Davis School District Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford was surprised with a Superintendent of the Year award during an event hosted by the Utah School Superintendents Association. The recognition for Linford follows a period of significant growth and development within the district, including the recent opening of a new elementary school in Syracuse.
New School Milestone in Syracuse
The recognition for Linford coincides with a milestone for the Davis School District. On July 2, 2026, hundreds of community members gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Still Water Elementary School. Held outside the school's main entrance, the ceremony marked a new chapter for the Syracuse community before the start of the fall school year.
Speakers at the July 2 event included Still Water Elementary Principal Kurt Farnsworth, Davis School District Board of Education member Kristen Hogan, and Syracuse Mayor Dave Maughan. Dr. Dan Linford also addressed the crowd during the celebration. The event was attended by district leaders, city officials, staff, families, and future students, as well as local royalty.
Following the formal ceremony, attendees participated in the school's first public open house. This allowed families to explore the new classrooms, learning spaces, and common areas for the first time. The new school features an otter mascot and a community-selected color palette consisting of copper, blue, green, cream, and brown.
Superintendents Association Leadership
The Utah School Superintendents Association, which oversees professional connections for district leaders, recently highlighted its leadership through its executive staff. The association is headquartered in Sandy, Utah, and is led by Executive Director Lexi Cunningham. The organization serves as a hub for superintendents across various Utah districts, including the Timpanogos, Tintic, Tooele, Uintah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber districts.
Other prominent district leaders within the association include Superintendent Joe Jensen of the Timpanogos District and Superintendent Greg Thornock of the Tintic District. The association's membership includes a wide array of administrators tasked with managing local educational needs across the state.
Role of the State Board of Education
The administrative structure of Utah's education system relies on the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), a constitutionally established, elected, partisan body. The Board exercises general control and supervision over the state's public education system, which includes setting state educational core standards, educator licensing policies, and high school graduation requirements.
The Board consists of 15 members elected from various geographic areas in Utah to four-year terms. The USBE is responsible for the distribution of over $4 billion to district and charter schools and maintains compliance with state and federal laws. The Board also appoints the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer programs according to established policies and standards.
Davis School District Administration
Within the Davis School District, Dr. Dan Linford serves in the superintendents office alongside a large staff of educators and administrators. The district's personnel includes various specialized roles, such as speech and language technicians, family services supervisors, and specialized education teachers.
As the district continues to expand, the integration of new facilities like Still Water Elementary remains a central priority for the administration and the Board of Education to serve the growing Syracuse community.
Fiscal Oversight and Governance
The Utah State Board of Education also manages significant fiscal and auditing responsibilities to ensure organizational effectiveness. This includes internal auditing, which is designed to provide objective assurance and help improve operations through systematic evaluation of risk management, internal control, and governance processes.
