….SOOO, whose idea was it to start Valley High School? (by Ivi Carman & Eisley Diaz)

Who thought that students should be able to learn in different ways? His name was Ivan Cendese. Ivan was a former Jesuit priest and principal at Hillcrest High School before he was the founder and first principal of Valley High School.

Above: Ivan outside of Valley (Deseret News April 23-24, 1982)

Ivan Cendese was born on March 8th, 1936 in Ontario, Canada. At the age of 13, he applied for a student visa so he could go to school in the United States. Ivan then joined the order of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. He spent 18 years in the Catholic priesthood, he also attained two Bachelor’s degrees in political science and religious studies, as well as a master’s in education. Ivan continued his career in education in Jordan School District, after leaving the Catholic priesthood.

Ivan worked at multiple schools in Jordan District including Hillcrest, Glendale Middle School, and Highland High School, and others. Eventually leading to the founding of Valley High School.

But why found Valley High? Ivan founded Valley High as an opportunity for children who learned better in a non-traditional school setting. He started Valley in one small classroom at Hillcrest High School. Soon after, Valley was moved to the old site of Crescent Elementary School.

From there, Valley High School got its very own building, and in 2009, Valley got moved into a brand new building in South Jordan. Valley High School has been made to be a founding trade (alternative) school, for students 10th-12th graders, with a zero boundary for living areas. Valley has made accessibility to students to fix credits from the past, have a more flexible schedule, do extracurricular activities to gain credit for missed classes, or for extra credit, and to have more of an opening for social skills to inhabit, and life skills.

Valley focuses on more of the core, needed classes. So, the school offers very few electives for the students, but it still gets them to graduate and be where they need to be. To Valley High School, each student that walks in every day, is more than just a name, or a number. Valley recognizes students as an individual human being. With feelings, and beliefs of their own.

Valley is on a roll with making sure each individual knows they are needed, and loved. Valley also tries to connect with the students. Not as a friend, but as a person. Valley High School also has a statement, and a promise: “To empower each student to many opportunities and for each student to be their own agents, for their lifelong success.”

In all, Ivan Cendese, made a school not knowing how far it would achieve in life and Valley High School is still growing, and how much good it’s doing for students. He made a school, where students can be themselves, not feel forced to do anything to fit in, and make them feel loved, needed, and have a reason to stay and be here to see their future that’s building right in front of their eyes.