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The Nebo School District Administration Office is pictured Friday, April 13, 2018, in Spanish Fork.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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Jo Lynn Ford was appointed as principal of the Advanced Learning Center (ALC) on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Jason Beardall was appointed as principal of Landmark High School on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Tona Graff was appointed as principal of Mapleton Junior High on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Shaun Blakey was appointed as assistant principal of Springville High School on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Wendi Nelson was appointed as assistant principal of Springville High School on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Bart Peery was appointed as Nebo School District's director of secondary education on March 8, 2023.

Courtesy Nebo School District

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Last week, the Nebo School District Board of Education appointed six new administrators to serve in the district, including three principals, two assistant principals and a director of secondary education.

New principals included Jo Lynn Ford for the Advanced Learning Center, Jason Beardall for Landmark High School and Tona Graff for Mapleton Junior High School. Wendi Nelson and Shaun Blakey were appointed as assistant principals for Springville High School, with Bart Peery as director of secondary education for the district.

Principals Ford, Beardall and Graff will be approving teacher curriculums, advising and disciplining students, and making sure their schools are safe places for students and staff.

Ford said, “I am beyond thrilled about my new assignment and completely humbled and grateful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with high school students from around the district as well as the amazing staff at the Advanced Learning Center.”

Ford served for six years as Spanish Fork High School’s assistant principal and spent approximately three years serving as Mapleton Junior High School’s principal. She has also served as a dean of students, career coordinator and special education teacher at several schools within the district.

Beardall’s experience includes a combined 10 years as Springville High School’s assistant principal, dean of students, campus supervisor, athletic director, basketball coach and physical education/health department chair. He also spent six years teaching physical education and health for Spanish Fork Junior High School. He has won several awards within the district, including the 2023 Assistant Principal of the Year award.

Graff has served as Springville High School’s assistant principal for the past four years and as Payson High School’s dean of students for two years. She was an award-winning Payson High School mathematics teacher for 23 years, and spent 20 years coaching softball, basketball, speech/debate and volleyball.

“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,” Graff said. “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.”

As assistant principals, Nelson and Blakey will help the principal with the school’s overall administration, as well as supervise records, student enrollment, health requirements and attendance. They may also be called upon to fill in for the principal if needed.

For the past year, Nelson has worked as Springville High School’s dean of students. During her 16 years of teaching history, she led tours of Boston and Washington, D.C., for hundreds of students.

She was Spanish Fork High School’s department chair for 12 years and worked as a cheerleading and pom coach for six years.

Nelson 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.”

Blakey’s experience includes a year as Mapleton Junior High School’s assistant principal, two years as Springville High School’s dean of students and a combined 13 years as a school counselor for Maple Mountain High School and Springville Junior High School. Blakey has also been a basketball and track and field coach for a total of 16 years in the district.

As director of secondary education, Peery will be an advisor to educational services and the assistant superintendent. He will also be leading the process of distributing and analyzing the results of the district and state exams for secondary schools that are under the Nebo school board.

For the last 15 years, he has been a principal for various high schools in the district, most recently for the Advanced Learning Center. In 2017 and 2019, he was awarded Utah’s Principal of the Year.

Prior to his work as a principal, he spent six years as Payson High School’s assistant principal. He also has 17 years of experience teaching a variety of subjects and 25 years of experience as a soccer, basketball, track and football coach. He enjoys working to promote the well-being of students at state, national and local conferences.

“Be curious, not judgmental,” Peery said. “People, especially our students, are going through hard times. Ask questions before assuming anything. We can learn a lot from each other.”

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