Diane Knight
Diane Knight Candidate for Aspen Peaks School Board – Seat 1
1. Why did you decide to run for the new Aspen Peaks School District Board, and what are your top priorities for ensuring students have the best possible academic outcomes?
I have spent my life inside the classroom, working directly with students and partnering with parents. As a parent of five children educated in Alpine School District, I partnered with hundreds of teachers. As an educator of 36 years, I partnered with thousands of parents. In 2022, I was awarded Utah’s Best of State Kindergarten Teacher. I’ve served on School Community Councils as both a parent and educator, on leadership teams, mentored new teachers, and taught educators across the state.
I am running because I am deeply committed to education and know from experience what it takes for students to thrive. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new district focused on optimal student success. My top priorities include:
- Focusing on classroom-centered decision-making
- Empowering teachers and valuing their expertise
- Partnering with parents to elevate learning at home and school
- Reducing class sizes by proactively using existing budget allocations
Teacher support is essential. We have enough supplies—what we need is support from the top down. If we take care of our teachers, our students will flourish.
2. What is your experience with education administration and hiring executive-level positions like district superintendents? How would you approach selecting leadership during the district split?
I’ve worked closely with school, district, and state administrators. At the school level, I served on leadership teams and participated in hiring educators. At the district level, I contributed to curriculum vetting and professional development. At the state level, I taught educators throughout Utah. These experiences prepare me to help select a superintendent who aligns with our district vision.
While I haven’t hired a superintendent, I’ve worked under many and understand what effective leadership requires. The board must first establish a clear vision for the Aspen Peaks District. From there, we should conduct a wide search—locally and nationally—to find the leader best equipped to bring that vision to life.
3. What will you do to attract and retain high-quality teachers?
My goal is to make Aspen Peaks School District the preferred choice for educators. We can achieve this by:
- Prioritizing classroom needs and teacher input
- Ensuring teachers feel seen, heard, and supported
- Maintaining step and lane changes for professional advancement
- Offering competitive pay and strong retirement incentives
- Reducing class sizes with proactive budgeting
Teachers thrive when they know they matter. Our policies and culture must reflect that.
4. How will you ensure the district budget is transparent and fiscally responsible?
Transparency starts with hiring a business administrator who can clearly communicate where and how funds are allocated. Budget reports must be accessible and understandable to the public. Proper oversight mechanisms should be in place to safeguard all public funds.
As a board, we must ensure the budget:
- Reflects district priorities—especially classroom investments
- Plans ahead for future expenditures
- Empowers the community with clear, transparent financial reporting
Source: Lehi Free Press Candidate Q&A