By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Two new principals have been hired to manage schools
in the Juab School District.
Randon C. Lawrence will serve as principal of the
7th&8th Grade Center and Steven Paulsen will work as the
principal of the 5th/6th Grade Center.
The two new principals replace Steve Olsen and his
assistant principal, Raymond Nielsen. Olsen is retiring this
spring but hopes to return to the district in a year to
teach, said Kirk Wright, superintendent.
"The decision was made by the board to hire two
principals as they considered the concerns of the teaching
staff at the two schools," said Wright.
He said the teachers at the two schools did not think
that the principal/assistant program was working to the
advantage of both schools. They expressed concerns to the
school board that there were things that needed the
attention of the principal and that each school needed its
own principal.
The process used to select the two principals involved
a screening committee.
"The committee consisted of teachers from the middle
school (the two centers), parents from the advisory board at
the school (the two centers), a board member, Delanie
Hathaway, and I acted as facilitator," said Wright.
A field of 14 candidates was narrowed to six. Of that
number, four were interviewed by the board.
From those interviews, the board made the final
selection, said Wright.
Last week, the interviews were conducted by the board
and the selection was made. However, the candidates were not
actually hired until they had been contacted to make certain
they still wanted the job.
"Three of the candidates were local educators," said
Wright.
None of them were selected for the positions.
Both Lawrence and Paulsen have been working as
principals of schools in Wyoming.
Lawrence, a native of Utah, has been working as the
principal of Lander Valley Alternative High School in
Lander, Wyoming.
He received a nomination as Wyoming Teacher of the
Year, has been a presenter at the National School Board
Convention where he addressed ways and means of designing an
alternative high school curriculum.
As a member of the Army National Guard, Lawrence
received the Army Achievement Medal and, in 1998, he was
selected outstanding employee at Dixie State College, and
was selected as the God Star Nominee of the Year on the high
school level. He was nominated for that honor by the Casper
Star Tribune in Wyoming.
Lawrence graduated from Southern Utah State College
with a bachelor's degree. His major was Spanish. He also
earned a master's degree with and educational endorsement
from Southern Utah State College.
An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, he is married and is the father of five
children.
Paulsen has been serving as the principal of the
Overland Elementary School in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Wright said Paulsen had a strong background in
curriculum and instruction which is a great benefit to the
district.
Paulsen graduated from Brigham Young University with a
bachelor's degree and received a master's degree from the
University of Wyoming. In addition, he had trained district
staff members in several areas of curriculum and staff
development.
"He is a facilitator in reading," said Wright. "That
will be a further strength for our school district."
Paulsen served as regional president of the Wyoming
Association of Elementary School Principals. He was a
Sweetwater Classroom 2000 Finalist and was recommended by
the Sweetwater School District #1 for the Professional
Excellence Award.
He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-days Saints and has served as a counselor in a stake
presidency, as a Bishop, as the police department chaplain,
on the Child Discovery Board, as stake president of the
Young Men, on the Child Discovery Board, and as a member of
the district nominating committee for the Boy Scouts of
America.
He and his wife are the parents of grown children, the
youngest of whom is currently serving a mission for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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