FARMINGTON — As president of Davis School Board, Marian Storey can lighten any meeting with a quip, a compliment or a quick rejoinder.
It might be a hearing over a tax increase or a momentary technological glitch, but Storey has a knack for bringing a smile if not a laugh to those with whom and for whom she serves.
After 16 years on the board, eight of them as president, Story is not running for re-election.
“It will be a loss,” said Superintendent Bryan Bowles. “We will miss her.”
“She’s a delightful person,” said James Clark, a fellow board member. “She has a delightful sense of humor and she brings a wealth of experience in education, and those kinds of things are valuable. She’ll be missed, no question about that.”
Some might think board service means going to a few meetings a month, said Bowles, but it is in fact much more.
“She particularly just spends a tremendous amount of time responding to issues and talking to people and working to do things that are best for our students and our community,” he said.
“I know our school board is one of the hardest working boards there are, and that’s because Marian’s their leader,” said Chris Williams, community relations director for the district.
“If there’s anyone committed to education and to seeing that the kids get a great education, it’s Marian,” he said. “She started that years ago as a teacher and she continues to do that as a mentor of student teachers. She’s very active and definitely going to leave some huge shoes to fill.”
Storey taught in Davis School District for 34 years before being elected to the school board.
“Her reputation as an AP English teacher was that she was a tremendous professional,” said Bowles. “The academic performance of her students was just exceptional.”
When they have traveled together, board member Barbara Smith said students often seek out Storey and are “thrilled” to see her again.
“I have been in education and loved education all my life,” said Storey. “I’m going through terrible withdrawal.”
The time she has served on the board has been a “most rewarding experience for me,” she added.
“The relationships you have with the teachers, parents and school employees, being able to be part of a process, is so beneficial,” she said.
Being on the board has made her aware of all the different programs there are to reach out and help each child, she said.
Her leadership on the board goes to show that “any little girl can grow up to be president,” she said.
Retiring from the board doesn’t mean retiring from education, according to Storey.
She plans to continue her work supervising student teachers for Weber State University. She also plans to spend more time playing with her great grandchildren.
“I’m still anxious to be involved,” she said.
Storey represents Precinct 4, a seat that Kathie Bone and Paul Prier are now running for. Storey’s term on the board continues until new members are sworn in next January.
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