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Home > Archive > Jul 19, 2007

Putting Students First
By Stephen Vincent
While he was a student a Santa Clara Elementary, Nate Esplin decided he wanted to have a career in education.
“I really enjoyed my elementary days,” Esplin said. “My teachers were good role models for me, and I wanted to be that for other kids. That was when I decided I wanted to become a teacher.”
After teaching for several years, Esplin decided he wanted his educational career to have an administrative component to it.
“I decided to go into administration, so that I could help teachers realize their potential,” Esplin said.
When the 29-year-old Esplin began his role as principal of Sunset Elementary School on July 1, he became one of the youngest principals in the district.
Esplin hopes the students at Sunset Elementary have the same experience he did as an elementary student. Esplin said that means making the students the highest priority.
“We want to be known for a school that cares for each student – not only their academic successes, but individual successes as well,” Esplin said. “We want to be known as a school that involves the community. We want to be known as a school that uses the best instructional practices.”
Esplin sees interacting with the students as an important aspect of his new job.
“I want to know each kid by name,” Esplin said. “I want the students to know and believe that I care about them, and what's best for them. That's what makes a good principal: someone who puts the students first.”
The oldest of 13 children, Esplin had an active childhood that led to athletic and academic successes.
As a sophomore at Dixie High School in 1994, Esplin played on the Flyers' state championship baseball team. The next year, Snow Canyon opened, and Esplin became one of the first sports stars at the new high school.
He played on the football, basketball and soccer teams, helping the football team reach its first state championship game his senior year. That year, he was named Athlete of the Year at Snow Canyon High School.
He played football for a year at Dixie College before heading on a church mission to Tallahassee, Fla. When he returned, he put his focus on his academic career, earning an associate degree at Dixie State and then his bachelor's degree at Southern Utah University.
While in college, he married Kat Huddleston; they have three boys: Brekkan, 4; Jace, 2; and a newborn, Kody. 
After college, Esplin taught fourth grade at Coral Cliffs Elementary for five years.
While at Coral Cliffs, Esplin earned his master's degree in education, attending the satellite classes Southern Utah University offers at Dixie State College.
Esplin then continued his education and earned administrative and English as a Second Language endorsements.
Esplin plans to one day return to school and earn his doctorate degree.
In the past few years, Esplin has spent time working with several principals.
Robyn Bishop, his principal at Coral Cliffs, helped him gain some administrative experience.
“She was a great mentor to me,” Esplin said. “She taught me the things a good administrator does.”
Esplin also worked with Teria Mortensen, who replaced Bishop at Coral Cliffs, and Warren Brooks, the principal at Snow Canyon, who was also Esplin's high school soccer coach.
While teaching, Esplin worked extra jobs at the Rec Center as well as cleaning office buildings to help ends meet. Just prior to being appointed principal, Esplin was enjoying working on the school district's summer paint crew.
The new job, however, meant Esplin's focus went from painting to administrating.
In his few weeks on the job, Esplin is still getting accustomed to his new job, but he is figuring out how he can best help meet the needs of students, parents and teachers.
Esplin said when hiring new teachers, he will look for teachers who not only believe that every student can learn but also have the capacity to help each student learn.
“I look for teachers who are sound in their instructional practices,” he said. “Teachers who use research-based instruction, so they can best serve their students, and they're always looking for new ways to improve.”
He also said he wants teachers who can get along with staff members, parents and the community.
Esplin wants teachers at Sunset to be part of a professional learning community.
“We want our teachers to discuss how they can help students,” Esplin said. “We want our teachers to know how to help the students who aren't getting it. And we also want them to know how to help the students who are getting it.”
Esplin believes a principal must play a key role in aiding teachers.
“One of the best things a principal can do is to be there to support their teachers and staff, and to make sure their needs are met, so they can be successful,” Esplin said.
Above all else, though, Esplin wants to ensure that he and his teachers help the students.
“That's what schools are all about: We're here for the students, so they can become responsible citizens,” Esplin said.

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