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Brighton Principal Named CSD’s New Director of High Schools

Tom Sherwood’s good natured yet direct leadership style seems to come straight from the motto of Brighton High: “We choose to be better today than we were yesterday.”

Sherwood, currently principal of the Cottonwood Heights-based school, will put his leadership skills and talents to good use as the new Director of Canyons District High Schools. The Canyons Board of Education approved his appointment on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

Lauding the leadership in CSD high schools as “second to none,” Sherwood said, “I am lucky to work with them and look forward to helping them be successful in their schools.” While he will miss working directly with the faculty, staff, and students at Brighton High, he looks forward to working with the Board and District administration in supporting all high schools in his new role.

Sherwood approaches the post, which he will assume after the end of this school year, with nearly 20 years of battle-tested and hands-on experience as a high school administrator.

He’ll oversee the leadership of Alta, Brighton, Corner Canyon, Jordan, Hillcrest, Diamond Ridge, high schools, and the Canyons Technical Education Center as well as work hand-in-hand with directors of CSD’s academic and operational departments to coordinate efforts. A major focus of the position is to ensure a growing number of students are career- and college-ready when they walk across the high school graduation stage. CSD’s high school graduation rate, coming out of the pandemic, is 89 percent.

After working as a science educator, in 2004 Sherwood became an assistant principal of Jordan High. The doctoral-degree candidate served as the Beetdiggers’ acting principal in 2006 and 2008, respectively, before becoming the instructional and community leader at JHS in January 2009.

While at the tradition-rich Jordan High, Sherwood instituted the AVID program, including summer remediation and extended participation into the feeder middle schools. Jordan also was the first in CSD to start the Link Crew freshman mentoring program.

In June 2017, Sherwood, the 2021 Apex Award winner for School Administrator of the Year, became principal of Brighton High, which has been consistently named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top high schools in Utah. That same year, Canyons District residents graciously approved a $283 million bond to fund the renovation and construction of several new schools, including Brighton High.

After a two-year construction period, which Sherwood helped oversee, the new Brighton opened to great fanfare in August 2021, and in January, CSD and Hogan and Associates received the 2022 “K-12 Award of Excellence” from the Associated General Contractors of Utah for the Brighton project.

With Sherwood’s support, Brighton students continue to earn statewide titles in sports and national Model United Nation competitions. The school brought back its marching band and created an AP Capstone diploma program while also adding flex periods to boost achievement for all students, advancing its already-high graduation rate to new heights.

 

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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

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