Ogden, UT – Ogden High School Principal Shauna Haney was honored as the Principal of the Year by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals (UASSP) during a special holiday assembly on December 19. The announcement came as a surprise to Haney, who expressed her gratitude and attributed the recognition to the hardworking team at Ogden High.
Rhonda Bromley, the Executive Director of UASSP, made the announcement in front of students and staff at the school, highlighting that Haney had been selected from hundreds of secondary schools across Utah. “We only had one high school principal of the year,” Bromley said, “and it’s your principal, Mrs. Haney.”
Haney, who has been in education for 30 years, joined Ogden High in 2018 after spending the majority of her career in the Davis School District. Her journey at Ogden High began as an assistant principal under Principal Luke Rasmussen, who is now the superintendent of the Ogden School District. Haney became the school’s principal in 2019 and has served in that capacity for the past five years.
Reflecting on the award, Haney expressed her surprise and humility. “What a pleasant surprise,” she said. “There’s so many great people out there, and so many great leaders I continue to learn from today. … I have leaders within my own district that are very strong, and I feel like we make a great team.”
This recognition adds to the growing list of accolades for the Ogden School District. In the past seven years, four district administrators have been recognized by UASSP, including Haney’s predecessor, Luke Rasmussen, who was named Principal of the Year in 2018-2019, and Heather Gerrard, who was named Assistant Principal of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year.
Haney credits these honors to the strong leadership and collaboration among the staff at Ogden High. “Luke really started something great,” Haney said. “Then when Heather was Assistant Principal of the Year, I think it continued to carry on. We have such a strong team. We all have our strengths, and we play to those strengths to have impactful programs in our school.”
The principal believes the success of Ogden High School’s programs is rooted in the dedication of its teachers. “My faculty, I don’t know if I’ve ever loved a group of teachers more,” Haney said. “The number one reason is how much we love our students. We want what’s best for them. My teachers, no matter what, will get on board to try and prepare these kids for the future.”
Haney’s vision for Ogden High School is clear: to prepare students for life beyond school, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their future endeavors. She expressed deep appreciation for the staff who play crucial roles in making the school’s programs successful.
“I’m just grateful for all of the people in my building that have a specific role,” Haney said. “Because they do those roles so well, I think our programs are successful.”
With Haney’s leadership, Ogden High School continues to thrive, earning recognition not only for academic achievement but also for its strong community spirit and commitment to student success.