach bravery to young students in the face of challenges
• The Kindergarten Planner – to strengthen parent-teacher communication

Results That Speak for Themselves

• In my final year, 19 of my 24 students scored in the top tier—above grade level—on the Acadience early learning assessment.
• I was honored to receive the Utah Best of State Kindergarten Teacher Award in 2022. But the true honor was watching students thrive—and knowing they felt seen, supported, and capable.

Giving Back

Along the way, I served in my community.

• I volunteered as a District Roundtable Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America, developing and teaching training courses for 11-year-old Scout leaders.
• Currently, I serve as the Education Specialist for myHometown West Valley City. In that capacity I work with Granite School District’s Family and Community Engagement department. I also teach summer school for disadvantaged children.
• On Saturday evenings, my grandson and I can be found in the Ronald McDonald Room at Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, making cookies for inpatient families.

Building a Better District, Together

My lifetime of experience has prepared me for this once-in-a-generation opportunity. As we establish a brand-new district, we need leadership that understands not just education theory—but what learning actually looks like, day after day, in real classrooms.

I believe:

• Every decision should be made through a classroom lens
• Parents must be partners, not bystanders
• Teachers must feel supported from the top down

Why I’m Running—and Why I Hope You’ll Join Me

I’m not running because I want to be a politician. I’m running because students and families deserve a district built on proven practices, compassionate leadership, and genuine collaboration.

If elected, I will bring:

• 36 years of hands-on classroom experience
• A record of innovation and success
• A passion for putting students and teachers first

Let’s Build This—Together

We have the chance to create something new. Something better. I respectfully ask for your support and your vote in both the Primary and General Elections.

Let’s build a district where:

• Classrooms come first
• Parents are partners
• Teachers are truly supported

Together, we can ensure that our students thrive!

– Diane Knight
Candidate for Aspen Peaks School Board, Seat 1