Board of Directors
Secretary
Marguerite Herman
(Wyoming)
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Description text goes here
Marguerite Herman has worked in education, communication, and advocacy for many years and maintains an interest in all three. She reported for The Associated Press in Columbia, S.C., and later in Cheyenne, and is author of A Look at Wyoming Government (League of Women Voters, 2006.) She has been the federal legislative chair for the Wyoming PTA and is the legislative lobbyist for the League of Women Voters in Wyoming. She lives in Cheyenne
Our Founder/President
Margaret Bird
(Utah)
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Margaret Bird was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Vanderbilt University in math. She later earned an MS in economics at the University of Utah and completed all coursework for a PhD. She was distracted by how little school trust lands generated for schools in Utah in 1989. Margaret was one of the founders of ASTL. She is a passionate advocate for school trusts for schools.
She has been recognized for her advocacy on school trust lands by the Utah Bar, Best of State for Community Advocacy, and Utah’s education community. Her persistence on school trust lands have earned her the nickname “Junk Yard Dog.”
Treasurer
Barbara Smith
(Utah)
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As a local school board member from Davis County Utah, I have represented the Utah School Board’s Association on Advocates for School Trust Lands’s Board of Directors.
I have been involved with Advocates for School Trust Lands since its inception at that first conference in Bryce Canyon. I have been involved with trust lands in Utah since we changed the management of the lands and was involved in getting the legislation passed that sent Utah’s earnings out to every school.
Advocates for School Trust Lands is a very unique organization that fills a critical need for the beneficiaries of trust lands. We are facing challenges in several states. Advocates for School Trust Lands provide educational leaders with data and resources to move forward. I look forward to working with great people
trying to accomplish change that will impact generations to come.
Legal Counsel
Roy Andes
(Utah)
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Roy Andes is a Virginia native, who came west to work at fire control, mountain rescue, and as a ranger for the National Park Service to pay his way through school. in 1977, after law school at the University of Virginia, Roy followed his Uncle Emmett to Montana. Emmett homesteaded on the Yellowstone River 63 years earlier. Here Roy joined the Bolinger law firm in Bozeman and litigated 54 trials in state and federal courts in his first 28 months as a lawyer. The years since have found Roy busy at a myriad of things, as a lawyer, volunteer, homebuilder, and still, and always, as an outdoorsman who loves the West.
Board Member
Dave Sullivan
(Oregon)
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Dave Sullivan is the founder and president of Oregon Advocates for School Trust Lands, an organization established in August 2021. He has been instrumental in leading legal efforts to hold the State of Oregon accountable for its attempt to sell the Elliott State Forest from the Common School Fund without securing market value, ensuring that school trust lands are protected for the benefit of Oregon’s public schools.
Dave brings a wealth of professional experience to his role. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Administration (Systems Science) from Carnegie Mellon University and has an emeritus appointment from the College of Business at Oregon State University, where he spent 25 years teaching and researching information systems. He has authored numerous textbooks and holds two patents for innovative software tools.
Dave’s career also includes serving as Division Finance Manager and Accountant at Tektronix, where he provided financial oversight and participated in management planning. In addition to his work with school trust lands, Dave has served on the boards of both the Corvallis School Board and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association.
Dave can be reached at 541-791-6470 or drdavesullivan@gmail.com.
Board Member
Heather Van Leeuwen
(Utah)
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Heather Van Leeuwen lives in Utah and has 4 children. She holds a Bachelors degree from Brigham Young University and currently works as an Oncology Nurse. She got involved in public education initially through her local PTA in various positions including President. Later she joined her kids’ School Community Councils where she was exposed to Utah’s Trust Lands and the important role they play in funding our schools. She has served the past few years as Utah State PTA’s Trust Land Specialist educating PTA members and working toward legislation that supports and protects Trust Lands. She feels the Trust Lands are an important resource that is still widely unknown and understood in the parent community and hopes to spread the word and support the Trust Lands in all states as best she can to ensure the public education funding for our school children.
Board Member
Kip Motta
(Idaho)
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Kip Motta’s educational career covers 42 years. During this time Kip has taught Mathematics, Physical Education, Health, Industrial Education, coached basketball, and served as a middle school and elementary school Principal. His teaching, coaching and administrative duties have encompassed every level from kindergarten to the NBA. In 1997, Kip left coaching in the NBA and returned to the classroom to teach mathematics and eventually to become the Principal at Rich Middle School located in Northern Utah. As principal he truly turned things around in attendance and scholastics, getting the admiration of everyone in education in Utah and proving that one person can make a huge difference.
During his time as Principal (2000-2023) Kip was directly responsible for the oversite of the Utah School Trust Lands funds coming to his school. The funds started in 2000 with a bit over $3,000 for a student population of about 100 students. As of 2025 the fund for the same school, with a population of 125 students, has grown to over $73,000. Kip has first-hand knowledge of how impactful these funds can be on student learning and teaching, and has made it his mission to help States get these funds directed to their rightful place… INTO schools FOR the kids.
Kip’s educational career also includes Serving as Utah Association of Secondary School Principals (UASSP) Small Middle School Board member, and President. He also was elected as a Board Member and became President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He has used his experience and these platforms as a vehicle to promote School Trust Land awareness across the nation. Kip is very excited for the opportunity to represent Advocates for School Trust Lands.