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Show & I Students Welcome Back principal K ESCALANTE Members pthe PTA, students and school faculty members welcomed back Escalante Elementary School Principal Hal Shurtz after a lengthy absence for health reasons. Shurtz and his wife Geneal in turn showed their , ap-preclat6ri by donationg 10 new trees to the school. Shurtz, who was nominated as Outstanding Rural Principal of Utah in 1984, brought "vast educational resourcesd and impeccable credentials to his profession" said a PTA spokesman in honoring him. After beginning his career in Centerfield in 1950, he taught two years at Boulder Elementary. He and his wife then made their home in Escalante where he has since taught. The popular educator and administrator has 19 years at Escalante High School to his credit. 11 of which were spent as principal there. At EHS he taught every subject from math to typewriting, ecept, said Mrs. Shurtz, home economics. The balance of his career years have been spent at Escalante Elementary where' he is principal. Shurtz received his bachelor of science in elementary education with a minor 'in, English';-from Brigham Young University in 1950. Completing a master's degree In education administration five years later. Among his credits in his profession are three years as regional director of , the central region of rural pricnctpals, 20 years on the board of the teachers' credit union, and two terms as president of the Garfield Education Association. A PTA spokesperson remarked, "Mr, Shjurtz Is to be congratulated on his professional and personal achievements which are reflected In the find job he is doing at Escalante Elementary as princiapal. In connection with Utah Education Week, we pay a well-deserved tribute to him." In accepting their tribute, Shurtz said, "I am sincere in Baying that I am proud to be a teacher. I believe it is one of the most challenging and satisfying professions a person can belong to. I especially enjoy associating with the kind of people engaged in teaching. They are in-telligent.hard-working and clean-living individuals. My goal is to keep abreast of the latest innovations in modern education. I believe we can be superior teachers if we are willing to accept that everything we do should be done in the best interest of our students." Shurtz and his wife have nine children and 17 grandchildren. He and his family participated in an orchestra for many years, and because of his large family, Shurtz found it necessary to work every summer, thus gaining a wide variety of experiences to enhance his education. He praised his fellow .educators and administrators, saying, "they are like family to me." Always active in his community and his church, Shurtz has served as Lions club president, coached Little League, served three years on the board of Garfield Memorial Hospital, and six years as scoutmaster. In the LDS church, ho h. served in three bishoprics, four years on the stake high council and he sang with his ward choir for over 30 years. |