Two New Administrators in Garfield County School District

Garfield County School District has hired two new principals. Ryan Bytheway will be the new principal for Escalante Elementary and High schools, and Andy Carlsen will be the new principal for Bryce Valley High School.

Ryan Bytheway, Principal of Escalante Elementary and High School

When Ryan Bytheway learned about job openings for a principal in rural Utah, he flew in and interviewed three times. That was for jobs in Beaver County. Beaver’s superintendent, perhaps sensing Mr. Bytheway’s commitment, then recommended him for a position in Garfield County. Bullseye. Escalante Elementary and High schools are about to benefit from Mr. Bytheway’s passion and experience. (BTW, the name Bytheway is not to be confused with the newspaper’s name, Byway😉.)

Mr. Bytheway grew up in Glenwood, Utah, and has loved rural towns ever since. After graduating from Richfield High School, he attended Brigham Young University, where he met his future wife, Laura, and earned a degree in communications. He later became licensed as an elementary and secondary school teacher.

He and Laura married in August 2010. Laura had just graduated from BYU, and Ryan had one semester left. He started his teaching career in 2012 in Orem, where he taught at a charter elementary school for five years.

Their next move was to Houston, Texas, where Mr. Bytheway taught in an elementary school and later in a secondary school. This experience showed him what success looks like.

During their time in Texas, Laura gave birth to their youngest child. They now have three children. Miles, 11, is going into the 7th grade; Porter, 8, will attend the 3rd grade; and Dovie, 3, will go to pre-K.

While in Texas, Mr. Bytheway earned his Master’s in education administration. There Mr. Bytheway acted as the administrator when the principal was gone. The school hired subs for his class so he could be in the office. This hands-on internship prepared him for the move to Utah and the responsibilities here.

Mr. Bytheway chose to be licensed in Utah. Even though he was teaching in Texas at the time, he had no intention of becoming licensed in Texas because being an administrator in a rural Utah community was always his goal. When he was offered the job here in Garfield, he jumped at it. He genuinely believes that he has been guided to Houston and back.

Mr. Bytheway’s first visit to Escalante was in May during a science fair. His first impression was of how involved the parents were with their children’s education. Many parents told him how they don’t have a job at the school but participate in education and athletics. He wants to do everything he can to continue that strong involvement.

Mr. Bytheway intends to ensure a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. Teachers in Utah and Texas say they have a lot of kids who can read a passage out loud quickly, so they seem fluent, but their comprehension is limited. He plans to strengthen comprehension with fluency. He also wants to focus on strengthening math skills.

He believes students need structure, not just through classroom management but through the community. Mr. Bytheway is excited to listen to ideas and support ways they can be incorporated.

“I want parents, students, and citizens to look at the school system with a sense of pride and ownership,” he said. “It is not a one-man show, and not just teachers, but a community effort.”

This new Escalante principal strongly believes that anybody can get a world-class education in a rural school in Utah. If he believed otherwise, he would not be doing what he is.

Andy Carlsen, Principal of Bryce Valley High School

Education isn’t just a priority for the Carlsens, it is a lifestyle. “Education is our family business. My dad has been a superintendent for 24 years, I have a sister who teaches in Paris, Idaho, and two of my older brothers are also principals,” said Andy Carlsen. 

Mr. Carlsen was the first of his siblings to become a principal. Then his older brothers jumped in. They all grew up in Paris, Idaho, a rural town north of Bear Lake. They attended junior high in Montpelier, Idaho, until his dad moved the family to Coleville, Utah, where he was starting a new position as a superintendent.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Carlsen attended Utah State University on a full-ride football scholarship as a linebacker while he earned his bachelor’s degree, a master’s in school counseling, and a master’s in school administration.

After graduating, he taught 5th grade in Wendover, Utah, for two years, was a school counselor in Layton for three years, was an assistant principal and principal in Tooele County for five years, and was one of five assistant principals for three years at Granger High School, the biggest high school in the state of Utah.

The Carlsens moved to St. George in 2023, where Andy was the assistant principal at Hurricane Middle School. John Dodds posted the opening for Bryce Valley High School, and Mr. Carlsen’s superintendent told him about it.

His first impression for wanting to accept the position was working with a phenomenal superintendent. Mr. Carlsen’s father strongly endorsed John Dodds. Mr. Carlsen also got good vibes from the teachers and secretary at Bryce and it felt like a fit.

Mr. Carlsen loves that the high school is the hub of the community, involving everyone. His primary goal is to create relationships with teachers, students, and community members. Andy loved the idea of being a principal in a small school and has ideas of the great potential of working with a smaller faculty than the 140 teachers at Granger High.

– by Karen Munson, The Byway

Feature image caption: Andy Carlsen, the new principal of Bryce Valley High School, with his family. Courtesy of Andy Carlsen.

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