Administrative changes come to SHS

Submitted by sarah.ferrin on
Shaun Blakey appointed Assistant Principal
Wendi Nelson appointed Assistant Principal
Jason Beardall appointed Principal of Landmark High School
Tona Graff appointed Principal of Mapleton Jr High

Shaun Blakey – Assistant Principal of Springville High
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Shaun Blakey as the Assistant Principal of Springville High for Nebo School District. 

Mr. Blakey earned his bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing and his master’s degree in School Counseling both from University of Phoenix. He earned an Educational Administrative License from Southern Utah University.

Mr. Blakey has served as the Assistant Principal of Mapleton Junior for the past year and as the Dean of Students at Springville High for the previous two years. He also served as a counselor at Maple Mountain High for ten years and Springville Junior for three years. Shaun has coached basketball for nine years and track and field for two years at Maple Mountain High. He coached basketball for two years and track and field for three years at Springville Junior. 

Mr. Blakey was honored with the Work Based Learning Utah ACTE Career Guidance Award in 2020.

A colleague said, “Shaun has a caring leadership style and knows how to build strong relationships of trust. He has a goal to help every student, every teacher, and every staff member. He is a team player and collaborates with others in seeking solutions to problems. Shaun’s effective skills, competence, and attitude of caring will make Shaun a successful school administrator.”

One of Shaun’s favorite quotes is by Wonder: “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

Shaun enjoys traveling, especially to warm places with beaches. He also enjoys hiking, running, and anything that pushes him physically and mentally such as marathons and Spartan races. Shaun is married to Melissa, and they have three children.

Wendi Nelson – Assistant Principal of Springville High
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Wendi Nelson as the Assistant Principal of Springville High for Nebo School District. 

Mrs. Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree in History Education from Utah Valley University and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Brigham Young University.
        
Mrs. Nelson has served as the Dean of Students at Springville High for the past year. She taught U.S. History, AP U.S. History, U.S. Government & Citizenship, and World History for16 years and served as department chair for 12 years at Spanish Fork High. Wendi also coached cheerleading and song/pom for six years. Throughout the years, Mrs. Nelson took hundreds of students on historical tours of Washington DC and Boston.
 
Wendi was honored with the UEA Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015 and the Nebo PEAK Award in 2016.
                                
A colleague said, “One of Wendi’s goals is to help every student, every teacher, and every staff member to be successful. She has a talent for recognizing strengths in others and helping them to maximize their potential. She makes a positive difference with her effective communication skills, competence, and caring attitude. She has proven to be an effective evaluator and mentor to other teachers. Wendi is professional and always handles difficult situations with integrity and respect.”

Wendi said, “I am humbled and grateful to the Board for entrusting me with this opportunity. I am excited to work alongside our dedicated educators and staff to help our students reach their full potential.” 

One of Wendi’s favorite quotes is by Rita Pierson, “Every child deserves a champion; an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.”

Wendi enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, and spending time with my family. Wendi is married to Casey, and they have three daughters.

Jason Beardall – Principal of Landmark High
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Jason Beardall as the Principal of Landmark High School for Nebo School District. 

Mr. Beardall earned his bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Utah Valley University and his master’s degree in Education Administration from Southern Utah University.  
                                    
Mr. Beardall has served as Assistant Principal for Springville High for five years and served as the Dean of Students for three years. He taught health and physical education at Spanish Fork Junior for six years and was the campus supervisor at Springville High for two years. Jason served as the athletic director and PE/health department chair as well as coached basketball. 

Jason is currently the 2023 Assistant Principal of the Year for Nebo School District. He was honored with the Synergy in Action Award 2017 by Springville High School and honored as a PEAK Award Winner in 2018 by Nebo School District. 

A colleague said, “Jason can be trusted with the most sensitive of issues. His work ethic and desire to make a positive difference in young people’s lives is unparalleled. On numerous occasions Jason has had the ability to work with the most difficult student or parent and resolved the issue. He works fervently for the benefit of the student and sees the overall vision of how to make a school function efficiently and effectively. Jason has outstanding communication skills and is open to new ideas and practices. He has the students’ best interests at heart.”

One of Jason’s favorite quotes is by Rita Pierson: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.”

Jason said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with the students and faculty at Landmark! I am looking forward to being a part of the great culture and environment that Landmark offers our Nebo students.”

Jason enjoys spending time with family, sports, and landscaping. He is married to Joquel, and they have five children.

Tona Graff – Principal of Mapleton Junior High
The Nebo School Board of Education appointed Tona Graff as the Principal of Mapleton Junior for Nebo School District.    

Tona earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education and her master’s in Mathematics, both from Brigham Young University. She received her Educational Administrative License at Southern Utah University. Ms. Graff served the past four years as Assistant Principal at Springville High. Previously, she served as the Dean of Students at Payson High for two years and taught mathematics at Payson High for 23 years. She also coached basketball, softball, volleyball, and speech/debate for 20 years.

Ms. Graff received Teacher of the Year for Nebo School District in 2005 and the Most Influential Teacher for Payson High in 2007.

“I believe one of the most important things we can do as educators is to create a student centered environment where students and teachers work to develop a culture of efficacy,” stated Ms. Graff. “In other words, an environment where all students believe they can learn, and all teachers believe that they can have an impact on all of their students’ learning.”

A colleague said, “Tona is one of the most effective instructional leaders I have and the opportunity to work with. She has a quality about her that makes her stand out. Tona creates a positive, friendly culture at the high school. She builds positive relationships with our students, teachers, parents, and staff members.”

One of Ms. Graff’s favorite quotes is by Brene Brown, “Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”
                                
Tona enjoys boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, and  traveling.

“I have loved my time at Springville High School and am proud to be a Red Devil. I have been fortunate to be able to work with a fantastic faculty, staff, and student body and appreciate all that I have learned from them,” stated Tona. “Thank you for making me a part of your community. As I move onward to Mapleton Junior High, I am excited to create new friendships and serve the community of Mapleton. I can’t wait to embrace the ideals of what it means to be a Mustang. Go Mustangs!” 

Attributions
Lana Hiskey