remote learning for the first few days of January, and when it became apparent the mitigation effort would be so extensive that personnel would not be allowed back into the building within a short timeframe, Kurtzhals and her team went into action to create a temporary new home for the Patriots. With nary a complaint or a break in stride, they converged on a once-shuttered middle school to ready it for Eastmont students, teachers, and staff. In mere days, the classrooms, hallways, commons areas, the gymnasium, and lunchroom of the old Crescent View Middle building, where Kurtzhals once worked as an assistant principal, were spit-shined for students who were anxious to return to in-person learning. It was a heavy lift, for sure, and required a no-job-is-too-big-or-small mentality by not just Eastmont personnel but the District Office departments who lent a hand. By all accounts, thanks to Kurtzhals’ leadership and positive attitude, the sudden and unexpected move was a success. Throughout the tumult, Eastmont students continued to shine. Even as they were forced to move schools mid-year, they earned some of the highest year-end assessment scores in Canyons. In fact, Eastmont’s sixth-grade English Language Arts results were the highest in the District. Parents and employees say they appreciated Kurtzhals’ constant advocacy of the community and steady communications throughout the winter and spring, especially when students were able to return to the building to take last walks down the hallways before leaving Eastmont for their high school years. Says one parent: “She is a fantastic leader, and while she takes her job seriously, she has so much fun doing it. As a result, Eastmont is not only a great educational environment, but also fun and welcoming.” It’s for these reasons, and many more, the Board of Education and Administration are honored to present the 2023 Apex Award for School Administrator of the Year to Stacy Kurtzhals.