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Aaron Stevenson, current principal of Pony Express Elementary, was announced as the principal of the new elementary school in Eagle Mountain on Feb. 8, 2023.

Courtesy Alpine School District

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This undated photo shows ongoing construction at the site of a new elementary school in Eagle Mountain.

Courtesy Alpine School District

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This rendering depicts the facade of a new elementary school being built in Eagle Mountain.

Alpine School District

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Aaron Stevenson, the current principal of Pony Express Elementary, was selected as principal of the still-under construction elementary school in Eagle Mountain on Feb. 8 by the Alpine School Board of Education.

The new school, which is yet to be named, is expected to open its doors for the 2023-2024 school year in August. At the moment, there’s little more than the foundation in place. Stevenson is already planning for what the school will need, especially in the classroom.

“I’m sitting here thinking like, wow, the school doesn’t have a single stapler. We’ve got to make sure there’s a stapler in every classroom, and a tape dispenser in every classroom. You’ve got to make sure that there’s markers and scissors and rulers — all the stuff that you take for granted, that’s usually already at a school that’s not there,” Stevenson told the Daily Herald.

Stevenson attended Brigham Young University, receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education. Stevenson completed internships in the Alpine School District while attending BYU and was excited when he got a job as a full-time elementary school teacher in northern Utah County. 

He taught for five years before becoming an assistant principal for half of a school year for Freedom Elementary, in Highland, and Harvest Elementary in Saratoga Springs. Stevenson then worked as the principal of Orem’s Orchard Elementary for eight years before moving to Pony Express, in Eagle Mountain, where he’s worked for the last five years.

It was working across the district in classrooms that inspired Stevenson to become an administrator.

“I really like the idea of being able to work with parents, students, teachers, and all the stakeholders that are involved in education,” Stevenson said. “I enjoy being able to interact with each one of them, support them, and be a resource for them. I also like problem solving, looking at resources and resource allocation, how to support others, where to place supports, and how to grow those supports.”

Stevenson is really looking forward to becoming principal of the city’s eighth elementary school.

“I think what excites me the most is that we’re creating something and bringing people together. Working with the community, with teachers, students and faculty and just being a part of creating something that’s going to last for years to come. For decades that’s going to be an essential part of the community, and just knowing that I had a part in building something beautiful is very exciting to me,” he said.

Stevenson is excited to take his past experiences in the school district with him and is looking forward to working with teachers to meet a shared goal — positively impacting the lives of students.

Stevenson will finish his time as Pony Express’s principal early and start his new role on March 1. Pete Swiderski, principal of Sego Lily Elementary in Lehi, will take over at Pony Express for the remainder of the school year.