alt=Marjorie CortezSALT LAKE CITY — Michelle Tuitupou, an academic adviser in the University of Utah’s College of Mines and Earth Sciences, has been appointed to the Salt Lake City Board of Education.
Tuitupou will fill a vacancy in Precinct 1 created when board member Tiffany Sandberg stepped down from the board last month citing personal reasons. Tuitupou will serve until the end of the year.
Tuitupou was one of eight applicants who applied to fill the Precinct 1 seat.
She has four children, three of whom are Salt Lake City School District alumni and one who is in middle school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Northern Arizona University and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix.
“I am honored to represent Precinct 1 through December as a board member and look forward to working with the amazing and resilient educators in my area as well as in our district,” said Tuitupou in a statement.
“As a first-generation Samoan, I had to learn how to navigate the school system for my own children and have had wonderful experiences with educators within our public school system. During these unprecedented times, I have witnessed the creativity, support and concern among our educators and community at large and am proud to serve in this role. So’o le fau ma le fau, in working together, we can accomplish great things.”
Tuitupou is a member of the Utah Multicultural Commission as well as Pasifika Enrichment of the Arts in Utah. She participates in the Westside Leadership Institute and takes part in numerous higher education outreach events in the state.
The Precinct 1 seat is up for reelection in the November 2020 general election. According to Salt Lake County election filings, Tuitupou is not seeking election to the seat.