Surprises Continue as Teachers Honored with “Outstanding Educator of the Year” Awards

Posted on March 24, 2025

The outpouring of love, support, and enormous excitement continued last Friday as more Jordan School District teachers were honored with the Jordan Education Foundation’s 2025 “Outstanding Educator of the Year” awards. The educators are being honored as “All Stars” for their winning ways in supporting students and giving them opportunities to reach their highest potential on the road to success. All of the teachers are nominated by colleagues, their peers, and/or parents.

Congratulations to the following “Outstanding Educators” who were surprised on Friday:

Emily LaRue, South Valley School
Amanda Moon “Mandy,” Westvale Elementary School
Felicity Knight, West Jordan High School
Laura Halverson, Joel P. Jensen Middle School
Jessica Jensen “Jessi,” Columbia Elementary School

Jordan School District Special Education 2025 Transition Fair Is a Big Success!

Posted on March 24, 2025

It was a night of fun and looking to the future as members of the community gathered for Jordan School District’s Special Education Transition Fair. It is an event that brings together students, families, educators, and community organizations for an evening focused on future planning and opportunities.

Post high school students, along with students from all Jordan School District high schools, Kings Peak Virtual High School, and several middle schools, showed up to explore resources and learn about the many supports available to them. The special education team was thrilled to welcome thirty outside agencies which provided valuable information on services related to education, employment, independent living, and much more.

For the 75 families who attended, the fair fostered meaningful connections and conversations about next steps beyond high school. Educators received great feedback from students and parents, who appreciated the opportunity to gather information and network with local organizations.

A huge thank you to Chick-fil-A and Swig for their generous donations, which helped make the event even more enjoyable for everyone who attended.

Thanks, as well, to everyone who participated, making the Transition Fair such a success! This is just one example of Jordan School District’s Special Education team working hard, always looking for ways to support students as they transition to their next chapter in life.

Students Cheer on South Valley Educator After She Receives Prestigious State Award

Posted on March 24, 2025

It was all cheers as South Valley School’s Chelsea Lopez was awarded the 2025 Utah Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Outstanding Paraeducator award in a surprise ceremony. Chelsea’s unwavering commitment to supporting students with disabilities earned her this prestigious award, recognized across the entire state of Utah.

Representatives from the CED said, “We are incredibly proud of her dedication, and her efforts extend beyond the classroom, as she also contributes to the community and even abroad, like her recent volunteer work in Fiji.” Morgan Nelson, President-elect of the Utah Council for Exceptional Children, presented the award in front of South Valley students and staff.

Chelsea Lopez is also the South Valley School cheer coach and has grown the cheer squad to about 50 students, even teaching them to do stunts along with their sideline cheers. Ms. Lopez spent a considerable amount of time this past summer volunteering to help students with special needs on the island country of Fiji.

Outpouring of Love and Support as Jordan School District Teachers Receive “Outstanding Educator of the Year” Awards

Posted on March 21, 2025

The outpouring of love and support from students, teachers, staff, administrators, and members of the community, continued on Thursday as Jordan School District teachers were honored with the Jordan Education Foundation’s 2025 “Outstanding Educator of the Year” awards. The educators are being honored as “All Stars” for their winning ways in supporting students and giving them opportunities to reach their highest potential on the road to success. All of the teachers are nominated by colleagues, their peers, and/or parents.

Congratulations to the following “Outstanding Educators” honored on Thursday, along with the “Outstanding Principal of the Year,” Heartland Elementary School’s Buddy Alger.

Buddy Alger, Heartland Elementary School, ***Outstanding Principal of the Year
Amber Thomas, Bingham High School
Jerusha Johnson, South Jordan Middle School
Amy Goodrich, Riverton High School
Candice “Candi” Woolley, Kauri Sue Hamilton
Chunlien Liu “Lannies Liu,” Monte Vista Elementary School
Emanuel Colon “Manny,” Ridge View Elementary School
Launi Drecksel, Silver Crest Elementary School
Celina Forsyth, Aspen Elementary School
Shanda Sorensen, Falcon Ridge Elementary School
Heather Lyon, Jordan Hills Elementary School
Vickie Daniels, Majestic Elementary School
Jessica Clawson, Heartland Elementary School

Celebrating Jordan School District’s “Counselor of the Year” from Mountain Creek Middle School

Posted on March 21, 2025

Please join us in congratulating Jordan School District’s Counselor of the Year from Mountain Creek Middle School, David Parker.

Mr. Parker is described as the essential force driving his counseling department’s success. Colleagues say Mr. Parker ensures the program remains robust, data-driven, and current.

Another reason David Parker was selected for this honor is because of his work connecting with students. In fact, for the last five years, he has met every student individually to celebrate their birthdays, fostering those vital connections. We’re told he is dedicated to his students, ensuring they feel valued and heard and spends hours supporting students and parents in crisis, conducting thorough PCCRs, and working late to manage schedule changes efficiently.

Mr. Parker has been a counselor at Mountain Creek Middle School since 2019 and in that time has profoundly impacted the school’s culture and success.

Keep up the great work, David Parker!