Pub. 1 2011-2012 Issue 2

28 W hen it comes to rethinking and re- tooling how students are educated in the Beehive State, Draper Repre- sentative Greg Hughes is a champion of student- centered reforms. Hughes, who is currently serving his second year as the Major- ity Whip in the Utah House of Representatives, recognizes the challenges that Utah faces in education. While Utah spends 100% of its income tax and more than half its property taxes on education, the number of children in the state far outweighs the available funds. Despite this Hughes believes we can make significant changes for students that are not exclusively tied to the higher tax approach. “Making smart choices is howwe’re going to make a difference,” says Hughes. “Choosing innovative technologies and refusing to accept the status quo is how you affect positive, lasting changes.” While Hughes lives comfortably now in Draper with his family this was not always the case. Hughes grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. with a single mom not always knowing where the next meal would come from. “I was a Title One kid long before I knew what that was. Which makes me somewhat of an atypical ad- vocate for education.” As Hughes reflects on his days in school, “penmanship was needed for forging hall passes and creative writing meant producing another note explaining your absence from class the previous day. I was learning, yes, learning how to defeat the system rather than being encouraged and uplifted by it.” continued on page 30... CHANGES Making Positive, Lastin Making Positive, Lasting By Allison Holmes and Chuck Gates