The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) elected Matt Hymas to serve as chair of the 15-member governing board.
Hymas first elected to the Board in 2020, will serve a two-year term as chair and be joined by Molly Hart and LeAnn Wood as vice chairs. The leadership terms begin January 2025. Board members elect leadership every two years using a preferential voting method and have the option of creating one, two, or three vice chair seats.
Hymas, of Stansbury Park, currently serves as the Executive Director at Excelsior Academy. He has been in education since 2008, and has worked as a teacher, coach, athletic director and high school director. Hymas represents District 10, which includes most of Tooele County. During his time on the Board, Hymas has served as the Chair of the Law and Licensing Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee.
Sandy resident Molly Hart was re-elected as first vice chair. Hart is the Executive Director at Summit Academy and has worked as a paraprofessional, teacher, assistant principal, and principal in multiple states from elementary school to university. She was first elected to the Board in 2020. Hart represents District 7, an area that covers northwestern Utah.
LeAnn Wood of Kaysville was elected as second vice chair. Elected in 2022, she has spent the 25 years as a parent volunteer supporting public schools. Wood represents District 4, which comprises much of Davis County. Wood has previously served as the Utah PTA Education Commissioner and Secretary for the Utah Public Education Coalition.
The newly elected Board Chair and Vice chairs will assume transition responsibilities, including new committee assignments and setting the agendas for the January board meeting.
