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Davis High School's principal is officially the best in the state. The Utah Association of Secondary School Principals announced the honor, along with best middle school principal and assistant principal, yesterday.
Davis High School principal Dr. Rulon Homer started his career as a guidance counselor in 1973, and today he passes all the credit for this honor onto his colleagues.
Every day, Homer greets a student body of 2,300, and every day he loves it. "Keeps you young; it's fun," he said.
Homer's work loves him back. He's excited about being Utah's High School Principal of the Year. "To represent the profession I love very, very much is an honor to me," Homer said.
Homer's leadership is one of the reasons he was selected, so were several programs he runs at the school which are designed to bring struggling students up to speed by matching them in small groups with talented educators.
He also stresses higher education. Davis High has an 83 percent passing rate on AP tests, the highest in the state. It's earned him the respect of students and colleagues.
"It is remarkably easy to work with Dr. Homer," chemistry teacher Frank Stevens said.
Davis High Assistant Principal Kathy Evans told us, "He's very innovative, always wanting to try new things."
Also recognized for outstanding work, Joanne Ackerman with West Jordan Middle School is Utah's Middle School Principal of the Year; and Sharon Jenson at Valley High School is the Assistant Principal of the Year.
But for the honorees, it's not about the recognition. It's about doing a job they love. "If those kids know you care about them, if they know you're willing to help, they will work hard to do what they need to do," Homer said.
All three winners will now be entered in the 2010 National Association of Secondary School Principals contest where they'll go up against principals from all 50 states.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
