Most of our posts in the career path series have been BYU faculty members. However, we wanted to expand our reach and learn more about other leaders in education. Today we will highlight Sydnee Dickson, the Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Sydnee Dickson prides herself on being a BYU alum. She has degrees from Dixie State, Utah State, the University of Utah, and BYU! Her degrees have led her to be a teacher, school counselor, vice-principal, principal, and work in professional development. As the Utah State Superintendent, she currently works to carry out the vision held by the Utah State Board of Education to improve outcomes for students while also creating a positive environment for state agency workers to take part in.
Read the graphic below to learn more about how Sydnee Dickson went from a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education to being the State Superintendent!
Sydnee Dickson has three pieces of advice for all individuals preparing to be educators.
Learn/understand "how to build relationships with parents and families and [figure] out how to be transparent about what you’re doing... Have good communication rituals established with those families."
Ensure you have quality instructional practices and materials.
"Teach kids those essential life skills [empathy, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc.] while keeping your political perspective out of it."
She has seen that following these three things helps educators be more successful in and out of the classroom.
Want to learn more about Sydnee Dickson? Read her bio on the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) website. Also, check out our other career paths in education posts and reach out to us if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you soon!