Nadine Hancey

Santa Clara Elementary School
Washington County School District
Santa Clara, Utah
nadine.hancey@washk12.org

Nadine Hancey has been in education for 42 years, serving as a classroom teacher for 19, a Learning Coach for eight, and most recently, as the principal of Santa Clara Elementary for the past 12 years, putting her in an excellent position to mentor and guide her faculty. She was recognized as Utah’s Principal Mentor of the Year in 2015 for her ability to lift up those around her. Her talent for intrinsically motivating people and bringing out the best in individuals makes her an excellent leader, and her intuitive nature makes her adroit at fostering social and emotional wellbeing. Hancey was able to secure a full-time, on-campus counselor for her students and also created a Wellness Room, where students can go if they need space to decompress. Monthly social skills assemblies are also a result of Hancey’s drive to provide for the whole child. Hancey has taken special time to assist her staff in educating students with complex emotional needs and has been a leader in providing students with holistic care. Hancey is a champion for creating well-rounded curricula, and she has spearheaded an effort to bring music instruction and the arts to her campus. In addition to her emphasis on social-emotional learning, Hancey also began a Chinese dual-immersion program on her campus, leading her students to exceed expectations. She has an Administrative Endorsement and an M.S. from Southern Utah University, Reading Endorsements I & II from USOE, and a B.S. from the University of Utah.