Uintah School District

The Uintah School District is seeking a proven instructional leader to serve as the next principal at Uintah Middle School in Vernal, Utah. The school serves students in grades 6 through 8. This is a 210-day contract position with benefits. Applicants must have an Administrative/Supervisory License. Evidence of successful administrative experience as a principal or assistant principal is required. Evidence of successful experience as a classroom teacher is preferred. For more information or to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/g557EHQr . The application deadline is Friday, May 3, at 5 p.m.

The Uintah School Board voted unanimously during Wednesday night’s business meeting to hire Ryan Maughan as the district’s new director of Special Programs. Maughan has served as the superintendent of the Emery School District since 2021.   “Ryan brings extensive experience and knowledge in the field of special education to our district, has a passion for serving students with disabilities, and will strengthen our systems and processes to help all our students reach their full individual potential,” said Dr. Rick Woodford, superintendent of the Uintah School District.   Maughan’s educational and professional background made him a perfect match for the Special Programs directorship. During his 17 years in education, he has taught students with severe and profound disabilities in Iron County; served as an elementary school principal and assistant special education director in Carbon County; and held the positions of special education director, student services supervisor, career and technical education (CTE) director, and superintendent in Emery County. Maughan also has experience with the English Language Learner (ELL) and gifted and talented programs, both of which will be included in his stewardship as USD Special Programs director.   “I am committed to advocating for all students, especially those who need additional support or cannot advocate for themselves,” Maughan said. “Every child can learn, and every child must be given the opportunities and support they need to do so. The path to success requires dedication to students, to educators, and to the community.”   Maughan holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a coaching emphasis and history minor from Southern Utah University. He also earned a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in special education and a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy, both from the University of Utah. In addition to his degrees, Maughan has a school leadership administrative/supervisory K-12 license, a special education teaching license, a severe/profound disabilities endorsement, a gifted and talented endorsement, and an educational technology endorsement.   “I have no doubt my role as director of Special Programs in the Uintah School District comes with tremendous responsibilities, but I know it comes with tremendous opportunities as well,” Maughan said.   “I believe there are some fantastic things already going on in the district,” he said. “I pledge to do my part to ensure those things continue even as we explore more ways to provide all students with access to the educational offerings that will allow them to enjoy success in life.”   Maughan will officially begin his new role with Uintah School District on July 1; however, he will start transitioning into the job in May.   “My family and I are excited to join the community in Uintah County,” Maughan said. “It definitely felt like a place we could call home the first time we visited.”

Uintah High School Principal Christy Nerdin will move to the district office this summer to assume the newly created role of Director of Secondary Education.   Nerdin was interviewed for the position on Feb. 27. Her hiring was approved by the Uintah School Board during its business meeting Wednesday night. She will move to the district office in July as part of a reorganization of the district’s directorships, which is intended to better serve all students and staff.   “We were fortunate to have an in-district candidate who is uniquely and highly qualified for the position of Director of Secondary Education,” Uintah School District Superintendent Dr. Rick Woodford said.   “Christy has been an outstanding teacher, instructional coach, and principal,” Woodford added. “One of her strengths as an instructional leader is her ability to help others grow. She has a proven record of creating collaborative cultures that are characterized by high expectations for student learning, accountability for all, and a genuine care for kids.”   Nerdin has served as the principal at Uintah High since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. Prior to that she was the principal at Uintah Middle School for four years, served as vice principal at UHS for two years, worked as an instructional coach for four years, was a secondary science teacher for six years, and taught at the elementary level for three years.   “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to be the principal of Uintah High School for the past three years,” Nerdin said. “What an incredible privilege to work with such a dedicated staff and so many dynamic students. I will miss the energy and excellence that is UHS!   “Great things are happening in our schools and the future is bright,” she said. “I grew up in Vernal and I love our community and our kids. I’m excited to continue serving both.”   Nerdin will remain in place as the Uintah High’s principal for the remainder of the school year. The district will begin the search for a new UHS principal by the end of the week.   The district previously had four directorships that supervised Student Services, Curriculum, Human Resources, and Support Services. In February, the school board approved a plan to modify the responsibilities of some directors and add a fifth directorship. Moving forward, directors will be assigned to oversee Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Human Resources, Support Services, and Special Programs.   “Restructuring our leadership team is necessary if we are to fulfill our commitment as a district to provide a top-tier education for every student,” Superintendent Woodford said.   “The directors of Elementary Education and Secondary Education will be able to specialize and focus on the unique needs at their respective grade levels, which is critical because secondary curriculum and instruction are very different from elementary curriculum and instruction,” he said.

Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson visited Uintah High School today to celebrate UHS business teacher Kami Elison as one of the Top 5 finalists for Utah Teacher of the Year. During Dickson's visit to one of Elison's classes, Elison had senior Kyler Martinsen talk about the steps he took to start an LLC that sells fishing rods. The presentation was part of Elison's lesson plan for the day, which involved having students research various ways to organize a business and the advantages and disadvantages of each model. Superintendent Dickson spoke with several other teachers and staff during today's visit to Uintah High. She also took a brief tour of the new Agricultural Sciences classroom building. #uintahhighschool #teachersmakeadifference #careerandtechnicaleducation #cte #businesseducation #business #education #utah #uted

We're excited about the completion of the Uintah High School Agricultural Sciences classroom building! There's still a little work to be done on the outside of the building, but the inside is ready for teachers to move in. Students in Ag classes will start using the new building when they return to school on Jan. 2. The 6,000-square-foot building was specifically designed for agricultural education. It includes classrooms and lab spaces, as well as a spacious flexible learning area that teachers and students can use for larger projects. "This new building will provide better access for kids of all abilities," Uintah School Board President Dave Chivers said. "The improved learning spaces will also make it easier for kids to have the hands-on experiences that can really bring classes like these to life." Thanks to our community; our school board and district administrators; VCBO Architecture; BHI, CO and all the subcontractors who made this new learning space possible for our students. #uintahhighschool #agriculturalsciences #agscience #agriculture #science #agricultureeducation #ffa #futurefarmersofamerica #livestock #floriculture #foodscience #education #utah #uted

Three Uintah School District instructional coaches, two teachers, and the district's math specialist presented a breakout session at Curriculum Associates i-Ready Educator Summit in Salt Lake City this week. The group was invited specifically to share the process for developing our iReady Math walkthroughs, which are producing amazing results at schools throughout the district. Pictured from left to right are Discovery Elementary teacher Maggie Spicer, instructional coach Carrie Weldon, instructional coach Helen Stewart, math specialist/instructional coach Cindy Brown, instructional coach Kristy Coon and Discovery Elementary teacher Sarah Sisto. #uintahschooldistrict #ireadymath #instructionalcoach #instructionalcoaching #education #utah #uted

The district held a ceremonial ground-breaking today for the new Central Cove Early Learning Center, which is under construction on land owned by Utah State University near its Uintah Basin campus in Vernal. The Uintah School Board voted unanimously in late September to move forward with the project because the building that houses Central Cove Preschool now does not meet the current or future needs of students and staff. The current building was constructed in 1940. It was not originally designed for use as a preschool. It has far outlived its expected lifespan and has a host of structural and mechanical issues one would expect to find in an 83-year-old building. The district is required by federal law to provide special education services for children 3 and up, giving them an opportunity to attend school alongside their typically developing peers. Central Cove meets this requirement for the district. Central Cove Early Learning Center will be fully paid for out of the district’s existing cash reserves. It was designed by VCBO Architecture and is being built by Stout. #utah #education #uted #earlychildhoodeducation #specialeducation #construction #architecture

Congratulations to Naples Elementary School counselor Amy Hammond! She has been chosen as the Counselor of the Month by the Utah State Board of Education School Counseling specialists and the Utah School Counselor Association. Hammond was nominated by Uintah School District Support Services Director Mindy Merrell.    "Amy is the epitome of a great school counselor. She is hard working, caring, cheerful, and optimistic," Merrell said. "She has been instrumental in developing and growing the elementary counseling program in our district."    Naples Elementary Principal Deanna Martineau said Hammond has been instrumental in cultivating and promoting a positive school climate.    "She goes out of her way to ensure students know her and feel comfortable coming to her with concerns," Martineau said. "She is a support to our teachers in creating successful emotional support plans when students struggle to self-regulate. Amy’s presence has done much to improve outcomes for students both academically and emotionally."    Great job, Amy! #uintahschooldistrict #napleselementaryschool #schoolcounselorofthemonth #schoolcounselor #education #utah #uted #celebration

The faculty and staff from Uintah High School and Eagle View Elementary School were celebrated recently for meeting or exceeding their student learning goals during the 2022-2023 academic year. #celebrations #uintahhighschool #eagleviewelementary #studenachievement #education #utah #uted

Congratulations to Amanda Muffler on her selection by the Hope Street Group to its fourth cohort of Utah Teacher Fellows! Amanda teaches English languages arts at Uintah High School. The Hope Street Group Teacher Fellows is a nonpartisan nonprofit that connects classroom teachers with their peers and decision makers. The Utah program has been carefully designed to develop the competencies of great teachers, providing them with tools to engage their colleagues and generate solutions to education challenges. To date, Utah Teacher Fellows have met state and federal decision makers, attended regional and national conferences, and been featured in multiple publications. Teacher Fellows are educators who continue to work as full-time teachers in their schools and organizations while contributing about 10 hours each month to program activities, including data collection, professional learning sessions, and partner meetings. Fellows receive an annual stipend for their time and expertise as they contribute to advancing education in Utah.