When walking through Union Middle School’s doors Aug. 19, the start of this school year, Principal Angi Holden may be one of those greeting students.

Holden replaces Brenda McCann, who after two years, has moved on to lead nearby Hillcrest High School.

“I am excited to be at Union Middle School to build new relationships, support excellence for every student every day as a united school community,” she said. “Union Middle School has a rich history and commitment to education.”

Holden is one of a dozen administrators who will be new to several of Sandy’s schools.

She said as the new principal, she looks forward to working “with our amazing educators and community to stay true to the Union values and guiding principles that every student can succeed; in every classroom, we are valued and appreciated; and every day, we support each other in excellence.”

Holden, who recently served as Bella Vista Elementary’s principal and has been an assistant principal at Glacier Hills Elementary, has secondary school experience. She taught in junior high, middle and high school and has been an instructional coach at Mt. Jordan Middle. She also has been a special education specialist.

“I have a passion for secondary students and providing them with positive, caring supports as they move through developmental stages in their lives,” she said.

Moreover, while at Bella Vista, Holden helped propel that school community’s desire to incorporate more STEAM learning into the curriculum. She looks forward to supporting the same movement at Union.

“I know our teams have some ideas and goals to move toward building STEAM opportunities through after-school clubs and activities. We will also explore grant opportunities to continue to support the existing STEAM programs such as (FIRST) LEGO League and look at expanding some ideas our teams have for hydroponic green house, technology, math and STEAM makerspace explorations,” she said.

At the same time, Holden wants to continue supporting the strong performing arts programs at Union. 

“Our new and amazing building will (have) a wonderful new state-of-the-art auditorium and our Bobcat Den that can been used as a small theater. These performance venues will allow us to continue the incredible traditions of our theater, music and dance programs. This school year will provide great opportunities for our students and community to participate and see new opportunities for collaboration within the Hillcrest feeder system,” she said, adding that there are school goals to continue after-school tutoring as well as expanding after-school programs and activities. “I am looking forward to collaborating with our educators and leadership teams to see what we can do to provide the best for our Union’s students.”

McCann is thankful of the support she received from the community, especially through the rebuild of the school and the ongoing construction of the auditorium. She said it was fun to return to be principal of her former school.

“I remembered this and that when I went to Union, so it was fun to return; Union was a perfect fit,” she said of her first position as principal. “We still maintained some of the traditions from the old school to the new one with the spirit of the Bobcat, who we represent. Union has a lot of culture and is proud of its Bobcat traditions. Those don’t always stick with middle schools as much, but it does at Union and maybe that’s because of the number of years it’s been a school. It’s a value of our community. This community is awesome. It’s a very supportive, rational community.”

Also leaving the community is Sandy Elementary’s four-year principal, Shawn Walker. He will be principal at Canyon View Elementary in Cottonwood Heights.

“I’ll miss the community of Sandy,” he said. “The teachers worked so hard to make a difference for students and their families. I’ll miss the students who were always so happy to come to school and see their teachers and me. I’ll miss the kind and supportive staff as well.”

In fact, the staff and faculty at Sandy worked hard to become an AVID school this year, which will increase the school’s academic rigor, Walker said, adding now students will focus on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading in every lesson.

“We worked hard to identify essential standards by grade and support teachers in helping students master those crucial skills. Our vision and mission statements were a result of our stakeholder input and truly reflected our values and ideals,” he said. “We implemented many programs to support student well-being and connectedness to school and elevate their self-perception as scholars who are capable of mastering rigorous academic content and critical thinking skills.”

Other Canyons School District appointments include:

• Elenoa Puo — Sandy Elementary principal

• Kierstin Draper — Crescent
Elementary principal

• Jeff Nalwalker — Quail Hollow Elementary principal

• Shad DeMill — Lone Peak
Elementary principal

• Aimee Wagner — Silver Mesa
Elementary principal

• Dave Barrett — Jordan High
assistant principal

• Sifa Tafisi — Eastmont Middle
assistant principal 

• Michelle Snarr — Jordan Valley School and Life Skills Academy assistant principal

• Ashley Lennox — Sprucewood Elementary assistant principal

• Leslie Robinett — Granite
Elementary assistant principal

• Angela Oviatt — Silver Mesa
Elementary assistant principal

• Rebecca Bass — Corner Canyon High assistant principal

• Brooke Rauzon — Draper Park Middle assistant principal

• Amber Tuckett — Draper Park
Middle intern assistant principal

• Courtney Long — Midvale Middle principal

• Areli Nevarez Gonzalez —
Hillcrest assistant principal

• Ari Tavo — Midvale Middle
assistant principal

• Amy Sandgren — Midvalley
Elementary assistant principal

• Emily Wilson — Midvale
Elementary assistant principal

• Janae Powell — East Midvale
Elementary assistant principal

• Sierra Segura — Copperview
Elementary assistant principal

• Barbra Winder — Bella Vista
principal

• Tracy Stacy — Butler Elementary principal

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