The things students say make her laugh. Sometimes, the things they say break her heart. But of all the things, there’s never a time when ConnieTrue Simons ever doubts whether she and her colleagues at Midvale Middle are making a difference in the lives of Trojan teenagers and adolescents.
“I love being at this school. I love this community. I love seeing the difference we make every day,” said Simons. “Every day is an adventure.”
Simons’ contributions to Midvale Middle — and the school’s successes — were recently heralded at the announcement that she’s been selected as the Utah Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, an award presented by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals. She will officially receive the award at the UASSP’s mid-winter conference Jan. 27-29 at the Dixie Conference Center in St. George.
Simons was surprised with the news that she’d won in front of her family and the Trojan faculty and staff. At the announcement celebration, which was decorated with flower bouquets and balloons, the 25-year educator covered her face in shock when she entered the room to applause and cheers.
Midvale Middle Principal Courtney Long says he’s not surprised that Simons, a former English Language Arts teacher and Instructional Coach, is this year’s top middle-level AP for Utah.
“I have learned so much from her,” Long said, noting that they’ve known each other since their time as fellow teachers at Albion Middle some two decades ago. “She’s someone I look up to you and want to be like.”
“A lot of what I do right is because of her influence on me,” Long said.
Mindy Robison, a former Midvale Middle principal and CSD’s current Director of Middle Schools, said that “everybody needs a ‘Connie.’” Simons is good at everything, from mining achievement data to developing relationships with even the hardest-to-reach students, Robison said.
“I have seen very few people work as hard as Connie does,” Robison said.
By earning the state designation, Simons becomes part of a prestigious group of Canyons educators who have been honored by UASSP.
Previous winners from Canyons District include 2022 Utah Middle School Principal of the Year Mindy Robison, 2021 Utah High School Principal of the Year Dr. Brian McGill, 2020 Middle School Principal of the Year Paula Logan, 2018 Assistant Principal of the Year Sandy LeCheminant, 2016 High School Principal of the Year Mary Bailey, 2014 Assistant Principal of the Year Doug Hallenbeck, 2013 Middle School Principal of the Year Mary Anderson, and 2011 Assistant Principal of the Year Dr. Paul Kirby.
