K-12 Initiatives 
The K-12 Initiatives spoke focuses on a variety of strategies, efforts, and programs that will better prepare Utah girls and young women to successfully complete high school, transition to college, and become healthy, positive, and contributing members of society. Initiatives may focus on improving confidence and resilience, increasing aspirations to attend and complete college, raising interest in nontraditional fields, and boosting math scores by eighth grade. With the newly released CDC data, initiatives could also focus on strengthening mental health more broadly through decreasing rates of sexual violence among youth, partnering with other entities to reduce suicide ideation, and other critical elements. Raising aspirations among girls and young women to become leaders is also crucial to positive outcomes as well.
Spoke Leaders
Joann Brown
Individual Development, PTA
LinkedIn Profile
Joann Brown is the Utah PTA Individual Development Commissioner. She is an advocate of education and educators, and is particularly passionate about supporting youth in achieving their dreams. 
Brittney Cummins
Community Advocate
LinkedIn Profile
Brittney Cummins is an educator and education advocate with a passion for improving the student experience in Utah schools. She served on the USBE, chaired a charter school governing board, worked as the Governor’s education advisor, and taught at a local high school. 
Deanie Wimmer
Community Leader, TV Anchor
Instagram Profile
Deanie Wimmer anchors the 6:00, 6:30, and 10:00pm news on KSL-TV and covers education issues. She is passionate about helping all Utahns reach their potential through education.
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the K-12 Initiatives spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below. Spoke leadership and UWLP team members are currently working to collect baseline data that will assist in adding numbers to the changes we want to see by 2026 and 2030.
Vision: Provide access and opportunities for all Utah girls and young women to successfully complete high school, be college and career ready, and become healthy, positive, and contributing members of society.
Goals:
- Increase high school graduation to at least 95% (currently 88%), college and career ready, in high schools across Utah, with a focus on girls and underrepresented groups (in collaboration with the Higher Education Attainment Spoke). [Metric]
- Increase the percentage of all Utah students with proficient math skills, with a focus on girls and other underrepresented groups by ~20%. This includes students entering kindergarten [Metric], 3rd grade proficiency [Metric], 4th grade disparity between boys and girls [Metric], 8th grade proficiency [Metric], and 8th grade disparity between boys and girls [Metric].
- Change Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
- It is important for girls in K-12 to have strong math skills for their future career and life. [Increase agreement by 5% by 2026 and 10% by 2030]
- It is important for girls to complete Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways in high school. [Increase agreement by 5% by 2026 and 10% by 2030]
- It is as important for girls as it is for boys to take advanced coursework in high school that prepares students for postsecondary opportunities and careers. [Increase agreement by 5% by 2026 and 10% by 2030]
- It is concerning that The Nation’s Report Card math scores for 4th and 8th grade in Utah are lower for girls than they are for boys. [Increase agreement by 5% by 2026 and 10% by 2030]
Note: Parent and family engagement strategies are woven into each goal.
Thriving Statement: Women and girls thrive when they have the access and opportunity to successfully complete high school and be college and career ready.
Partners
Working Group Leaders
- Early Numeracy: Kelly Noorda (Lead Network Director, Promise Partnership) & Emily Carr (Network Director, Promise Partnership)
- Family Engagement: Angelee Aedo (Family Life Commissioner, Utah PTA) & Susie Estrada (Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Utah State Board of Education)
- Graduation: Amy Ahrens Terpstra (Chief Impact Officer, Promise Partnership)
- Secondary Math: Lindsey Henderson (Secondary Mathematics Specialist, Utah State Board of Education)
- Understanding Perceptions: Katie Garrett (Associate Director of Media Services, Utah Education Network) & Brooke Anderson (Data Scientist, Jordan School District)
Get Engaged: Ways to get engaged include joining a working group that focuses on a variety of areas related to girls, young women, and education; creating school and community partnerships by sharing educational resources and opportunities across organizations; volunteering at your local school and participating in school and district events; and engaging in school and district policy by providing public feedback, serving on community councils, attending school board meetings, etc. Thank you for your interest!
Laney Benedict
Spoke Coordinator
LinkedIn Profile
laneysconnection@gmail.com