- Joe Jensen was appointed inaugural superintendent of Timpanogos School District in Utah County.
- Timpanogos School District, covering Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard, opens July 2027.
- Jensen aims to enhance student learning and engage educators and families effectively.
LINDON — It's been a busy week for the future of education in Utah County, as administrative leaders have been named for all three school districts set to replace the current Alpine School District next year.
In a unanimous vote during its meeting Wednesday, the Timpanogos School Board of Education appointed Joe Jensen as its inaugural superintendent.
Jensen steps into the new role with decades of educational leadership experience and already has roots in the communities that make up the Timpanogos School District. His background includes seven years as principal of Orem Junior High School and Timpanogos High School, according to a statement from the Alpine School District sent on behalf of the Timpanogos Board of Education.
Additionally, he served as assistant principal at Lindon's Oak Canyon Junior High and at Orem High.
Most recently, he served as Alpine's director of administrative development.
Timpanogos is one of three emerging school districts that will officially open its doors on July 1, 2027. It covers the cities of Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard.
After being sworn into office Wednesday, Jensen spoke about the board of education's efforts thus far in ensuring the new district is successful.
"I don't know if you guys realize just how much work this group has done in a very short time; they've been on a sprint this week — and they are committed, and I am committed to work with them and get to where we're going to make this district phenomenal," he said.
Wednesday's superintendent selection comes after board members of both Aspen Peaks and Lake Mountain school districts identified their superintendents on Monday.
Related:
Leadership teams selected for 2 new Utah County school districts
A major milestone was achieved for two new school districts being formed in Utah County with the selection of leadership teams.The Timpanogos Board of Education said it received more than 20 candidate applications for the role and conducted multiple rounds of screenings and interviews before making the decision.
"We look forward to working with Dr. Jensen as we move our shared vision forward — providing high levels of genuine learning for each student within an environment of exceptional care, curiosity, and community," school board President Jen Lyman said in a statement.
Over the next year and a half, the Timpanogos School District will work with Alpine School District to transition academic, fiscal, and governance responsibilities of public education within the communities it will serve. The district said it anticipates educating 23,000 K-12 students and families with over 2,500 employees across nearly 30 schools.
The Timpanogos School District was created as a result of the 2024 general election in which Utah County residents in 10 cities voted to split the largest school district in Utah in favor of starting and building new districts.
While residents in Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard did not vote on the matter as many of their city leaders initially opposed the idea of breaking away from the Alpine School District, the four cities ultimately formed their own district.
As superintendent, Jensen aims to strengthen genuine learning for each student through a program called Professional Learning Communities and meaningful engagement with educators and families. He also plans to visit each of the 29 schools within the district to seek input from and connect with teachers, staff and administrators, the statement says.
"I look forward to working with this board as we strive to cultivate student success and strengthen our communities. I am grateful to serve in a role where I can help shape conditions in which our students and educators can thrive," Jensen said.
