Dr. Brian McGill is the new Director of Student Services in Canyons School District.  The current principal of Alta High was chosen for the post after a competitive selection process. 

The Board of Education approved Dr. McGill’s appointment on Tuesday, Nov. 30.  He will start work in the new role in mid-January, which gives him time to coordinate a seamless transition with new principal Ken Rowley, now an Assistant Principal at Corner Canyon High. 

Dr. McGill will lead the Canyons District department that was created to provide a system of support for students, including counseling, health and nursing services, school psychology, and behavior interventions, among other areas. Current Responsive Services Department administrator BJ Weller will assist Dr. McGill in planning and executing the department’s mission.

McGill also will serve in Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins’ leadership Cabinet.

In addition to experience as a high school administrator, Dr. McGill, the 2021 Utah High School Principal of the Year, has a doctorate of education and policy, a master’s of educational counseling, and a master’s of mental health counseling. He also has a bachelor’s of science in psychology.

Before arriving in Canyons District to be among the first administrators at Corner Canyon High, McGill has served as principal and Chief Executive Officer of the Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science Early College High School; the Assistant Principal of Elk Ridge Middle School; and as a school counselor and Administrative Intern at Riverton High School.  In addition, he was the Manager of College Access and Outreach for the Utah System of Higher Education. He also was a guidance counselor at the middle and high school level. 

He was the recipient of the first-ever SafeUT Champion Award in 2017. SafeUT is the mobile phone app that gives suicidal, depressed, or anxious students access to licensed clinicians at the University of Utah.