School Board Members

School Board Member Biographies

Brenda Petru, Chair of the Paradigm Schools Board, brings energy, organization, and heart to everything she does. Known for her upbeat personality and strong communication skills, Brenda is a dynamic team player who leads with both confidence and care. She is an experienced trainer and mentor who genuinely values people and builds strong relationships within the school community. Her leadership reflects Paradigm’s mission to foster growth, excellence, and a supportive culture for all, while also allowing personal growth and responsibility with teachers, staff and parents. She is passionate about having the best people serve the Paradigm community.

Gustavo Velasco, Vice Chair of the Paradigm Schools Board has served on the Paradigm School Board for two years, bringing valuable insight shaped by his Hispanic heritage and rich life experiences. As a financial analyst and project lead, Gus contributes strategic thinking and practical expertise to the board’s decisions. His professional background and community perspective offer a meaningful voice in supporting Paradigm’s mission to welcome all families and foster lifelong learning. You can often find him and his wife, Connie, supporting their children at their school events! Gustavo currently serves as the vice-chair and on the finance committee.

Scott Clawson, Treasurer of the Paradigm Schools Board has a BS in Accounting from the University of Utah and a Masters of Business Administration from Westminster College. He has worked in different Accounting positions for over 22 years. Scotty currently has two teenagers attending Paradigm High School, and has been on the School Board for two years, serving on the
training committee. Scotty loves outdoor cooking and has won multiple cooking competitions including Dutch Oven and Chili cook-offs. He has organized and chaired the International Dutch Oven Society’s World Championship Cook-off. He has volunteered in Scouting and worked with the youth as Scoutmaster for over 12 years. He has also volunteered with the Order of The Arrow. Scotty loves doing Dutch Oven cooking demonstrations, often working with the youth in sharing his love of outdoor cooking. His organizational skills are an asset to the school in a multitude of ways, including helping with our Annual Dutch Oven Competition, Instrumental Music programs, and wherever he is needed.

Hollie Cole, Secretary of the Paradigm Schools Board brings nearly two decades of experience in human resources, organizational leadership, compensation, and people operations. As a parent in the Paradigm community, Hollie brings both professional and personal perspectives to the board and is passionate about ensuring families have a voice in decisions that affect their students. In her career, Hollie has worked closely with executive teams to navigate organizational change, strengthen policies and processes, improve transparency, and build programs that support people and organizations. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and currently serves as a Compensation Director. Hollie values Paradigm’s unique approach to education and is excited to support a school community where students are encouraged to grow, think independently, and become responsible, engaged members of their communities.

Jamie Smith, Member of the Paradigm Schools Board has served on the school board for the past four years, bringing both governance experience and a deep personal investment as a parent of students in the district. As a homeschool parent, she offers a valuable perspective that reflects the families and values the school is designed to serve, while also being heavily involved
with the surrounding community. With a strong understanding of Paradigm’s special environment and charter school operations, Jamie is well-positioned to ensure accountability, transparency, and academic excellence.

Amy Clawson, Member of the Paradigm Schools Board holds an associate degrees in Health Science and as a Physical Therapist Assistant. She currently serves as Secretary on the Paradigm Schools Governing Board and has been involved with the board for nearly two years. Amy works as a Marketing Representative for an oral and facial surgery practice, focusing on building strong relationships and community outreach. A lifelong dancer, Amy has taught at MCE Dance in Murray for over ten years, where she developed a hip hop program that continues to thrive. She enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities, including coaching Special Olympics dance teams to gold medal finishes. Outside of her professional and volunteer roles, Amy enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and laughing—sometimes at her own jokes.

Chris Bambrough, Member of the Paradigm Schools Board brings a background in graphic design, marketing, and packaging design to the board. He holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Utah State University. He has spent his career ensuring brand and labeling work meets both creative and regulatory standards, currently serving as a Packaging Design Specialist at Clean Simple Eats. Earlier in his career, he worked in branding and marketing strategy at USANA Health Sciences, developing campaigns across digital, print, and event channels for markets across the US and internationally. Chris brings a detail-oriented, collaborative approach to the board, along with a strong eye for how organizations present themselves to the communities they serve.