Nebo School District Superintendent Chris S. Sorensen is the 2009 Superintendent of the Year, as awarded by the Utah School Superintendents Association Monday.

Sorensen has overseen tremendous growth in Nebo district — approximately 1,000 new students each year. In the past six years, he has directed two new high schools, one alternative high school, one new junior high and five new elementary schools, with major renovations on two elementary schools. In the next few years, Nebo district will build two new junior high schools and five more elementary schools, as well as make improvements to the existing high schools.

Sorensen began at Nebo district in 1957 as a kindergarten student at Brookside Elementary in Springville. He has taught throughout Nebo district, including in the communities of Santaquin, Payson, Spanish Fork, Mapleton and Springville teaching second through seventh grades.

The Utah Public Education Coalition, comprised of leaders from the Utah Elementary Association, the Secondary Principals Association, the Utah Education Association, the Utah School Superintendents Association, the Utah PTA, the Utah School Boards Association, the Deans Council and the Utah School Employees Association, selected Sorensen for the honor.

Sorensen will now represent Utah in the National Superintendent of the Year Program.