Please join School Leadership & Support in welcoming the following individuals to Salt Lake City School District as members of our team:
Dr. Patrick Jefferies will be joining us as the new Assessment and Evaluation Supervisor. He started his career as an educator 25 years ago.
He earned his Master’s at the U and his bachelor’s from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He earned his doctorate in education from the University of Utah, with a focus on Educational Leadership and Policy, specifically in teacher evaluation and quality.
He is looking forward to returning to SLCSD and Assessment & Evaluation, where he worked as a teacher specialist until 2012. His work has taken him across the country, where he has collaborated with diverse communities to foster sustainable success for all students. He has served as a principal and assistant principal, with experience in high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, in both Utah and Oregon. As a principal at a school primarily serving families who identified as Latino/a/x, he was recognized by the University of Notre Dame Latino Enrollment Institute (LEI) for building communities that ensured the success of all students. He is honored to join all of you in working to help students become the best version of themselves.
Mr. Kenny Auld is an accomplished education administrator with over 15 years of leadership experience in K–12 education who is joining us as the next Area Director for Area III. He holds Master's degrees in Education and Social Work and he began his career in education as a Special Education teacher, bringing a student-centered, inclusive approach to every leadership role he has held.
With a track record of success as both a school and district leader, Mr. Auld has served in key administrative roles in junior high and across multiple high schools, including a five-year tenure as Principal of Logan High School. There, instructional leadership, school culture, and equity led to measurable improvements in student outcomes. At the district level, he advanced equity and access as Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and as a Human Resource Administrator in Salt Lake Valley.
Mr. Auld continues to lead with a commitment to instructional excellence, equity-driven leadership, and collaborative school improvement. He is looking forward to continuing to improve instruction and providing support to our principals, schools, and overall community.
Dr. Bri Conley is the incoming Director of Educational Equity and Access. Her experience includes secondary teaching, working in the district's assessment department supporting data-informed decision-making, and serving in school leadership positions—most recently as principal of Whittier Elementary and previously as assistant principal at Emerson Elementary.
Dr. Conley is deeply committed to providing access to high-quality education for all students and ensuring the necessary supports are in place to enhance their educational experiences.
She holds a doctorate in Education, Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah, a master's degree in educational technology from Utah Valley University, and a bachelor's degree in history from Brigham Young University.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, ’90s and early 2000s music, gelato, and family game nights—even when she doesn’t win at Farkle.
Other Administrative Announcements
- Jennifer (Jenny)McKenna, has been selected as the principal of Meadowlark Elementary. Jenny currently works for SLCSD as a teacher at West High. Prior to this position, Jenny has served in principal roles in New Mexico, Colorado, and Idaho. Jenny has signed conditional contracts with a tentative start date on July 1, 2025.
- Lichelle Watne has been selected as the Principal at Edison Elementary. Lichelle is returning to SLCSD after her time spent as an administrator in Ogden City SD and the Utah Military Academy. Lichelle was formerly a math coach for SLCSD and has also spent several years as an educational consultant.
- Garret Rose, has been selected as the top candidate for the Advanced Academics Supervisor position. Garret comes to us after serving in a principal role in Park City and formerly an assistant principle in Tooele.
- Additionally, Adriene Kumik, current principal at Wasatch, has been selected through a recruitment process as the top candidate for the Literacy Supervisor position in Teaching in Learning. Adriene will begin this new role on July 1.
- Tony Zani has been selected as the top candidate for Principal at Wasatch Elementary. Tony has been the assistant principal for several years, and was previously an instructional coach for the district.
- Hollie Pettersson has been selected as the top candidate for Principal at Indian Hills Elementary. Hollie has many years of administrative experience both as a school principal and district administrator.
- The following individuals were all selected as top candidates for Assistant Principal at the listed schools:
- Dr. Adriana Pinto – Northwest Middle School
- Yan’tu Barber – Parkview
- Taylor Layton – Dilworth/Indian Hills
- Laura Cheney – Uintah/Bonneville
- Jason Beach – Ensign/Wasatch
- Torilyn Gillett – Liberty
- Rebecca Powell – Rose Park
