| Glen Simkins, the K-12 principal at Pinnacle Canyon Academy, stands by the painting of the school mascot in the gym. Simkins comes to the charter school with significant experience in the education field. |
Glen Simkins is a man on the move. In the last two weeks, he has moved to Price from Lund, Nev.
Simkins then moved into an assignment as the first principal of grades kindergarten to sixth at Pinnacle Canyon Academy. And this week, he is moving into a new school building.
“I have 21 years of experience teaching and being an administrator, but this is all new to me,” said Simkins as he sat in the principal’s office in the new wing of the school . “This whole situation is very intriguing to me. It will be a challenge.”
Simkins, who hails from Enterprise in Washington County, has never shied away from moving around to get different experiences.
After graduating from Southern Utah University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in school administration Simkins spent 11 years working in Panaca, Nev., where he taught and acted as an assistant principal, but without a title. He did the same job at all three levels of schools in Lincoln County.
In addition, Simkins spent a good deal of time working in the Uintah Basin, specifically the Duchesne School District. While in the Uintah Basin, he worked in Altamont and Roosevelt.
For the last two years, Simkins has spent his time being an elementary administrator in the Nevada community from which he came. Now, he finds himself in an entirely different situation.
“I wanted to be in elementary education full time and this is where I found that opportunity,” stated Simkins. “I like the idea of a healthy educational environment that is in this charter school. I like the idea that people have a choice of schools because this campus is here.”
But Simkins’ background involves more than teaching and being an administrator at other schools.
He has a strong background in technology education he received by attending multiple institutions programs including those at University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Nevada at Reno, Utah State and the University of Utah.
“One of the emphasis here will be on technology,” he said. “This new building has smart boards in every classroom and there is a computer lab on every floor.”
Simkins’ whirlwind tour to get to Price has left him and his family a little breathless.
“My wife and (five) kids are still in southern Utah, but will be here soon,” noted Simkins.
When Pinnacle Canyon began a few years ago , the academy was a small charter school with around 100 students that first year. The current the studentbody will range somewhere between 300 to 400 children.
The elementary enrollment will be housed in the old part of the Notre Dame School and the new building added on to the south end.
The secondary students will attend classes in the relocatable buildings north of the permanent structure.
But plans are in the works to add on a twin of the new south building to the northern end sometime in the near future.
Now that Pinnacle Canyon has been approved to handle high school students, charter officials expecte that the need for more room will continue.
But for Simkins, the elementary part of the school is what he desired and it appears he has what he wants.
“My feeling is that I want to be a part of the entire community,” he said. “I am very happy to be here.”
Simkins said that he intends to keep the door of his office open to students and parents and wants to do for them what ever he can to help them have a successful academic experience.
Last Friday, the school presented on open house so residents from the Castle Valley area could get a peek of what had been built. The Aug. 18 open house packed people into the halls as they talked to teachers and toured at the new facility.
Greeting people as they came in the door, Simkins met the parents and students, who will be a part of his school this coming year.