Several new administrative appointments were recently announced by the Canyons Board of Education that will be effective July 1.

After 13 years in administration at Butler Middle and Oquirrah Middle schools, Doug Graham will become Indian Hills Middle School’s principal. He will replace Floyd Stensrud, who has been named planning and enrollment director for Canyons School District.

“There are some wonderful things going on at Indian Hills and I’m looking forward to learning the traditions and loyalties and taking pride in the school,” said Graham who, after playing defensive end for the University of Utah, is still true to his alma mater.

Even though Graham said that the school’s test scores are “very, very good,” he plans to focus on the instructional delivery to students to make sure they are engaged in classroom materials and discussion.

“If we can introduce material in different ways than just a lecture format, we can bring more meaning to what they’re learning. We can have hands-on, different groups’ review, practice writing prompts and different ways they can learn through repetition, that will help improve their learning of the subject matter. Middle school is the most critical age we can guide students through, and if we have their hearts and souls engaged and on track, they can become successful as they proceed through school and life,” he said.

Replacing Graham at Butler Middle will be Jody Wihongi, Indian Hills Middle assistant principal. Achievement Coach Haley Nelson at Hillcrest High, of Midvale, will become Indian Hills’ assistant principal.

Other administrative changes include Union Middle School Principal Mary Anderson, who is departing the school after 11 years to become Draper Park Middle School’s principal. Park Lane Principal Kelly Tauteoli will lead Union.

“She’s an excellent principal and teacher and I’ve worked with her many years; she’ll do a terrific job with these great students and teachers,” Anderson said.

Replacing Tauteoli at Park Lane will be Justin Jeffrey, who has been an assistant principal in the Humble Independent School District in Texas.

Jordan High Assistant Principal Wendy Dau will become Midvale Middle principal, replacing Frank Schofield who was named Logan School District superintendent. Joining her will be Draper Park Middle School Assistant Principal Kerry Schroeppel and Brighton High Administrative Intern Kip Carlsen. Current Midvale Middle Assistant Principal BJ Weller will take the helm of Canyon View Elementary in Cottonwood Heights.

Midvale Elementary Principal Shad DeMill has been named as Quail Hollow Elementary principal, as current principal Denis Lyons will retire. 

Mt. Jordan Middle School Assistant Principal Matt Watts will become assistant principal at Midvale Elementary, and Eastmont Middle Assistant Principal John Hellwig will take Matt Watts’ role. Brandon Moore, an administrative intern at Granger High in West Valley City, will be Eastmont Middle’s new assistant principal.

Evidence-based Learning Middle School Math Team Lead Mindy Robison will become Crescent Elementary principal, replacing Debbie Shumard, who is retiring.

Brookwood Principal Julie Mootz will lead Oak Hollow Elementary in Draper and in trade, Oak Hollow Principal Corrie Barrett will become principal at Brookwood.

McKay Robinson, current Lone Peak Elementary principal, will take charge of Sandy Elementary, replacing Sandra Dahl-Houlihan who is the new district administrator of evaluation and leadership. Tracy Stacy, an elementary principal in Eagle County School District in Colorado, will become Lone Peak’s principal.