ST. GEORGE — Kyle Campbell is not the kind of person who wanted any of what he received in abundance Friday morning at Snow Canyon High School.

Bands playing, students and cheerleaders screaming, fellow teachers and administrators wearing matching T-shirts that bore his likeness and family members with signs were just some of the pomp and circumstance after Campbell was named Utah Assistant Principal of the Year for 2023.

All on account of him.

“He’s the kind of person who makes everyone around him better,” Snow Canyon Principal Kim Monkres told St. George News. “Just good, kind and hard-working. Every second of every day, he’s thinking of others. He has to make tough decisions, but he is every kids’ champion. He loves kids.”

Campbell’s recognition was presented by the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals. The organization hands out yearly awards to the principal, assistant principal and middle school principal of the year.

Hurricane Intermediate School Principal Terri Howell worked with Campbell when they were both at Desert Hills High School.

“Just one of the most genuine people you will ever meet,” Howell told St. George News. She went on to describe how her son, a student of Campbell’s, told her that he was his favorite teacher.

“When I asked him why, he said that he cares about kids, he always has a good thought for the day,” Howell said. “And he said, ‘I just felt better after I left.’ I just thought, what a great compliment for a teacher.”

Campbell’s career history includes several stops in Washington County. Monkres said he originally taught at Snow Canyon and also worked at Sandstone Elementary, Desert Hills for two years and has been at Snow Canyon now for three years.

Monkres nominated Campbell for the award and then the UASSP conducted extensive interviews and held panel discussions with him. Students were involved in those interviews, Monkres said.

Humble by nature and never one to talk about himself, Campbell did offer some thoughts to the crowd. For his acceptance speech, see the video above.

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