Thunder Ridge Elementary principal nominated as ‘LifeChanger of the Year’
Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler lines up school children for lunchtime on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Posters of praise hang on the walls of Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler's office on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a Life Changer of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler lines up school children for lunchtime on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
Thunder Ridge Elementary's principal Jason Theler poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015 at his school in Saratoga Springs. Theler was nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
The school population at Thunder Ridge Elementary in Saratoga Springs has increased from 700 to 1,200 students in five years.
And each of the students know their principal, Jason Theler.
Theler has been with the school since its first year in 2011. He has been an educator for about 20 years, including the last 11 years as a principal.
“One of the best things about being a principal is there’s a little bit more flexibility in your day,” he said. “No two days are alike. … In my job, there’s not a lot of predictability.”
And this unpredictability is what Theler loves about his job and his role at the school.
Theler gets to see all of the kids every day, giving them high-fives as they head into lunch and helping them as he can.
Former PTA president, Mindi Barker, saw his cheerful interaction with the students and felt that even though he wouldn’t really want it, he deserved some recognition for it.
“He’s such a humble guy. He does so many things… I think he’s a life changer in every single way,” she said.
Theler was nominated by Barker for the LifeChanger of the Year award, sponsored by the National Life Group, for the work he’s done with Thunder Ridge Elementary and as an educator.
This annual program recognizes educators across the nation and selects 15 winners each year. A spirit award also is awarded to the nominee whose community shows the most spirit and rallies behind their nominee.
Winners receive cash prizes and donations made to their schools.
When Theler first saw he was a candidate for the award, he assumed Barker had found “some website” to express her thanks for him. It wasn’t until he was contacted by Alpine School District earlier this week that he realized how much the nomination meant.
“I went online and looked it up, and apparently it’s a bigger deal than I thought it was,” he laughed. “I didn’t know there was any kind of contest or that there was a selection board.”
Theler said he was grateful Barker nominated him for the award, though he believes it’s not for him.
“It’s very humbling, especially considering how it went from what I thought it was, one person just doing something nice,” he said. “It’s embarrassing a little bit actually, because there are so many people who do so many awesome things in this district.”
There are six other candidates from Utah. Nationally, there are more than 100 candidates.
Despite the rapidly growing elementary school, Theler said the teachers help the students hold hard to the motto: work hard, learn well and play often.
“If we’re doing our job really well, the teachers are happy, the kids are being well-served, and it’s just running,” he said. “The teachers are really the ones doing the heavy lifting.”
New teachers were hired just over Christmas vacation to help with that heavy lifting.
“I hired two teachers over Christmas break,” he said. “The classes are going to go from 36 or 37 [students] to 30.”
Theler said his greatest strength is an inherent knack to be surrounded by good people who make the work he does easier.
“Whether that’s my personality or a reputation I haven’t heard of, I’ve been fortunate to have excellent PTA presidents, amazing secretaries, awesome assistant principals and teachers who said they have multiple offers, but they chose Thunder Ridge,” he said.
As for the LifeChanger of the Year award, Theler said he doesn’t care if he wins or not, he’s simply honored to be nominated. Despite the stiff competition, Barker said she believes Theler can and will receive an award for his work at Thunder Ridge Elementary.
“He’s so deserving,” Barker said. “I read all the other bios, and they all seem amazing, but he just goes above and beyond.”
Know of someone in the community who has gone above and beyond or made a difference in your life or in someone else’s?
Nominate a person for Utah Valley’s Everyday Heroes by emailing kneely@heraldextra.com.
