ST. GEORGE — The onrush of replacing key administrative positions within the Washington County School District continues as the replacements for key administrative positions were needed due to retirement and promotion.

Two more administrative roles were filled by the school district with personnel from within. One of the ones watched by the community was the promotion of Cheri Stevenson to the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education. She replaces Richard Holmes who vacated the position to be the new superintendent.

“Richard Holmes … Those are big shoes to fill,” Stevenson said. “He is an incredible person.”

She has already taken over and started right off where Holmes left the position in.

Raised as a farm/ranch girl in Cedar City, she grew up learning about hard work from experience.

“I know it teaches really good skills,” she said.

Stevenson, who is taking over leadership of intermediate, middle and high schools in the county, is jubilant to be in the new position. She said she has been working with those age groups since she first started in education.

Her first stint was at Cedar High School, where she taught dance and science, and was the drill team coach and advisor.

She then moved to St. George where she worked at Dixie and then Pine View Middle Schools as a science teacher. Her first administrative position was serving as an assistant principal at Snow Canyon Middle School and later as principal.

She went straight into district administration working as the Director of Educator Effectiveness before starting her current role.

“I have had a great, great career,” Stevenson said.

In relation to the growth and new proposed new boundaries for Pine View and Crimson Cliffs school residency zones, she said it has been very difficult for families. She said administration really take the time and consideration to listen to public concerns, especially from parents before the district makes any changes.

“We have really great schools,” she said. “Change is hard but people will love where they go.”

She said one thing she has learned from her predecessor is to make the decisions that are best for both parents and students.

She has raised three “amazing kids,” with a set of twins and has two grandchildren — with a third on the way.

Next up on the roster changes, Wade Jensen replaced Stevenson as the Executive Director of Secondary Schools.

Jensen, previously the principal at Lava Ridge Intermediate School, has spent his administration career within middle and intermediate schools.

From Desert Hills to Crimson Cliffs, and Lava Ridge Middle Schools, he also spent 14 years teaching at Snow Canyon High School.

“I am looking forward to new opportunities … the opportunities to work with a lot of good people,” Jensen said.

However, he will “miss the daily interaction with the kids.”

Originally from Delta, he now calls St. George his home for more than 20 years.

He and his wife have four kids — three girls and one boy — with the oldest being in high school and the youngest still in elementary.

A “sports junkie” and a “family guy,” Jensen spends time in the outdoors, especially on Lake Powell. He wears the crests of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Boston Red Sox across his heart.

Though he enjoys rocking out to Def Leppard and 80s rock, he cannot sing, and loves parties with Memphis BBQ pizza.

Advocating for reading, Jensen is proud of the last two years as an improvement in grades. He plans to fulfill other goals of identifying reasons for the increase and using the research to aim even higher.

“That’s what we want to do is to keep moving forward,” he said. “We want to meet every student’s needs and we want every student to be successful.”

He added he loves when parents bring concerns as it helps both parents and administrators become involved in researching learning options.

“Very humbling and honored,” Jensen said of his feelings about starting the new position.

Both Stephens and Jensen immediately assumed the duties of their new roles.

“You’re about to have the best experience in your life,” Stevenson added as advice for Jensen.

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