Provo City School District is experiencing a period of significant recognition, highlighted by winning the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education and celebrating widespread student participation in a district-wide kindness competition.
The district's elementary music program recently earned the Sorenson Legacy Award in the Exemplary Arts Program category. The award recognizes instructional expertise and community engagement across Utah schools.
Superintendent Wendy Dau noted that music education is universal within the district, with every K-6 student receiving instruction from licensed educators one to two times per week. Kayleen Nelson, the district's BTS Arts and Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist, stated that the selection committee was deeply impressed by the program's collaborative efforts.
In addition to academic honors, the district recently concluded its Kindness Chain Competition, where students across various campuses created thousands of paper links to represent acts of service and inclusion.
Lakeview Elementary won the competition with 727 links per 100 students, followed by Wasatch Elementary with 696 links and Sunset View with 686 links. At the secondary level, Centennial Middle School led with 497 links per 100 students.
The district is also looking toward summer programming through a partnership with Provo City. A STEM Camp scheduled for June 1–4, 2026, will offer 4th and 5th grade students hands-on experiments in outdoor spaces such as Big Springs Park and Rock Canyon Park.
The program costs $150 per student and features activities led by certified school teachers. Priority registration during the first week of enrollment is designated for 5th graders.
Internal district recognitions include the Provo Way Award, which honored Kyle Bates, Director of Building Services, for overseeing campus improvements at Amelia Earhart Elementary.
Assistant Principal Brian Mangum of Lakeview Elementary was also recognized for his leadership and commitment to student-centered decision-making.
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, the Board of Education scheduled a business meeting for May 12, 2026, to review the FY 2027 budget and various district policies. The agenda also includes discussions regarding school boundaries and consolidation.
