Board members recognized a group of Utah principals and assistant principals as statewide principals/assistant principals of the year and heard brief remarks from association representatives and several awardees.

Quinn Kellis, school support and improvement coordinator, introduced the item and said research shows school leaders significantly influence student success. Dwight Liddiard, executive director of the Utah Elementary Principal Association, announced Tim Peed of Ridgeline Elementary (Alpine School District) as the 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year and Des Olsen, previously assistant principal at Edgemont Elementary (Provo School District), as the assistant principal of the year who has since become principal at Wasatch Elementary.

Liddiard said Peed’s staff and students showed enthusiastic support during a surprise assembly and described Peed as “a delightful human being” who has overseen both gifted- and intervention-program work. He told the board Peed will be further recognized with other state representatives in Washington, D.C., in October.

Rhonda Bromley, executive director of the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, noted the secondary-level honors and emphasized partnerships between secondary and elementary leaders. The board heard short remarks from several awardees: Connie True Simons (Midvale Middle School, Canyon School District), who told members “lead with love” when discussing leadership at a challenging middle school; Jared Christiansen (Delta High School), who said focusing on students is central to success; and Matt Patterson (Mountain View Junior High, Weber School District), who emphasized giving every student “a name, a face, a voice, and a purpose.”

The board received the recognitions as informational items; no formal board action or vote was recorded on the awards.

The honored principals and assistant principals will be recognized at upcoming state and national association events as described by the presenting associations.