Introducing Our New Superintendent – Wendy Dau

The Provo City School District Board of Education is excited to introduce Wendy Dau as the new Provo City School District Superintendent.  Wendy joins PCSD from Canyons School District where she has served in various roles.  Please take a moment to read her introduction letter below and to view the video to learn more about her.  Wendy will officially begin her role on July 1. 

My name is Wendy Dau, and I am thrilled to be named the new Superintendent of Provo City School District! There are so many great things happening at the schools within Provo, and we want to expand these opportunities and make it an even better community than it already is.

I was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and both of my parents immigrated from Denmark in the 1950s. I attended Bountiful High School, and after graduation, I attended Brigham Young University and majored in history and English teaching. I had great practicum experiences at Provo High, Timpview High, Independence High, and Dixon Middle Schools. After graduating from BYU, I accepted at job at Davis High School in Davis School District. I met my husband at Davis High, and I taught a variety of classes over the next seventeen years, including A.P. European and U.S. History. While teaching, I earned a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Utah, focusing primarily on 19th and 20th century women’s history.

After teaching for seventeen years, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. When I finished my degree, I was hired to be an assistant principal at Jordan High School in Canyons District. Jordan High is one of the oldest high schools in the state, rich in tradition. I had great mentors, both at the school and district level. After two years at Jordan High, I was assigned to be the principal of Midvale Middle School, one of the most highly impacted middle schools in the state. We had to work together as a faculty to meet the needs of a very diverse group of learners. While serving as the principal, we built a brand new building for our students and community, which sent a great message that our district was invested in all kids to ensure that they had great learning spaces.

 After two years at Midvale Middle, I returned to Jordan High School as the head principal for the next four years. I had the best administrative teams who worked collaboratively with teacher leaders to build a great community. Few things are better than shaking the hand of every single senior as they walk across the graduation stage to earn their diploma.

For the past two years, I have served as the Director of Federal and State Programs in the Canyons District Office. I have been part of the Superintendent’s Cabinet, and I also facilitate our District Case Management Team which oversees all of our safe schools violations. I also oversee the committee that supports one of our major pillars: Access and Opportunity. It is no secret that I am a fighter for all students to have what they need to take advantage of the opportunities we provide.

On a personal note, my husband, David Dau, is a retired principal and currently teaches at the alternative high school in Canyons District. I have three amazing children: Zach (married to Kari), Caleb, and Sierra, who are all grown. I am also blessed to have an adorable grandson, Beau.

The diversity of the Provo City School District excites me, as I believe we can create great opportunities and meet the needs of all students and families. I assure you that I will work hard for our kids and our families and our employees, and I hope that the passion that I have for education will be contagious, for as my dad said, education has the ability to open up endless opportunities for all when we work together!