The Granite School District Board of Education has voted to name the new school at the riverfront site Olene Walker Elementary School in honor of Utah’s first female governor.

The school will open fall 2020 and will replace Roosevelt Elementary.

School officials, with input from students, parents and community members, will determine the official mascot, colors and logo of the school.

About Olene Walker

Governor Olene Walker was sworn into office in November of 2003 as Utah’s 15th governor. She served a two-year term, during which time she worked on several initiatives such as education programs and workforce development.

She received a bachelor degree from Brigham Young University, a master degree from Stanford University, and a doctorate from the University of Utah. Prior to entering politics, Walker founded the Salt Lake Education Foundation and served as its director.

Walker was a representative in the state Legislature for eight years and served a term as majority whip. She was Utah’s first woman to serve as lieutenant governor to Mike Leavitt. When Governor Leavitt resigned to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Walker became Utah’s first female governor.