New students entering Canyon View Middle School (CVMS) may not have been the only ones with first day jitters on Tuesday.
Principal Jeralyn Shaw joined other school staff in greeting students as they entered the school. Shaw is new to CVMS and while she has been preparing for the new school year for the past month, it was her first day with all students in the building.
“It was an exciting day,” she said.
Shaw has worked in schools in Minnesota, Nevada and California. However, this is not her first time in southern Utah and Cedar City. She began her education career in Delta. She also attended school at Southern Utah University.
Middle school has a special place in Shaw’s heart. She said she enjoys working with students as they begin discovering interests and forming plans for their future.
She also believes strongly in working alongside staff and parents as together they educate students and guide them in their learning.
Shaw shas three initiatives for her first school year at CVMS:
• Build community — Shaw said that includes fostering student involvement.
• Close the achievement gap — English Language Learners are statistically not doing as well as others in the school, Shaw said. “We can see that there is a need for improvement on our part in delivering instruction.”
• Continue work on Professional Learning Communities — Shaw said great work has occurred at the schools already — looking at data and setting goals based on that data — and she hopes to continue that.
“I love working with teachers. I believe when a teacher is getting everything they need to be successful in the classroom … the whole class is successful.”
Music and the arts is another focus for Shaw. She said she is supportive of expanding student involvement in those programs.
“I really believe that if students are involved in something that they really believe in or care about … the arts is one way that really helps a student to learn about themselves, their culture … and I think there is a deep connection there, that can really help students.
Shaw and her husband have five children and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.
Join us in welcoming Shaw to Iron County School District.