The Uintah School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Denise Williams as the new principal of Vernal Middle School, effective with the 2025–2026 school year. Williams succeeds Aaron Olsen, who is relocating out of state for another opportunity.
The leadership change was announced Wednesday afternoon during staff meetings at both VMS and Maeser Elementary. Jon Gorski will continue to serve as vice principal at VMS.
“Denise has always maintained high expectations for both staff and students and has a proven record of helping them achieve high academic goals,” Superintendent Dr. Rick Woodford said. “She is one of the top instructional leaders in our district. I am confident she will lead Vernal Middle School to excellence in teaching and student learning.”
Woodford expressed gratitude to Olsen on behalf of the district.
“We thank Aaron for his years of service and wish him all the best in his new endeavors,” he said.
Williams brings more than 26 years of experience in public education to her new role at VMS. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University and a master’s of education from Southern Utah University. In addition, she holds endorsements in Elementary Visual Arts Integration and English as a Second Language.
Williams began her career as a mild/moderate special education teacher at Maeser Elementary, where she taught for one year before moving on to serve a combined 12 years as a teacher at Lapoint, Naples, and Davis elementary schools. She subsequently spent one year as a district instructional coach, supporting teachers in implementing effective instructional strategies. Williams then moved to VMS as assistant principal for two years before taking on the role of principal at Maeser Elementary, a position she has held for the past 10 years.
“It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside the dedicated teachers and staff at Maeser Elementary to develop strong systems that have led to high levels of student learning,” Williams said. “I love the students at Maeser, and it has been a joy working with them and watching them grow and develop through elementary school.
“While I will deeply miss Maeser, I am so excited to join the staff at Vernal Middle School,” she said. “I look forward to learning from and collaborating with the VMS team as we continue to serve the students and families of our community.”
Williams thanks the Maeser community for their support over the past decade.
“The memories and achievements we’ve shared will stay with me always,” she said.
The Uintah School Board is expected to ratify their approval of Williams’ appointment during the board’s business meeting in June.
PHOTO: Williams family courtesy of Denise Williams