Meet Trailside Elementary's new princiPAL

Trailside Elementary School. Photo: Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah. — The students, parents, and staff of Trailside Elementary School (TSES) expected that a different thing about the first day of school was that they’d have a new principal. What they didn’t expect was that the first day of school itself would be different. A wildfire had the Park City School District (PCSD) partnering with the Red Cross to offer a shelter for mandatorily evacuated residents. Rains came which supported the Herculean efforts of firefighters allowing residents to return home and the shelter to return to normal school operations. No structures nor people were harmed by the fire. A few days later, back on track, and a new first day of school has everybody meeting Trailside’s new principal, Dr. Jim Matin.

Trailside Elementary School’s new principal, Dr. Jim Martin. Photo: TSES.

“I love being in education. It is my passion, and I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing. I have felt so welcome since coming to PCSD and Trailside and I appreciate everyone making me feel like one of the team! It’s going to be a great year!”

Although Martin is new to Trailside, he’s no stranger to the position of principal. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Westminster College in Elementary Education, Martin earned his Master’s Degree of Education in Teaching and Learning with an advanced reading endorsement from The University of Utah. He continued to matriculate at the U of U getting his Doctorate of Education in Educational, Leadership, and Policy.

He was a principal in the Salt Lake City School District for 11 years and then took some time off from administration to teach 6th grade and be an instructional coach in the Granite District. From there, Martin moved to the Piute County School District and served for one year as a teacher/principal in a small rural school in Circleville, Utah.

“I loved that experience and was lucky enough to be hired here in the Park City School District for the start of this school year,” said Dr. Martin.

Martin, himself, attended elementary school at Mountain View in Salt Lake City at which he became the principal in 2010. He says that his favorite subject when he was attending elementary school was always reading.

Regarding taking on a new job in education during the pandemic, Martin said, “I was a principal last year during the pandemic so am used to some of the mitigating procedures necessary. At the same time, we are trying to maintain in-person instruction this year so that changes things a bit. It involves good planning, which PCSD has done, and a day-by-day attitude. We all have to be flexible and willing to adjust quickly when things come up. Putting safety measures in place allows us to keep our eye on the ball–our students’ continued academic progress and whole child development.”

Martin’s parent who’s in the ’80s, child who’s in the teens, dogs Chuck and Rosie, and cat Misty all call the same house home. In his spare time, he was a former avid tennis player and still thoroughly enjoys spectating. He’ll chat with anyone and everyone about his favorite player, Novak Djokovic, in his favorite sport.

The TSES former principal Carolyn Synan has taken a new position within the PCSD on the Planning Team in the Student Wellness Department.