Todd Quarnberg, called Mr. Q by students, is leaving Jordan School District after 35 years as a teacher, assistant principal and principal—most recently at Copper Hills High School and Herriman High School.

Students, families and colleagues gave Quarnberg a standing ovation at Herriman High School’s graduation ceremony last month. He was embarrassed but touched, responding by forming a heart shape with his hands.

In his final message to the graduates, he shared an impactful experience he had when a student with autism grasped his hand during a Unified sports event and wouldn’t let go for several minutes. Quarnberg said the simple gesture taught him the power of human connection and the importance of being present for others. He encouraged the graduates, especially in the current culture of divisiveness and judgemental fault-finding, to be kind to everyone because “race, religion, socioeconomic status or GPA don’t matter when showing somebody you care.”

“I believe it's time for all of us to be intentionally visible in taking a stand for humanity,” he said. “Let's not allow ourselves to be consumed with judgment, wondering who is reaching out or worrying about what others may think. Instead, let's simply hold on to the hand of friendship, of kindness and of understanding. Tonight, as I shake your hands, it's not just the touch of your hand I will remember after 35 years in education, it is how all of you have touched my heart.”

As a dedicated principal, Quarnberg’s principal focus has always been connecting with the school community.

“He is a master at building relationships with kids, with teachers, with parents,” Lou Ann Burnett, Quarnberg’s administrative assistant of 13 years, said.

An innovative administrator, Quarnberg began the practice of a monthly principal’s roundtable to get feedback from student leaders representing his school’s 40 teams and clubs. Students knew he was their biggest fan because he attended every team game, group performance and club activity he possibly could.

“He’s married to education,” Burnett said. “He is devoted, he is passionate. He has sacrificed his personal life for education.”

Quarnberg has been actively involved in the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, serving as president and as representative of Large High Schools. He was awarded the UASSP Principal of the Year Award in 2015, the Huntsman Education Award in 2018 and the Utah Music Educator Administrator of the Year in 2021.

Quarnberg was chosen to take the helm at Herriman High School in 2018, the year after the suicide contagion which involved several students. School counselor Cindy Watkins said Quarnberg helped a broken school become whole again.

“[He] took years putting our school back together, piece by piece, talking to everyone, getting to know everyone and going to every single event that any group ever had—he was there—and, bit by bit, he put us back together,” Watkins said.

His commitment to understand and connect with the school community helped Quarnberg successfully navigate the challenges of the past several years.

When Mountain Ridge High School opened in 2019, boundary changes caused a split in Herriman High’s student body and faculty.

“That was hard because I had to release 45 teachers in two years,” Quarnberg said. “They had to find their own job, so we got on the phones and helped get everybody placed.”

The following year, Quarnberg responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting traditions and routines to boost morale.

And in the past few years, he has compassionately supported the influx of student refugees by providing translation devices, holding activities to break down social barriers and working with Herriman City to connect families with needed resources.

“I believe in helping kids get a good quality education, but it's the humanity part of it that keeps me coming back,” Quarnberg said. “I worry about those kids still. Are they going to be okay? I'm so connected to them that it's hard to leave.”

Quarnberg is leaving to be the principal at Juab High School to live closer to his aging parents. λ