resources

Supports

Getting Involved

Tools

Resources

Leadership

About

Getting Involved

Canyons History

When the sun rose 10 years ago on a hot August morning, change was in the air. Bus drivers were heading out on brand new routes. Nutrition workers were starting from scratch as they planned students’ meals. Principals and teachers were preparing to welcome students for the first time to a school they’d always known, but now it was different. It was the first day of school, Aug. 26, 2009, in the first school district to be created in Utah in nearly 100 years. The momentum of days and weeks leading up to this important day in Canyons District began two years earlier, on Nov. 6, 2007, when residents of Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Midvale, Sandy and the town of Alta voted to create a new school district with a blank slate and a mandate from the people that it be responsive to the community and guided by innovative ideals. From that historic vote and those first days, the Canyons Board of Education has directed its vision toward one clear goal: to help every student graduate college- and career-ready in a world-class school District built on the tenets of student achievement, community engagement, customer service, innovation and fiscal accountability. With these guiding principles, CSD, as one of the largest school district’s in Utah, has kept close to the desires of its original founders — the patrons of Canyons School District — in creating learning environments with cutting-edge technological capabilities, instructional scaffolding that supports teachers and administrators, and developing innovative programs that lead students to educational and personal success.

As CSD’s first superintendent, Dr. David Doty, wasted no time building the groundwork for a new District that was determined to research and implement the best ways of operating, rather than following old traditions. In a short time, math and reading curriculums were streamlined in each school so that teachers in any given grade were using the same materials and assessments for instruction. Key pieces were put into place to realign school boundaries so that sixth-graders would enter middle school and ninth-graders would enter high school, and a new standard for graduation in CSD was implemented through the creation of Advanced and Honors Diplomas. In 2010, Canyons’ voters approved a $250 million bond campaign to start an ambitious school-improvement program to upgrade and replace aging schools.

After five years, Doty stepped down to purse a new professional opportunity, and Dr. Ginger Rhode, previously the Deputy Superintendent, began her term as Interim Superintendent. Rhode oversaw the implementation of a major grade shift as sixth-graders moved into middle school, and she maintained a construction schedule that furthered work on remodeling and rebuilding schools at breakneck speed. 

In 2014, the Canyons Board of Education hired Dr. Jim Briscoe to guide the District forward. In his tenure, Briscoe oversaw the completion of construction projects from a $250 million bond from 2010 and a successful bond campaign for $283 million in 2017. Under Dr. Briscoe, Canyons’ graduation rate reached 90 percent and CSD students continued to best their peers statewide on year-end exams. He helped pave the way for the launch of: Canyons’ alternative high school, Diamond Ridge High; a tuition-based Supplemental Kindergarten Program for families looking for the full kindergarten experience; and Alta High’s Step2theU program through which students can get a jump on college while in high school.  More than a builder of school buildings and innovative programs, Dr. Briscoe was a builder of relationships and always looking for ways to strengthen school communities and the school-to-home connection. Under his watch, the Board of Education approved some kind of compensation increase every year, including historic pay increases for teachers.

In April, 2020, shortly after Dr. Briscoe announced his retirement, the Board appointed Dr. Rick L. Robins as Superintendent and tasked him with overseeing the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic while charting a course for the near and distant future. With the goal of keeping schools open and students safely learning, Canyons contributed to coronavirus monitoring and testing innovations that have been adopted by school systems throughout the country. The District also launched Canyons Online, a remote-learning program that allows organized, self-driven students to learn at their own pace and from the location of their choosing. Under Robins, Canyons became the third school district in Utah to earn systemwide accreditation through Cognia and underwent a strategic planning review, which will serve as a guidepost for coming years. 

Since its creation, Canyons has followed a trajectory of innovation and excellence with the quality of student education as its lodestar. From the first day Canyons became a district on July 1, 2009, teachers, administrators, and the Canyons Board of Education have brought passion, creativity, and a mindset that anything is possible to Canyons’ communities. The beginning years have been remarkable, but all eyes are on the future. We invite you to come be a part of building something great. Come be a part of Canyons.

Board Meeting Schedule

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Education for Canyons School District will hold a regular study session and public business meeting at the Canyons District Office building, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, UT each month unless otherwise posted. The Board may determine to conduct some business during a study session. All business meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. unless changed by the Board and appropriately posted for the public.

Please note that ALL DATES, TIMES and LOCATIONS listed on this scheduled are TENTATIVE and are subject to change at any time.  Please check this schedule often to be informed of any changes.

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings in the schedule below will take place as the Canyons District Office located at 9361 S. 300 E. in Sandy, Utah.

District Leaders

Dr. Rick Robins

Superintendent

Dr. Rick L. Robins is the superintendent of Canyons School District. Dr. Robins, who was selected by the Canyons Board of Education after a national search, brings 24 years of experience as an educator to his role as the chief executive officer of Utah’s fifth-largest school district. Prior to joining Canyons, Dr. Robins, who earned an Ed.D. from the University of Las Vegas, for six years was Superintendent of the Juab School District, based in Nephi, Utah. While there, Dr. Robins, who also was the Juab High School Principal from 2009-2013, helped oversee efforts to improve the district’s graduation rate to 97 percent, a double-digit increase over a 10-year period. Other innovations he led in Juab included a partnership with Arizona State University for blended-learning opportunities; the launch of a districtwide competency-based personalized learning model driven by a 1:1 technology initiative and standards-based reporting system; and the construction of the STEM-focused West Campus Innovations Center, funded largely through private and corporate sponsorships. Dr. Robins began his career as a history teacher at Copper Hills High in the Jordan School District and has worked as an assistant principal and principal in the Alpine, Nebo and Juab school districts. He was the 2012 Utah High School Principal of the Year for the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, and in 2014 earned the Lexington Institute Superintendent Fellowship Award presented to innovative superintendents across the country. Dr. Robins was starting quarterback for the football team at Southern Utah University Thunderbirds from 1991-1995, and in 2013 was inducted into SUU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He has four children and one grandchild.

Leon Wilcox

Business Administrator and CFO

Leon Wilcox is a seasoned professional with 20 years of governmental accounting experience, with an emphasis on financial reporting, budgeting, and auditing. As Canyons District’ Director of Accounting from 2009-2013, Wilcox was intricately involved with the 2009 division of $1.5 billion in assets of the former Jordan School District, and was responsible for establishing Canyons’ original and subsequent budgets. Wilcox, a certified public accountant who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Utah State University, also has worked nine years in the Granite School District and six years in the State Auditor’s Office.

Supervises:  Accounting and Budget Services, Facilities and Maintenance, Insurance, New Construction Budget, Nutrition Services, Purchasing, Payroll

Dr. Robert M. Dowdle

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance

Robert Dowdle has a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah, and more than 31 years of experience as a teacher and educational leader. He began his career at Mount Jordan Middle School, where he taught Earth Science, English and Social Studies. He later taught Advanced Placement Economics, U.S. History and World History at Bingham High School, and served as Principal of Jordan High School and Assistant Principal for Alta High School and Brighton High School. Dowdle has served in the District office for 11 years as Assistant Superintendent. This role has included various leadership responsibilities, including Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Dowdle currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance.

Lucie Chamberlain

Alta View Elementary

If a movie about super teachers were ever made, Lucie Chamberlain would be a prime candidate for a leading role. Fortunately for her kindergarten students at Alta View Elementary, she already thrives in a supporting role for them. Parents thank her for being a “super teacher.” She is also described as an “amazing colleague.” Whether students need help in the classroom or from home while sick, Lucie goes above and beyond to help them learn, overcome fears, and feel important and cared for. Lucie is the reason a number of kids went from hating school to loving it, according to parents. The way she exudes patience, sweetness, positive energy, and love for her students with special needs melts is appreciated and admired. One parent noted: “Both my kids wish she could be their teacher forever.” Another added:  “She treats every student like their learning and their feelings are her priority.” Super teacher, indeed!

Specialty Schools

High Schools

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Canyons School District is committed to making this website compliant with the ADA. At this time, we recognize that not all areas of this website may be ADA compliant. We are currently in the process of redesigning and creating new website content to be compliant with the W3C Level Two guidelines. If you are experiencing issues with this website, please contact us here communications@canyonsdistrict.org

1 2 3 16