Administration

Jerrod Dastrup | Principal

The most important thing I can do as your Principal is to ensure every student feels safe, loved and cared for. I love kids. I love seeing them accomplish things they never thought they could do. I love seeing them work together as they strive for greatness. I love seeing them get up after they fall. I love supporting them as they compete! You’ve all heard the saying “Tough love.” I believe that’s true. But I believe love comes first. “Love tough” is my motto. If kids know how much we love them, then we can have the tough, courageous, conversations that will inspire them to be great Warriors! I will strive for excellence in academics, activities, athletics and everything that we do here at SCMS. But we can’t sustain excellence if students don’t feel the love we have for them. I can assure you that I will love and care about your kids.

My wife is Nicole and she’s amazing! She has K-6th General Education and K-12 Special Education teaching degrees. Right now her full-time job is corralling our kids. We have been blessed with four young children. Skye and Reese are our spunky six year old twin girls, Que (like the letter ‘Q’) is our four year old little dude, and Jovi is our five month old baby girl.

I was born in Los Angeles, CA, but moved to Grants Pass, OR with my mom, dad and two younger brothers when I was six years old. That’s where I was raised. After high school I served a church mission in Tucson, AZ from 2002-2004. I played collegiate basketball at SW Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, OR, then transferred to Utah Valley University in Orem, UT. I finished my collegiate basketball career and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, in Odessa, TX. After graduating college I returned to Grants Pass, Oregon to teach Elementary P.E., coach basketball, track, and earn my Master’s Degree. Most importantly that’s when I met my wife.

Nicole is from Southern Idaho and played collegiate basketball at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID. She then transferred to Dixie State University and played one more year. We were married in Saint George but immediately moved to Malta, ID where I was an Elementary Principal for two years from 2012-2014. We then spent one year in Rawlins, WY where I was the Principal at Rawlins Middle School from 2014-2015. With a desire to live closer to family we moved to Evanston, WY where I have been the Principal at Uinta Meadows Elementary for the past seven years from 2015-2022.

We truly couldn’t be more excited about raising our family in Saint George! We look forward to getting to know the students, families, staff and members of the community as we get involved in the rich traditions of Santa Clara and Snow Canyon! We are thrilled to be a part of Warrior Nation!

TOUCH GOLD! WARRIOR NATION!!!

Jerrod Dastrup, Principal

Stephen Ord | Assistant Principal

My Email: stephen.ord@washk12.org

There is no place I would rather be than right here living like a Warrior at Snow Canyon Middle School. As Assistant Principal I am here for the students to help them be the best Warrior they can be. We Are Respectful, Responsible, Intelligent, One, and Ready to Serve. Anything I can do to help these Warriors succeed both academically, socially, and emotionally I will strive to do.

I have actually taught at SCMS for since 2011 and have loved my time teaching the majority of my time US History, but I have also taught Theater, Film, Special Ed, Speech and Debate, Student Council, Student Ambassadors, NJHS, as well as coaching Dance Company, Hip Hop club, Girls Tennis Coach, and even the MC at the football games and assemblies. I am a Warrior through and through.

I grew up in Provo Utah graduating on PHS Bulldog as a Student Council VP in 2000. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in History Teaching and a minor in Geography from BYU where I also danced 5 years on the International BYU Folk Dance Team traveling to over 16 different countries including China and Ukraine. Those experiences gave me a love of people and cultures all around the world. We would learn about each country's history and beliefs through learning and honoring their dances. We did everything from the Irish hard shoe riverdancing and American Clogging, to the Ukrainian Hopak or Hungarian Boot slap dances called czardas. I also served a church mission for two years to the southern tip of South America in Chile where I am so grateful I learned Spanish. It was another experience that helped me love people and cultures.

My interests today are anything musical or in a theater. I love tennis and pickleball. My greatest interest is my 8 year old son Eisenhower (Howie). He is my pride and joy. We enjoy being together hiking, camping, pizza, and anything Marvel or Star Wars. Howies brother Gardner loves to come join us as well when he can. I moved down to St George starting my teaching career at Springdale Elementary as a computer lab aid and after school I drove shuttle buses up Zion Canyon on tours. Once I moved and started teaching at Snow Canyon I knew I found a home. I hope the students continue to feel the same about feeling this school is their home. There is a saying I lived by that said “students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” I really do care for these students and want their years at SCMS to be some of their best memories in their life as they find themselves. Let me know how I can help. Let’s go out there and Live like a Warrior!

Steve Ord

Assistant Principal