East Elementary also gets new principal as part of reshuffling

A longtime Tooele High School teacher and administrator whose specialty is criminology has been tapped as the school's next principal.

Bill Gochis, current vice principal at THS, will lead the school beginning with the 2008-09 school year, following current principal Kendall Topham's move to head up the new Stansbury High School. Gochis' appointment was announced by Tooele County School District Superintendent Mike Johnsen on Tuesday as part of a reshuffling that will also see East Elementary get a new principal.

Gochis has spent the last 10 years as an administrator and classroom teacher at THS, the last two years as assistant principal. He taught criminology at the school for seven years. The Tooele native also graduated from THS in 1975.

"Mr. Gochis is a strong leader and has worked well with his colleagues," said Johnsen.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," said Gochis. "We have a great staff and I love Tooele High School."

Ernest Nix will take over East Elementary as that school's new principal this fall. Nix has 18 years of experience is education and has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels. With 11 years of administrative experience, Nix spent the last five years as principal of Glendale Middle School in Salt Lake City. At Glendale Middle School, he achieved adequate yearly progress on federal No Child Left Behind tests for five consecutive years, according to Johnsen.

Nix and his family already live in Tooele county.

"We are anxious to work with Mr. Nix and experience his enthusiasm for education," said Johnsen.

Nix said he was excited to take the new job.

"I have had the opportunity to meet the staff at East Elementary," said Nix. "There is a beautiful feeling at the school and I am very lucky to be part of the team."

Johnsen also announced an emergency change in personnel affecting Dugway Elementary/High School and Harris Elementary.

Karen Swenson, principal of Dugway Elementary/High School is retiring immediately due to family commitments, according to Johnsen. Robin Nielson, who was to assume the assignment at Dugway as of July 2008, will take over immediately. Bob Young, who retired last year as assistant superintendent for the district and also previously served as principal at Harris Elementary, will come out of retirement to serve as interim principal at Harris Elementary for the remainder of the school year, said Johnsen.

Swenson had been named as principal for the new Settlement Canyon Elementary, a replacement for her will be named later, said Johnsen.

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com