The Canyons Board of Education has announced Canyons School District’s premier employees of the year, a Volunteer of the Year, and the Canyons Teacher of the Year.

The honorees are:

• Teacher of the Year:  Mark Petersen,  Jordan High Science Department Chairman
• School Administrator of the Year:  Laura Finlinson, Principal, Butler Elementary  (formerly Peruvian Park Elementary)
• Education Support Professional of the Year:  Gina Bench, Human Resources Lead Contract Secretary
• District Administrator of the Year:  Scot McCombs, Information Technology Director
• Volunteer of the Year:  Shannon Reynolds, Region 17 PTA President

For the first time, the Board recognized one Teacher of the Year in every Canyons District school — a talented group of professionals from which the District Teacher of the Year was selected. The District Teacher of the Year will be nominated for State Teacher of the Year honors.

“These professionals are among the finest public education has to offer,” Canyons Board of Education President Tracy Scott Cowdell said. “We hope to continue this tradition of honoring employees, volunteers, and school teachers of the year well into the future as we celebrate the highest standards of educational excellence in Canyons School District.”

Districtwide Honorees

Mark Petersen Teacher of the Year Jordan High	Laura Finlinson Administrator of the Year Butler Elementary	Scot McCombs District Office Administrator Information Technology	Gina Bench Educational Support Professional of the Year Human Resources	Shannon Reynolds Volunteer of the Year Region 17 PTA President

School Teachers of the Year

Amy Buckley Alta View	Pat Denning Altara	Madaline Chilcutt Bell View	Mary Lou Damjanovich Bella Vista	Athena Gregory Brookwood

Patricia Stephens- French Butler	Sherri Freestone Canyon View	Arlene Baumgardner Copperview	Bonnie Dixon Crescent	Jennifer Asay Draper

Barbara Felling East Midvale	Wendy Casperson East Sandy	Lydia LaPutka Edgemont	Sarah Jenkins Granite	Robyn Christopherson Lone Peak

Adela Huntsman Midvale	David Bettison Midvalley	Tamsin Ruffin Oak Hollow	Kim Moreton Oakdale	Ellen Stone Park Lane

Jennifer Ludlow Peruvian Park	Victoria Crocker Quail Hollow	Pamela Bunderson Ridgecrest	Bethany Smith Sandy	Elizabeth Ferguson Silver Mesa

Peggy Hunt Sprucewood	Robyn Stockett Sunrise	Mary Jo Murray Willow Canyon	Mark Besendorfer Willow Springs	Denise Sidesinger Albion Middle

Judi Rowe Butler Middle	Jesse Hennefer Crescent View Middle	Michelle Hall Eastmont Middle	Trina McGowan Indian Hills Middle	Courtney Hansen Midvale Middle

Suzette Holyoak Mount Jordan Middle	Steven Phelps Union Middle	Arna Clark Alta High	Aaron Hadfield Brighton High	John Olsen Hillcrest High

 

The employees, teacher, and volunteer of the year received prizes donated by Canyons School District business partners. Prizes include: an engraved award; dinner for two at La Caille; two tickets to the May 1 Canyons District Night at Real Salt Lake; free visits to the Firehouse car wash; and a cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Each school’s teacher of the year received two tickets to the May 1 Real Salt Lake game and a certificate for dinner at La Caille. All award recipients will be honored at a special halftime presentation at the May 1 Real Salt Lake game.  Click here for Canyons District Night discount tickets and additional information.

Click here to read a feature story in the Sandy Journal.