State Superintendent of the Year - Chris S. Sorensen

SPANISH FORK, UTAH–Chris S. Sorensen, Superintendent of Schools for Nebo School District has been named the 2009 Utah Superintendent of the Year. The Utah Public Education Coalition, comprised of leaders from the Utah Elementary Association, the Secondary Principals Association, the Utah Education Association, the Utah School Superintendents Association, the Utah PTA, the Utah School Boards Association, the Deans Council and the Utah School Employees Association selected Mr. Sorensen for the honor. Mr. Sorensen will now represent Utah in the National Superintendent of the Year Program. In addition to being named as Superintendent of the Year for Utah, Superintendent Sorensen has overseen tremendous growth in Nebo School District–approximately over 1,000 new students each year. In the past six years, he has directed two new high schools, one alternative high school, one new junior high, and five new elementary schools with major renovations on two elementary schools. In the next few years, Nebo School District will build two new junior high schools and five more elementary schools as well as improvements to the existing high schools. Mr. Sorensen is a Graduating Fellow of the Utah Principal’s Academy. He received the Community Leader of the Year Award from the Utah Association of Elementary and Secondary Principals. Mr. Sorensen received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Utah Principal’s Academy and was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Springville High School. Mr. Sorensen also served on the city council for Springville City for eight years. Superintendent Sorensen began his lifelong relationship with Nebo School District in 1957 as a kindergarten student at Brookside Elementary in Springville. Mr. Sorensen has taught throughout Nebo School District including the communities of Santaquin, Payson, Spanish Fork, Mapleton, and Springville teaching second through seventh grades. Sorensen has had numerous administrative positions including principal of Santaquin Elementary/Middle School, Art City Elementary, assistant principal of Springville High School and director of elementary education. Superintendent Sorensen‘s personal philosophy of education aligns with this well-known quote: “Your students deserve more than your knowledge. They deserve and hunger for your inspiration. They want the warm glow of personal relationship. This has always been the hallmark of a great teacher.” Superintendent Sorensen and his wife, Karen, have three children all of whom have graduated from Nebo School District schools. As his grandchildren begin their education, Sorensen continues to believe in public education and the mission of Nebo School District: “To provide each student with quality instruction, learning opportunities, and educational environments which inspire classroom success, personal excellence, and responsible citizenship.”