New employees at Monticello High

Monticello High School has announced that four new teachers wil join the faculty in August.

Jake Downard, of Coalville, UT, has been hired as the new social studies teacher and Head Football coach. He has spent the past two years as an assistant football coach at North Summit High School, which claimed the 2A state title both years.

Jake played football at Southern Utah University before transferring to Utah State University. Jake will finish his bachelors in History this May at USU. He is fluent in Russian and administration says he will bring a new positive attitude to the school and teams.

Lee Chadwick comes to MHS from Nikiski, Alaska, where he has taught for the past 12 years. He will begin Business Technology and Web Development and Administration programs.

Lee has a BS in Social Sciences and a M.Ed. in Educational Technology. He is finishing his Educational doctorate from the University of Wyoming later this year.

Lee is fluent in Japanese and will take over the girls basketball program as Head Coach.

Lucas Peless will be joining the faculty from Kenai, Alaska, where he has taught English and social studies for the past five years. Peless will be assigned to work in the English department and looks forward to being able to implement today’s technology into his classroom.

Lucas has a BS in English from BYU-Idaho and a MS in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. He is fluent in Spanish and is planning to get involved with the Junior High football and wrestling programs.

One of the most successful teachers in school history is returning to Monticello to close his successful career.

In 1971, Wayne Erickson moved to Monticello to begin his career in music education. He led the MHS marching band to the Calgary Stampede, where they brought home the award as Best American Band.

He moved on to bigger schools and a 37-year career in high school and college music programs. Since 1987, Erickson has been the Director of Music Education while serving as a professor at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Obviously, Wayne has vast experience and knowledge with band and choir. His programs have graduated some of the top music students in the state of Utah.

Wayne is looking forward to returning to Monticello and what he calls “his roots.” Wayne has spent much time in Monticello over the past 20 years, working as a judge for solo and ensemble, guest conductor, and enjoying time with the former MHS “music professor”, Jim Muhlestein.

School leaders say that Erickson will take the MHS music program to new heights and are very excited for his return.

The new faculty is allowing the school to offer an increased number of courses to students. The new courses include language and Advanced Placement (AP) courses that are critical for college preparation and host of technology education courses.

New courses tentatively planned for the new school year include AP Music, AP Literature, Theater, Forensics (Speech and Debate), Math of Personal Finance, two additional art classes, Information Technology, Business Management, Web Design, Administrative Procedures, Desktop Publishing, two Spanish classes, French (Ednet) and Environmental Science.