Category Archives: School Stories

Hidden Valley Educator Named 2025 Utah History Teacher of the Year

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Christina Jacobs is the 2025 Utah History Teacher of the YearStudents at Hidden Valley Middle School have long known they have an amazing history teacher. Now the entire state knows it. Christina Jacobs is the 2025 Utah History Teacher of the Year, as named by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Along with the prestigious title, Ms. Jacobs receives a certificate, a $1,000 award, and an archive of historical books and resources.

As Utah’s honoree, Ms. Jacobs is one of 53 finalists for the National History Teacher of the Year Award, and a prize of $10,000. The Gilder Lehrman Institute will announce the top 10 finalists in September and name the national winner in October. 

Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Jacobs was recently selected to participate in the National History Day’s “Researching Silent Heroes.” In the program, she researched the life of U.S. Air Force 1st Class Howard Lamont ‘Monty’ Croshaw, a Utah native who went missing in action during the Korean War.

In the 22-year history of the History Teacher of the Year Award, six outstanding Jordan School District Educators have earned the title as the best in Utah.

Congratulations, Ms. Jacobs! Thank you for your dedication and passion for bringing history to life at Hidden Valley. 

Thank You School Lunch Staff for Working Throughout the Summer Dishing Up Great Food and Fun Meal Times for Families

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They didn’t miss a beat this summer, up before sunrise working hard to dish up great food and fun times for families in some of our school cafeterias. Thank you to the lunch ladies and men, and all nutrition services staff, for making the USDA Summer Meal Service Program a success in Jordan School District.

The great cafeteria workers at Columbia Elementary, Heartland Elementary, Majestic Elementary Arts Academy, Oquirrh Elementary, and Westvale Elementary, served up big smiles all summer long making sure students 18-years-old and younger in the area had the opportunity to enjoy free breakfast and lunch this summer.

The last day of the free summer meal service is Friday, August 1. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Riverton High Student Climbs to World Championships

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Landers Gaydosh, a rising Sophomore at Riverton High School, will represent the United States at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Youth World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Landers took home the National Championship in ropes and finished third in bouldering to earn his spot on the USAC National Team and a chance to compete in both disciplines at the World Championships.

The IFSC Youth World Championships begin on July 28. Good luck in Helsinki, Landers! Riverton High and all of Jordan School District are pulling for you!

Jordan PREP Learns by Launching Rockets

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Jordan PREP (PRe freshman Engineering Program) students are spending part of their summer becoming rocket scientists. Students transformed two-liter bottles into rockets, complete with nose cones, fins, and fuel tanks of water and compressed air. The lesson teaches students about the four forces rockets are subjected to in flight: weight, thrust, lift, and drag. After spending time designing their rockets in the classroom, students took the rockets to mission control (the field at Joel P. Jensen Middle School) to put them into flight.

Jordan PREP is a summer program that engages the students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based learning. The program lasts a minimum of three years and puts students on track to complete a degree from Salt Lake Community College before graduating from high school.