Viewmont teacher Andrew Jones urges inclusive support for students, recounts struggles with dyslexia

Andrew Jones, a teacher and head football and unified sports coach at Viewmont High School, used public comment to describe his journey through the Davis County School District and to urge staff and community members to prioritize student support and inclusion.

Jones said he grew up in the district and attended West Clinton Elementary, Syracuse Junior High and Northridge High School, and he credited several coaches and principals with keeping him engaged in education. "When my name got called, I was stunned," Jones said, describing his emotional reaction to recognition from the district. He described himself plainly: "I'm very severe dyslexic," and said students and colleagues helped him adapt classroom tasks by typing information when needed.

Jones described his coaching approach as centered on relationships and emotional support. "When a kid walks in the door ... if he wants to hang out and just talk to me about his favorite football team or what's going on in college football, I'll sit and listen," he said. He said the football program promotes wider school support by attending other activities and by recognizing all seniors: "We do senior night for everybody ... so we do for band and choir and drama." He added that the football team had recently bought 70 tickets for a school play in February so students could attend together.

He named three educators who shaped him: Principal Travis Lawn at Piedmont High School and coaches Fernandez and Thompson, noting that Thompson has been honored despite battling illness. Jones also spoke about his own health in personal terms: "I'm on a heart transplant with and so time is short," he said, and described his motivation to make students' experiences meaningful because "we don't know when's the last time this is gonna be it." Jones closed by repeating his role and commitment to students: "I'm Andrew Jones, and I teach."

The remarks focused on classroom and extracurricular inclusion, relationship-building between staff and students, and accommodations for students and staff who learn or work differently. The transcript does not record any formal action or response from district officials during this comment period.