In its first order of business following a January swearing-in ceremony, the Canyons Board of Education elected three new leaders, including Sherril Taylor of Sandy as its new President.

The Board elected Steve Wrigley to serve as its new Vice President. It also voted to create a new Second Vice President position, to which it elected Nancy Tingey. The new Board leadership was elected during the Board’s Jan. 15, 2013 public Business Meeting.

Taylor, who has served four years as Board Vice President, said he was honored to be elected by his peers to lead the Board. He said he wants to develop public trust and engagement, transparency, and quality customer service. “We all need to work together – patrons, parents, the administration and the Board. We’re all in this together and we want to succeed,” said Taylor, a retired educator and school administrator who represents residents of Sandy and Draper in Board District 6. “We call for unity this year.”

Wrigley noted the Board’s many accomplishments, including passage of a $250 million bond, expansion of Dual-Immersion language programs, and creation of the state’s first college- and career ready diplomas. He said the Board must also serve as advocates for families and education, and work to improve customer service and community engagement in the District. “There is still much work to be done in this new, young school district, and we can now slow down the pace and build up the public trust,” said Wrigley, who has 35 years of experience in the human services field and was elected in November 2010 to represent District 5 in Sandy.

Tingey commended the vision and work of the inaugural Board, Canyons administrators and educators to create a fine school district with strong, responsible plans for academics and facilities. She said she looks forward to working together to create a strong community engagement plan. “I commit to do all that I can to best serve the students, parents and patrons of this District,” said Tingey, who served 19 years combined on local school community councils – eight of those years as chairwoman – before voters elected her to the Board in November 2012. Tingey represents District 6, which includes parts of Sandy, Cottonwood Heights and all of the Town of Alta.

Tracy Scott Cowdell, who represents District 4 in Sandy, said it has been his pleasure to serve as the Board President for the past four years and work closely with the superintendency. “I endorse the new leadership. Sherril Taylor is a dear friend of mine, and I know he will do a great job as the leader of this Board,” Cowdell said. “This Board of Education has been one of big ideas … and I hope we continue to be a Board of big ideas under the new leadership.”

Taylor thanked Cowdell for his leadership, and said he looked forward to working with him, the Board, teachers and education support professionals in the years to come.