By Julie Slama | [email protected]

There wasn’t a banquet, an awards ceremony or big celebration—but it may yet happen.

Jordan School District staff and faculty have reason to celebrate as they accumulated several top outstanding Utah PTA awards, including outstanding school administrator and outstanding educator.

Former South Jordan Middle School and current Hidden Valley Middle School Principal Shawn McLeod received the outstanding school administrator award.

“I had received an email that I was nominated, and being recognized like that, was great, but I didn’t know I won,” he said. “I’m excited, humbled and very honored.”

It was this winter, before the outbreak of COVID-19, when McLeod learned he would be opening the new middle school and leaving his post.

“I loved those students and parents and had a great PTA board there, but I’m looking forward to creating that culture here,” he said.

McLeod served those South Jordan Middle families for 16 years and Bingham students for three years before that as a teacher and administrator. He also taught one year at Copper Hills High in West Jordan. In addition to teaching, he also coached football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Now in the midst of the pandemic, he said he is ready to open his new school.

“I did about 200 Zoom interviews, and I didn’t even know what Zoom was prior to all this,” McLeod said. “I’ve been communicating with our staff, teachers and talking about expectations—face-to-face, online, knowing what we’re doing, going over curriculum lessons, what we can plan for in any scenario. I feel good that we have a great team of teachers, administrators, staff ready to help our students.”

Riverton High School’s Adrian Ramjoue snagged one of the coveted outstanding educator awards.

Three other District winners received awards; they are Jolynne Ward, spirit of inclusivity award for Golden Gate Club, Bingham High in South Jordan; Hillary Moser, involvement award for Veterans Day parade and flag ceremony, Westland Elementary in West Jordan; and Sarah Brown, outstanding volunteer award, Westland Elementary.

Other area winners include Marilyn Williams, outstanding school administrator, Willow Canyon Elementary in Sandy; Chip Watts, outstanding school administrator, Midvale Elementary; Mike Okumura, outstanding educator award, Longview Elementary in Murray; Ray Barton, outstanding educator award, Olympus High School in Holladay; Melanie Ferguson, advocacy award for radKIDS, Sunrise Elementary in Sandy; Linda Clapier, outstanding support staff award, Skyline High School in Salt Lake City; Corey Peterson, outstanding support staff award, McMillan Elementary in Murray; Kris Dockstader, outstanding volunteer award, Eastwood Elementary in Salt Lake City; Benjamin Garcia, outstanding volunteer award, Beehive Elementary in Salt Lake City; and Melody Richardson, outstanding volunteer award, Peruvian Park Elementary in Sandy.