Alpine School District Superintendent Shane Farnsworth to step down for new role at BYU
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- Alpine School District Superintendent Shane Farnsworth listens during a board meeting at the district office in American Fork on Friday, June 30, 2023.
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- Alpine School District incoming interim superintendent Rob Smith is shown in this undated photo
After nearly three decades, Superintendent Shane Farnsworth will retire from the Alpine School District in September, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
Farnsworth made the announcement during the board of education meeting earlier Tuesday morning.
Farnsworth has accepted a role at Brigham Young University to teach educational leadership classes. He’ll also work with BYU’s Public School Partnership in the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling.
Meanwhile, former Alpine School District Business Administrator Rob Smith has been appointed by The Board of Education to take over the role as superintendent on an interim basis, the district’s press release stated.
Farnsworth has served in a myriad of positions with Alpine School District as a teacher, administrator, and the last four years leading the district.
In a phone call with the Daily Herald on Tuesday, he said the new role at BYU felt like a good change and it keeps him in education.
“I’ve reached 26 years in education and to that point where I can look at retirement and when the BYU opportunity came available, I thought that was a good next step in my career,” Farnsworth said.
The news of his departure comes as a reconfiguration of the current Alpine School District is emerging.
Three new districts are being formed in the different areas made up of cities within the current ASD.
It also means new board of education members will be elected, as well as new leadership roles, among other potential administrative position changes.
Farnsworth admitted that he didn’t intend to apply for new superintendent roles in the emerging districts, thus making this an ideal time to step away.
However, he feels ASD will be poised to support the creation of three new school districts.
“Given the students that we serve, families and communities that we serve, and the employees that serve them, I anticipate that all three districts will be strong school districts,” Farnsworth told the Daily Herald
He began his career in education teaching language arts at Mountain Ridge Junior High. He served as an assistant principal at Timberline Middle School, principal at American Fork Junior High, supervisor of secondary schools, and assistant superintendent of operations before being named superintendent in 2020.
As interim superintendent, Smith will help guide Alpine amid the transition through the process of reconfiguration until a permanent successor is named.
The Alpine Board of Education praised Farnsworth for his guidance and tenure.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Farnsworth and we are lucky to have had him leading our district these past few years,” Julie King, Board President said. “The Board of Education supports him in his new opportunity and we are grateful for his steadfast support of students, families, employees, and communities during his tenure in Alpine.”
As for Smith, the change marks a return to the district. He retired in January 2024 after 21 years as Business Administrator.
“We are excited to welcome Rob back to Alpine School District and are grateful for his experience and skill sets that will be vital during this transition period,” King said.
Farnsworth and Smith will work together to ensure a smooth transition of power.
Farnsworth’s resignation takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
Smith will assume interim leadership role two months prior on July 1.
“I appreciate the trust the Board of Education placed in me as Superintendent of Schools for Alpine School District,” Farnsworth said. “I am most pleased with the work we have done to increase student learning and well-being as we implemented our strategic plan to achieve our Vision for Learning.”
