The Carbon School District announced in May that former Superintendent Steve Carlson would be leaving after six years for a position in Box Elder. This started the process of seeking a new superintendent that would be a perfect fit to start the new 2017-2018 school year. The school board narrowed down their selection in July and announced the appointment of Lance T. Hatch as the new superintendent.

“I’m very familiar with the area, I lived here and went to school at CEU and got my associates there. My wife is from Price, born and raised and her mother is also born and raised in Price, so multi-generation family from Carbon County. Love the area, I’m a small-town guy and feel right at home here,” said Hatch. The new superintendent was thrilled to start his new duties on August 1, which has included thus far tours of the construction project at the schools, sitting on the Career Pathways discussion panel, as well as meeting with other school officials.

The new superintendent brings with him lots of experience, as Hatch explains further, “I’ve been a teacher, I taught fourth grade, second grade and fifth grade; I then became a Principal at Monticello Elementary in San Juan School District and then I worked in the school district there. Went to Uintah School District in Vernal and was a principal there for a little while and then I became the Human Resource Director at the district office there, so those are the positions I have held in education.” The knowledge and involvement in all aspects of education will benefit the district as a whole.

There is a lot to do within the district but focusing on too many at once is less productive for all involved. “Our first goal is to make sure that the teams are following a research based and evidence based process of how to collaborate, how to look at student data, how to make decisions to improve instruction, so that is going to be a huge focus,” said Hatch. Next, is to efficiently recruit new teachers which can be problematic in a rural area, so strengthening retention of current and qualified staff is a huge part of recruitment.

As for Hatch’s first impression of the district, “They are in great shape. They’re about, from what I understand three years in to what we call, Professional Learning Communities. So, the school board is amazing, the school board has a great reputation and one of the reasons I accepted the position was such a great school board. They’ve made it possible for collaboration to happen with in the school day, that’s a huge step. My job now is to come in and make sure we are doing that properly, that we are getting the most out of that time as teachers collaborate. I couldn’t ask for a better place to come into where things are set up and ready to go.” The superintendent is looking forward to working with administrators, meeting school educators, as well as meeting students, parents and other community members.