Junior High Assistant Principals Appointed for 2012-13

Nate Whitney – Diamond Fork Junior Assistant Principal
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Nate Whitney as the assistant principal of Diamond Fork Junior High School. Nate received his associate’s degree at Dixie College, his bachelor’s degrees in biology and Spanish, and his Master’s of Administration at Southern Utah University.

Mr. Whitney has worked for Nebo District for eight years and outside the district for seven years. He taught Spanish and science at Kingman High School, Dixie Middle School, and Quartz Hill High. Mr. Whitney helped coach football and has been the advisor of a Spanish Club. He has served as scout master for five years and hopes to serve for several more years.

Principal RaShel Anderson said, “Nate is a great leader and has the ability to mentor teachers. He is a highly effective instructional leader. Nate is willing to go the extra mile to try new ideas and strives to help each child succeed in school. I admire his enthusiasm for learning, love of students, collaboration, teaming, and hard work.”

Mr. Whitney said, “I have loved my time at Spanish Fork Junior and Mapleton Junior and look forward to now being an administrator at Diamond Fork Junior. His motto comes from James Allen, “A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life.”

Nate enjoys gardening, yard work, camping, hiking, and kayaking.  He is married to Ginger, and they have four children.

Jesse Sorensen – Payson Junior Assistant Principal
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Jesse Sorensen as the assistant principal of Payson Junior High School. Jesse received his bachelor’s degree at Utah Valley University, and his Master’s of Administration at Southern Utah University.

Mr. Sorensen taught seventh- and ninth-grade English for seven years and Read 180 for six years.  He is an English as a Second Language (ESL) migrant teacher. Jesse has served as program director and is currently on the board of directors for an Orphanage Support Service organization. He also serves on the Payson Library Board.

Principal Carl Swenson said, “Mr. Sorensen is very dedicated to his work as an educator. Jesse’s greatest strengths are his love and respect for students. He is a self-starter and self-motivated. Mr. Sorensen speaks fluent Spanish and was influential in starting a Latino’s in Action group at Payson Junior High. He has natural leadership skills and a calming influence.”

Jesse said, “The student first and always. I am very excited to serve the students and staff at Payson Junior High. I would like to thank the great mentors I’ve had.”

Jesse enjoys spending time with family, endurance mountain biking races, snow skiing, and snowboarding. He is married to Patty, and they have four children.

Ron Penrod – Springville Junior High Assistant Principal
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Ron Penrod as the assistant principal of Springville Junior High School.

Mr. Ron Penrod has served as principal of Wilson Elementary for the last 6 years and principal of Goshen for 11 years. He taught fourth grade for one year and fifth grade for eight years.  Mr. Penrod received the Outstanding Principal from a Small/Rural School in Utah in 2002.  He also received Teacher of the Year at Park View Elementary and Outstanding Teacher from the PTA.  Mr. Penrod has also been intricately involved with the Nebo Education Foundation as a board member for over six years.

A colleague said, “Ron is one who is always will to do his part to make our school a better place, and his students are well-mannered and responsible. Ron is always willing to lend a hand when he sees something that needs to be done.”