Julie Walker
For Seat 4 - South School District
With the creation of the new South School District, we have a rare opportunity to rethink how we educate our children. I'm running to help build a modern, responsive school system that reflects our community's values and prepares our students for the future.
Rethink, Don't Just Rebuild
We can start fresh and design a school system that actually works for today's students
Support Teachers, Staff, and Admins
Our educators deserve real support - when they thrive, so do our students
Expand Career & Technical Education
Let's give our students real-world skills and options through hands-on CTE programs
Keep Schools Community-Centered and Transparent
Local voices matter! I'll fight for open communication, clear budgets, and decisions that reflec tthe values of our families
MEET
JULIE WALKER
I love to collaborate and work well with others. I not only listen, but I take action when and where I can. As PTA President, I successfully advocated for a new Cascade Elementary School in Orem.
For over a decade, I’ve worked side-by-side with parents, educators, and administrators to strengthen our schools:
- 7 years as Orem Council PTA President
- Service on multiple School Community Councils at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels
- Former member of the Alpine District Community Council
- Organizer of Orem Peace and Pie Night, a community healing event that brought people together after a divisive election
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- Small business owner in Orem since 2009
Running a business has taught me the value of wise budgeting, creative problem-solving, and collaboration. These are the same skills I’ll bring to the school board: planning ahead, managing resources, and building consensus to get things done.
My Platform: A Better Future for Every Student
RETHINK, DON'T JUST REBUILD
We need bold ideas, not business-as-usual. Let’s create smarter systems for better outcomes—not just copy what’s been done before.
SUPPORT TEACHERS, STAFF & ADMINS
Great schools start with great people. That means better pay, respect, and support for teachers, school staff, and administrators—the backbone of our schools.
DATA-INFORMED, PEOPLE-CENTERED
Use smart data, but always listen to real people. Decisions should be transparent, thoughtful, and shaped by parents, students, teachers, and community voices..
STRENGTHEN CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
CTE programs open doors to real-world opportunities. Let’s expand pathways in trades, tech, health, and entrepreneurship—giving students more ways to succeed.
INVEST IN SCHOOL SPORTS & COACHES
Athletics build leadership, discipline, and school spirit. Coaches shape lives, and school sports bring communities together. I’ll advocate for strong programs that uplift students.
STRONG BASICS, MODERN SKILLS
A renewed focus on
literacy and math—plus 21st-century skills in digital literacy, communication, and critical thinking.
TRANSPARENT SPENDING & LOCAL CONTROL
Tax dollars should be easy to track. Let’s keep budgets clear, accountable, and centered on what matters most: students.
PARTNER WITH PARENTS
Parents are a child’s first teacher. I’ll champion meaningful engagement, clear communication, and real collaboration with families.
This is our moment—to build a school district that reflects our values, supports every learner, and prepares the next generation for a brighter future.
What if similar to how the state trust lands work -managing state assets for Education funding - we could manage donated funds to invest in new start ups? Sure some new starts up aren't successful - some would be somewhat successful and some would be home runs. Similar to this high school in California that invested $15,000 dollars in Snap Chat with a parent Venture Capitalist. When Snap Chat went public (IPO) the school foundation sold 2/3's of its investment and turned $10,000 into over $28,000,000 million dollars for Education funding.
Karsten4SchoolBoard proposes that we set up an Alpine School District Foundation Innovation Fund
Often we hear that we must make hard decisions about building schools, closing schools or paying teachers and we must bond/raise taxes for more funds. Parents that want an alternative to bonds and higher property taxes could donate funds to the Alpine School District Foundation Innovation Fund. Working with start ups and venture capitalists in the Alpine School District boundaries who are invested in our communities and schools - the proposed Alpine School District Foundation Innovation Fund could take privately donated funds and work with investors in our school community to open another funding source to Education. Imagine if the Alpine School District Foundation Innovation Fund had existed or taken privately donated funds to invest early into Vivint, Pluralsight, Weave, Instructure, Qualtrics, MX, or any of the other recent Utah IPO's.
While we can't go backwards - this is something we could investigate together for the future of Utah tech firms and Alpine School District Education funding. Setting up a virtuous circle to impact children, schools, and the Utah Business and Tech Community. Many of these entrepreneurs and venture investors have children in our public schools.
While some of the State Trust Land assets may eventually renew, (timber) others may eventually run out (oil & gas). Investing and supporting - Human Entrepreneurial Capital that is in our community could be a win/win/win arrangement for the community, our schools, and our tax payers.
St. Francis high school in Silicon Valley, California - their school foundation took privately donated funds (not public tax payer funds) and invested in Snap Chat setting up the precedence and giving me the idea to propose this for the Alpine School District. I see this as an eventual alternative funding source that could lower or keep current property tax rates and/or replace some or all of the bonding needs.
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Work Experience
Mountain View High School
Orem, UT
Business, Marketing, Financial Literacy, and Work Based Learning Instructor 1997-2020 DECA Adviser
Alpine School District
American Fork, UT
District CTE Business and Marketing Content Area Specialist 2014- 2020
Utah DECA Assistant State Advisor
Utah
Student Officer Teams, High School and Collegiate DECA assignments 2011-2016
Utah Auditor's Office
Utah
Researcher, Data Analyst, Writer. Summer 2018.
Walker Enterprises, LLC
Utah
Various Business and Marketing, consulting and ventures 2001 - present.
USA Student Travel
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Assisted in the Operations and Management of travel programs Summers 1997, 1998, 1999
APEX, then APX Alarm, now Vivint
Costa Mesa, CA
Managed a summer sales office in California Summer 1995
Health Benefits America
Utah
Lead project manager for a Health Maintenance Organization data project 1993-1994
The Associates, Ford Financial Credit
Utah
Credit analyst for the Financial Services Arm of Ford Motor Credit 1992-1994
Nauvoo Family Inn and Suites
Utah, Missouri, and Illinois
Developed and implemented creative marketing strategies 1993-2004
Education
Graduation Anticipated 2023
University State University Logan, UT
Ph.D. Course Work Teal - Utah State University School of Education and Leadership - One course to finish and then dissertation to do.
2015 Graduation
University of Delaware Newark, DE
Masters in Economic and Entrepreneurship Education 2015
1997 Graduation
Utah State University
Logan, UT
B.S. Business & Marketing Education
Professional skills
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Background in Economics
26 Years of Classroom Teaching Experience
Teamwork & Collaboration
Data Analysis
Background in Financial Literacy Education
Board Positions, Experience, & Awards
Utah Financial Literacy Task Force - Utah
Mountainland CTE Region Representative 2017 - 2020
Utah DECA Board Member - Utah
Southern Region or Member-at- large 1998-2013
Utah CTE Marketing Educators Group - Marketing Division of Utah ACTE - Utah
Board Member 1997 to 2001 then President Elect, President, Past President 2001-2005
Education Advisory Group (EAG) Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco - San Francisco & Utah
Work with the SF Fed’s Education and Outreach Department – One Year Term 2015
NYSE Euronext Summer Teacher Education Program Fellowship - New York City, NY
Stock Exchange Business Educator Program 2014
Mountain View High School - School Accreditation Team Member
2002-2003 2008-2009
Governor Herbert, Utah Economic Development Office, USOE Entrepreneurship Roundtable
Participant 2011
Utah State Office of Education/Utah School Board Various Committees and Projects
Marketing Conference Planning, Business and Marketing Conference Planning, Curriculum - Standards Writer –Business & Marketing Courses and State CTE Testing Committees, In-service Provider From 1997 – to 2017
DECA, Inc. CTE - Various Committees - CTSO Committees - Train the trainer, Membership Various Years
Reston, Virginia
DECA, Inc. CTE - CTSO National Delta Epsilon Chi (Collegiate DECA) President 1995
Elected to be a member of a group of 5 elite student leaders that were liaisons for 15,000+ collegiate members and the organization's international headquarters in Reston, Virginia. I worked on Chapter Development, Membership, and Recruitment. Keynoted and presented at state conferences.
Honors and Awards
Utah ACTE Business and Marketing - Lifetime Achievement Award
2020
Utah ACTE Marketing Teacher of the Year
2007
Utah Education Association
Quality Teaching Committee Member 2002 - 2004
Media Coverage
Utah Business Week
September 2017 Panel Participant - Industry Outlook - Education
Next Gen Personal Finance Documentary
February 2020 Extra Footage Interview on Utah Performance Audit of Financial Literacy Program
Barron's Celebrates Education Inclusion
Introduction of GFLEC - Financial Literacy Award
Conference Presentations
5th Cherry Blossom Financial Education Institute
Financial Literacy Panel: Financial Education in School – Invited Presenter on Utah’s Financial Literacy Program 2019
Utah State Office of Education CTE Business & Marketing Summer and Mid-Winter Conference Presenter
2002 – to 2015 Presented breakouts on new curriculum and lead sessions during teacher sharing portion of conference. Also presented on teaching Economics and teaching Entrepreneurship - Developed and revised state curriculum and state tests- Marketing I and Marketing II - Digital Marketing - Sports and Entertainment Marketing - Economics - Financial Literacy - Business Management
HOSA Fall Leadership Conference
2019 Marketing Your HOSA Program
Federal Reserve Salt Lake City Branch Financial Literacy Teacher PD
2019 Utah’s Financial Literacy Program
Publications
Utah's General Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement A Program Review
One of two Lead Researchers, Data Analyst and Co-Author, October 5, 2018
Community Service
Boy Scouts of America
Various Roles 2007 - 2010
Professional Memberships
Utah ACTE Business and Marketing Division
DECA - 24 years of membership and service as an Adviser
Grants
Mountain Land Region Financial Literacy Grant - Utah School Board $25,000
2019-2020
Mountain Land Region Financial Literacy Grant - Utah School Board $35,000
2018-2019
Languages
English: Native Language
Spanish: Proficient
Get in Touch
Want to hear more about how we can succeed together. Send me an email or fill out our contact form with any questions or feedback you may have.