Jordan High’s new principal, Kelcey Kemp, is no stranger to the school. 

He served as assistant principal since 2022 and was an administrative intern during the 2012–13 school year. Now stepping into his first principal role, Kemp succeeds Bruce Eschler, who accepted a district-level position in Murray School District.

“I'm excited to get in and get to doing things,” Kemp said. “We're really in a good trajectory. I thought Bruce did a fantastic job of running a school, pushing academics, urging students to be better and put themselves out there. I want to follow on that and increase rigor in the classrooms, helping them rise to the challenge. If we challenge them, they will rise to the occasion.”

His appointment is part of a wider administrative shuffle across Canyons School District schools this fall.

Kemp, who also served at Hillcrest, Corner Canyon and Alta high schools, began his education career teaching physical education and health at Brighton High and coaching baseball. 

A former player, Kemp has coached and officiated at tournament trips to Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. One of his retirement goals is to visit every Major League ballpark.

“I love baseball. I loved playing and I respected my coaches. I learned a lot of life lessons from baseball. Now, I’m a baseball fan,” said the current competitive pickle baller.

Kemp earned his master’s in educational leadership from Southern Utah University and has been in education for 20 years.

“It allowed me to have more of an impact on what happens with students in schools and teachers and improve instruction and enhance school culture. I love the high school experience. I love the extracurricular activities, supporting students and all their sports and clubs and things they do,” he said, noting Jordan has strong programs in many areas including performing arts, athletics, esports, debate and the Naval cadet program.

His approach to leadership is guided by a simple question: “Is it good for kids?” 

“If it's good for kids, we're going to do it. If something we’re trying isn't working, we're going to find out why it isn't working. Can we make it work? If we can make it work, we will. If we can’t, then we'll scrap it and start again,” he said.

Kemp plans to further integrate AVID strategies throughout the school, with an emphasis on WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading) classroom practices.

“We're an AVID school, so we're jumping even more into AVID with everything we do. Our school goals are going to be based around WICOR strategies in the classroom,” he said. “I want students to fail upward. They need to fail in a positive way. We learn by failing so they need to be in an environment where they're safe to fail so they can learn.”

That culture includes setting expectations for timeliness and readiness to learn.

“We're looking to incentivize being on time and having teachers set starters in the classroom. I want students to think, ‘if I'm not there on time, I might miss something that's really important.’ We don’t want students wandering the halls with a bathroom pass, but rather thinking, ‘I don’t know if I have time to go to the bathroom because this is good stuff we're learning. I don't want to miss out,’” he said.

Kemp also wants families engaged.

“I would love to have more parent nights where we just invite parents to the school and talk about what it's like being in high school right now. I think it would be helpful. Then open it to a Q and A where they come in, we teach them something, maybe we go over this policy, and then they get to ask questions,” he said. 

Kemp knows what it’s like to attend a legacy school. He graduated from the 117-year-old Bingham High — and thought many of his family did until his mother informed him that his grandma is a Beetdigger graduate and his dad said his grandfather also attended the 118-year-old Jordan.

“I thought it was cool that I have Jordan High School history. I want to continue to build up and continue to honor the legacy of Jordan High School. The best part of Jordan is the kids, the community, the people I work with; it's fun to be able to work where two of my six kids are students — and play baseball,” he said.

Other principal appointments include Dan Ashbridge, Copperview Elementary; Amy Sandgren, East Midvale Elementary; Deidre Walbeck, East Sandy Elementary; Matt Nelson, Jordan Valley; Stacey Nofsinger, Life Skills Academy; Colleen Smith, Oakdale Elementary; Kimberly Ranney, Oak Hollow Elementary; and Ashley Lennox, Sprucewood Elementary.

Elementary assistant principal appointments include Wesley Morgan to Alta View Elementary; Sara Caldwell, Altara Elementary; Lynsey Grant, Butler Elementary; Rebecca Bass, Draper Elementary; Scott Taylor, Crescent Elementary; Samantha Harris, Glacier Hills Elementary; Rachel Ostvig, Lone Peak Elementary; Amy Brown, Midvale Elementary; Noemi Jones, Midvalley Elementary; BJ Weller, Park Lane Elementary; Mike Larsen, Peruvian Park Elementary; Crystal Connors, Ridgecrest Elementary; Anna Livingston, Sprucewood Elementary; Penny Armour, Sunrise Elementary; Ivie Erickson, Sunrise Elementary; Amber Rock, Willow Springs Elementary.

Secondary assistant principal appointments include Alisha Wheeler, Albion Middle; Mark Mitchell, Alta High; Taylor Andersen, Brighton High; Katie Campbell, Corner Canyon High; Sally Williams, Corner Canyon High; Kory Crockett, Draper Park Middle; Tonya Rauch, Indian Hills Middle; Sarah Thomas, Jordan High; Jeffrey Honsvick, Life Skills Academy and Jordan Valley; Amanda Parker, Mt. Jordan Middle; Karlie Aardema, Union Middle; and Amber Tuckett to a yet-to-be named school.

Other appointments include Reid Newey as the director of the district’s new innovation center; Heather Baird hired as a special education administrator; Stephanie Petersen as a special education early childhood administrator; Kelsey Gile, East Sandy Elementary intern assistant principal; Melissa Baker, Hillcrest High intern assistant principal; and Melissa Wilkes, Oak Hollow Elementary intern assistant principal.