photography /  Troy Boman Tooele County School District Superintendent Mike Johnsen will be retiring on June 30, after 40 years with the district as a teacher and administrator. Johnsen taught English for 26 years at Tooele High School, and was named superintendent in 2005. His successor has yet to be named.

by Tim Gillie

STAFF WRITER

Tooele County School District Superintendent Mike Johnsen will retire next month after three years as superintendent and 40 years with the district as a high school teacher, coach and administrator.

Johnsen, 63, surprised the school board with the announcement last week in a closed session. His last day with the district will be June 30.

"I originally planned to do one more year," Johnsen said. "Then recently I just thought, 'This is good.'"

Johnsen took over as superintendent in July 2005 after then Superintendent Larry Shumway left the district to join the Utah State Office of Education. Johnsen's tenure has been marked by rapid growth in both enrollment and new school construction. Under his leadership, student enrollment in the district grew from 11,793 to 12,988 -- a 10.1 percent increase -- and the district opened Rose Springs Elementary and an addition to Grantsville Junior High in 2005, and Clarke N. Johnsen Junior High in 2006. Settlement Canyon Elementary will open this fall, and Stansbury Park High School is on schedule to open in the fall of 2009.

Johnsen emphasized long-range planning. He completed the district's first 10-year growth plan, started in 2000 under Shumway. He also updated the plan to carry the district through the year 2018.

"My work with our professional development plan -- although I can not claim credit for all we have done -- has been very rewarding," Johnsen said.

Johnsen started teaching at Tooele High School in 1968. He spent 26 years as an English teacher and basketball coach at THS before becoming assistant principal at Tooele Junior High in 1994. After four years in that job, he was selected to serve as principal of the junior high.

"He believed in hard work, structure, and fundamentals," said Fred Kilpack, who played basketball for Johnsen. Kilpack now teaches construction trades at THS.

Johnsen only served for one year as principal at Tooele Junior High before being appointed as assistant superintendent to Shumway, who was newly arrived from Davis County. Johnsen held that post for six years.

"The Tooele Education Association appreciates the service that Mike has given," said Bob Gowans, a teacher at THS and president of the Tooele Education Association who was once a student of Johnsen's. "He has opened up communication. There are times when we have disagreed, but he has been very professional and is willing to listen."

"Mike never forgot what is like to be on the front-line in the classroom," said Larry Harrison, a retired teacher, administrator and coach who has known Johnsen since he was 8 years old. "I taught with Mike, I was his principal for a year, and he brought me out of retirement to fill in as principal at Tooele High School. Mike is a lot like his father, who also was superintendent. Mike is well liked and respected because he is very bright, intelligent, and personable."

"The announcement was a surprise in the sense that he did have one year left on his contract, however after 40 years in education it is not like he is cutting his career short," said Gary Gowans, Tooele County School Board President. "He is leaving things in good shape, he helped us move forward."

The school board has three options to consider in replacing Johnsen, according to Gowans. They can conduct a search, appoint an interim superintendent or promote from within the district. The board met in an emergency executive session Tuesday night to discuss these options, but has not made a decision on how to proceed, Gowans said.

Johnsen said he would miss the people he worked with most of all.

"I have enjoyed just dropping in and visiting a classroom," he said. "Nothing better than watching a strong teacher teach and students learning to remind me what we do to support them is worth it."

Johnsen said golfing, gardening, grandchildren and possible church service are his plans for the future. He will not miss the many meetings that are part of a superintendent's job, he said.

"I have been very fortunate to do what I want and enjoy for many years," he said. "Public education is a great place and I've enjoyed the work."

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com