It wasn’t the typical transfer-of-power ceremony. Like all Utah School Boards Association Presidents, Amber Shill was welcomed to her new post at the association’s annual January conference — except this year, like most everything else, the event was held virtually.
“This has been a challenging year for public schools,” says Shill, a two-term Canyons Board of Education member with deep roots in civic engagement. “But the pandemic has also brought into focus just how central schools are to a healthy society. The character of leaders is revealed by how they lead in tough times, and I could not be more proud of the resilience and wisdom of my school board colleagues this past year.”
More than 200 school board leaders from across the state participated in this year’s annual conference, a marquee event for the USBA, which advocates for public schools and acts as a resource for local school boards.
Remarking on her new role, Shill said she looks forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand with Utah’s “talented and conscientious educational leaders…to build upon the strong spirit of collaboration” the USBA has come to represent.
Long a supporter of USBA’s unifying mission, Shill has served on the association’s Joint Legislative Committee and Executive Committee and Advocacy Committee. She is the second Canyons Board of Education member to lead the USBA. The top post was also held by Canyons Board President Nancy Tingey.
First elected to the Canyons Board in November 2014, Shill won re-election in November 2018 and represents District 2, which covers most of Cottonwood Heights.
For 20 years, she has been involved in schools in multiple leadership capacities, including as Vice President of the Canyons Board of Education. She also has represented Canyons on the following statewide boards: Utah High School Activities Association and the Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
Shill graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance, and she is currently enrolled in BYU’s Master of Public Administration program. She and her husband have four children who attend or have graduated from the Brighton feeder system.
