While Hayes recognizes the areas where her Accommodated Core Curriculum students may struggle, she also has a keen talent for seeing how to inspire the fourth- and fifth-grade students to learn and grow. “She has a passion for student dignity and student ability,” said Silver Mesa Principal Aimee Wagner. “She is relentless in her support.”

Hayes also has a well-earned reputation for helping build morale, extending hands of friendship to fellow faculty and staff, and ensuring that Silver Mesa is welcoming and inclusive of all students and families. The soft-spoken Hayes, who finds inspiration from Taylor Swift lyrics and the smiles of her students, has helped scores of Silver Mesa Eagles take flight and soar in the past 17 school years.

Colleagues laud her instructional savvy, dedication to the Silver Mesa community, and heartfelt approach to building strong connections with her classes. Students respond by approaching each day as an adventure, eager to explore the unknown, reach for their dreams — and make their own sunshine. With Hayes as their teacher, this much is clear: The sky is nothing less than a luminous opalite.

For these reasons, and many more, the Canyons Board of Education and Administration are honored to present the 2026 Apex Award for Teacher of the Year to Silver Mesa special education teacher Lisa Hayes.

Working alongside Bella Vista’s principal, Allen confidently co-led a transition team of teachers, parents and administrators to address concerns and turn uncertainty into a shared vision for the future. Community gatherings gave rise to new friendships, while Bella Vista’s beloved mascot, Bella the Tiger, found a home alongside Ridgecrest’s Reggie. A new logo and street sign celebrate their shared identity: Two tigers, one roar.

At one welcoming event, a Bella Vista parent confessed, “I’m trying really hard to be angry about this, but you all have just been so nice, I don’t know how I can keep being that.” Today, the school boasts thriving neighborhood and Chinese Dual Language Immersion classrooms, more stable and manageable class sizes, and flourishing clubs and extracurricular activities. Students have more opportunities, and families have a school community where everyone sees themselves reflected.

For Allen, the experience reinforced a fundamental lesson about leadership she’s always embraced: listening matters. Her end goal is always that every student feels welcomed, every teacher feels supported, and every family feels valued.

And while Allen is humbled the Canyons Board of Education and Administration chose her to receive the 2026 Apex Award for School Administrator of the Year, she is quick to share the credit. “We did it together,” she says. “It took us all.”

There were classrooms to pack, staff transitions to coordinate, and countless logistical details to manage as Bella Vista prepared to combine with Ridgecrest Elementary. But the greatest challenge couldn’t be solved with a checklist. Helping families and employees who had spent decades at Bella Vista navigate the transition would take compassion and grace. “It was such a complex set of emotions,” she said, “and anytime you’re going through a grieving process, everyone’s at different stages and different places and reacts in their own unique ways.”

Winder encouraged her staff to lean on their core values, reminding them that even in difficult circumstances, they could model resilience and unity for their students. Working with Ridgecrest Principal Sara Allen, she brought parents, teachers and District departments to work together until they reached a point where the prevailing feeling was, “We’re going to be OK. This is really hard. And what could be ahead could be absolutely beautiful, too.”

Through it all, Winder and her team never lost sight of student learning. Bella Vista students finished the year demonstrating remarkable academic growth.

For guiding a school through extraordinary change with empathy, and an unwavering commitment to student success, the Canyons Board of Education and Administration are proud to honor Barbra Winder as a 2026 Apex Award winner for School Administrator of the Year.

His interest in education law stemmed from his time as a high school teacher, and that time in the classroom has served him well for the past 15 years as the head of CSD’s Legal Services Department. His knowledge of education law, coupled with his boots-on-the-ground experience as an educator, gives him a rare perspective into how policies and laws affect teaching and learning.

In his role as the District’s top lawyer, he’s navigated a landscape of state and federal laws, advised the Board of Education and Administration on pending and current litigation, resolved disputes, and helped CSD leaders make informed legal decisions that affect scores of students, families, and employees. Harper can be counted on to provide insight into issues ranging from student safety and special education services to the rights of students and families and discrimination.

For his guidance, commitment, and calm approach to sensitive issues, the Board of Education is pleased to present Director of Legal Services Daniel R. Harper with the 2026 Apex Award for District Administrator of the Year.

Moore has worked in the Teacher Resource Center, Print Shop, and Mail Center for all of her 15 years with CSD. After becoming a supervisor, she forged innovative approaches for efficiency, including learning a new program that streamlines print-order submissions.

Moore and her team tackle tasks that are integral to the operations of Canyons. They process approximately 90,000 pieces of mail annually, which equates to about 345 pieces each school day. The Teacher Resource Center provides 14,750 linear feet of lamination — nearly three miles’ worth and enough to stretch across approximately 50 football fields. Each year, the Print Shop also uses about 1.4 million sheets of standard paper and roughly 145 pounds of toner, equivalent to the weight of 37 five-pound bags of flour.

Behind every one of those numbers are teachers preparing lessons, schools communicating with families, and educators working to create meaningful learning experiences for students. Whether she is finding a better way to manage print orders, ensuring mail reaches its destination, or helping teachers access the resources they need, she approaches every task with the same commitment to getting the job done right.

In recognition of her contributions, the Board of Education and Administration proudly present the 2026 Apex Award for Education Support Professional of the Year to Maria Moore.

Drawing on her background in educational technology and instructional design, she patiently guided thousands of employees through one of the District’s most complex technology transitions. Teachers, counselors, registrars, office staff, and administrators all needed training tailored to their responsibilities. Cole developed multiple ways to learn, from in-person instruction to videos and written tutorials.

She understood that mastering a new tool wasn’t the only hurdle. Change can be intimidating for employees accustomed to navigating the old system with their eyes closed. Her message: “You’re better than you think you are.” With humor and encouragement, she became a reassuring presence. She also served as an advocate, bringing employees’ frustrations directly to Skyward to help improve the system. Her training guides are now lighting the way for other school districts in Utah.

Yet when told the Canyons Board of Education and Administration were recognizing her with the 2026 Apex Award for Student Support Services Professional of the Year, Cole became emotional for a different reason: gratitude. She credits her Information Technology colleagues, whose expertise and support made the transition possible. For Cole, the achievement wasn’t implementing new technology. It was helping everyone succeed together.

In addition, the credit union provides educator mini-grants, gifts to welcome new teachers, and monetary prizes for every Canyons Teacher of the Year. Those awards alone total nearly $14,000 annually. Through its partnership with the Canyons Education Foundation, Cyprus also helps make fundraising events possible, including donation drives, galas, and golf tournaments. “Cyprus has shown us a consistency of helping and supporting our students and our foundation,” says Brooke Carn, Development Officer for the Canyons Education Foundation. “They’re very encouraging and excited to help support what we’re doing for our students.”

Cyprus also has been among those in the community who have caught the vision of the Canyons Innovation Center, extending its investment in the educational experiences and opportunities that prepare students for the future. “When we think about that, children are the future,” says Amanda Morton, Cyprus Vice President of Relationship Development and a member of the Canyons Education Foundation Board. “So, if we don’t have boots on the ground, if we’re not actually putting the effort in doing all the things that kids need assistance with outside of what our education system can do, then we’re really not living up to our motto.”

For its enduring partnership, generous support, and steadfast commitment to helping students and educators succeed, the Canyons Board of Education and Administration proudly present the 2026 Apex Award for Business Partner of the Year to Cyprus Credit Union.

Christensen’s journey with Sunrise Elementary’s choir began when the PTA president was searching for someone to keep the program alive. She had just welcomed a baby to the family, but that didn’t stop her from stepping forward. Throughout the years, all five of her children have participated in the choir, and Christensen’s contributions have helped create lasting musical memories for an untold number of Sunrise families.

Christensen is intentional about giving students a rich, well-rounded musical experience. She has even collaborated with the school’s Beverley Taylor Sorenson arts educator to incorporate instruments into some of the choir’s performances. “Children who wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be a part of a high-quality singing program got that because of her,” said former Sunrise Principal Margaret Swanicke. “Volunteers like Katie are what make our schools special and fun. Christensen filled a need that no one else could, and to have that opportunity for the kids to be able to sing and feel successful, it was just so special.”

Through her unwavering commitment, countless volunteer hours, and enduring passion for music, Christensen has given students more than the chance to perform. She has given them confidence, connection, and the joy of discovering what they can accomplish together.

In recognition of her dedication to the Sunrise Singers and the lasting impact she has made on students and families, the Canyons Board of Education and Administration are honored to give the 2026 Apex Award for Volunteer of the Year to Katie Christensen.

“One of thing that has been helpful for me as a legislator and as a member of the Alta School Community council is to get in those meetings where you are talking to administrators, principals, teachers, counselors, parents, and student body officers to get the well-rounded view of what is happening in our schools,” Okerlund says. “That kind of input is important to me.” As a member of the Education Interim Committee, he pairs a commitment to public education with a dedication to his constituents — the majority of whom have children in Canyons District schools.

The Okerlunds are a proud Canyons family. Not only does he serve on the board of the Canyons Education Foundation and an advisory committee to launch the Canyons Innovation Center, his children attend Alta High and Indian Hills Middle and his wife, Megan, works in the Counseling Center at the Home of the Hawks.

Rep. Okerlund actively seeks the Canyons Board of Education’s perspective on proposed legislation, works exceptionally closely with District legislative-affairs staff, and advances the Board’s priorities wherever possible. His engagement makes him a valued partner in the noble endeavor of providing a world-class education to children — not just in House District 42, but all across Canyons.

It is for these reasons, and many more, that it’s the pleasure of the Board of Education and Administration to present Rep. Clint Okerlund with the 2026 Apex Award for Elected Official of the Year.

As CSD’s first-ever Director of Career and Technical Education, she helped build a system of programs and pathways that connected students to the worlds of skilled trades, technology, health care, business, and other essential industries. Under her leadership, Canyons’ CTE programs became among Utah’s best, earning recognition for preparing students not only for graduation, but for life beyond it.

A respected leader in career and technical education, Goble served as vice president of the National Administration Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education. In 2017, she also testified before a congressional panel about the importance of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which provides federal funding to support CTE programs. In 2020, Goble was named Utah’s Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year.

Yet her leadership was never confined to a title or an award. During the 2020-2021 school year, she took on the additional responsibility of serving as acting principal of the Canyons Technical Education Center, guiding the school while continuing to lead the District’s CTE department. Even as she valiantly battled cancer, Goble had a way of making the work about something larger than herself: the students whose futures depended on the opportunities that educators created for them.

For all of these reasons, the Canyons Board of Education and Administration are honored to posthumously present the Legacy Award to Janet Goble.