By Julie Slama | [email protected]

When Elk Ridge Middle School students return to their familiar school hallways, there will be an unfamiliar face welcoming them back to school.

Curtis Jenson, who has been Riverton High School’s assistant principal, is Elk Ridge Middle School’s new principal, as Wyatt Bentley has been appointed secondary administrator in Jordan School District’s human resources.

“I’m excited to learn what’s been going on there and capitalize on those,” he said. “I’m wanting to see what is there and don’t have anything in mind to introduce. I want to get to know the culture before I bring in my own flavor.”

That flavor may be a little fun, as he’s known to play dodge ball or be part of a flash mob. He also knows a little trivia about the movie, “Napoleon Dynamite,” as he was a principal at the junior high in Preston, Idaho, where the movie was filmed.

Jenson also taught English at Logan High School and student taught at nearby Indian Hills Middle School in Sandy.

Before school was out in the spring, he met with the faculty and the PTA president.

“Every faculty has its own character, and it’s amazing to see what all this school is doing,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the start of the year.”

This administrative change is just one of many throughout Jordan School District. 

Other changes in South Jordan include Bingham High School welcoming new assistant principal Arthur Erickson, who has served at Riverton High in the same capacity; former Sunset Ridge Middle Assistant Principal Shelly Gottfredson replacing Elk Ridge Middle Assistant Principal Joshua Ricks. Ricks will move to South Jordan Middle School to assume the duties of former Assistant Principal Franco Preston, who will be an assistant principal at both Welby and Bastian elementary schools. 

Former Elk Meadows Elementary Principal Aaron Ichimura will assume the duties of Welby Elementary principal as former principal Jennifer Fisher moves to oversee Hayden Peak Elementary School. Former Heartland Elementary School Assistant Principal Tiffany Smith will become Elk Meadows principal. Former Welby and Midas Creek elementary schools’ Assistant Principal Mandy Thurman will be an assistant principal at Bluffdale and Hayden Peak elementary schools, and district teaching and Learning teacher specialist Baylee Lansford will be the assistant principal at Elk Meadows and Monte Vista elementary schools.

Jordan Ridge and Butterfield Canyon elementary schools will welcome Daybreak Elementary teacher Staci Moore as their assistant principal, and Daybreak will include Todd Theobold as its assistant principal after serving as an administrator on special assignment. 

Eastlake Elementary Assistant Principal Kristie Howe will move to Oakcrest Elementary School as its assistant principal, and Angie Jones, a Granite School District instructional coach, will become Golden Fields Elementary assistant principal.