Quietly, members of Murray Education Foundation, Murray School District and Murray High snuck outside the conference room door. Inside, Murray High volunteer Jen Davies was meeting with Assistant Principal Emily Bird about the PTA’s Battle of the Bands when Principal Quinn Linde stuck his head in the door and told Davies she was needed in the office.

“My thoughts immediately went to my son Ethan who attends Murray (High) and was he OK. He and his friends are very adventurous, and I was wondering what they might have done,” she said. “I walked out and saw everybody and wondered, ‘What on earth was going on?’ Here I was in my workout clothes and all these administrators and Ethan, but also my husband, my parents and sister and brother who came from St. George and friends were there. I was shocked.”

It was especially sweet for Davies who has spent a large amount of her time with all her volunteer efforts recently and her son had told her days before that she deserved an award.

“‘He said, ‘here’s your award, Mom.’ It was really a sweet, tender moment—and what an honor to be recognized, especially as a volunteer,” she said, adding that it made her cry.

Earlier that morning, Murray High special education teacher Jessie Agiriga got a surprise visit from the group, which included her three children, all wearing red-and-white heart pajamas for pajama day at the preschool.

“My husband told me he got a strange email from Brady (Smith, the school’s athletic director who has coached unified sports with Agiriga) and I thought maybe it was about Brady because he got teacher of the month here at school,” said the 18-year teaching veteran. “I didn’t expect this.”

The day continued with popping in and stunning teachers and a classified employee, who were in the middle of instructing in classrooms or busy in the library or auditorium.

“This is always so much fun to surprise them,” said Jeanne Habel, the executive director of Murray Education Foundation, which receives many nominations to honor outstanding employees and a volunteer. “It’s one of the best parts.”

The Pinnacles are now in its 21st year. Since its inception, more than 150 people have been honored with a statuette designed by Doug Clawson and sculpted and bronzed by Jim Rennert. The honorees also are given flowers, gift cards, $1,000 and on March 14, will be celebrated at a special gala dinner, which involves some of their own students as well as those at Murray High School.

This year’s recipients include Grant Elementary fifth-grade teacher Kayti Graham, who has worked for the District 10 years; Horizon kindergarten teacher Blair Peterson, who has given 13 years to the District; Liberty Elementary second-grade teacher Kristen Flower, who has dedicated 29 years at the District; Riverview Junior High science teacher Jen Mackay, who is in her 19th year at the District; and Viewmont Elementary support professional Caroline Walker, who has devoted 30 years at the District, along with Agiriga and Davies.

More than 20 years ago, Davies had taught history and dance classes at both junior highs and coached drill at Murray High School. She stepped down after five years and has volunteered at numerous Murray schools, mostly as PTA president at Longview Elementary and Riverview Junior High before becoming involved at Murray High. 

Among the countless hours she’s dedicated, she has helped with choreography of about 10 school musicals, planned school carnivals, helped with Project Graduation, overseen teacher appreciations, coordinated school service projects, been athletic teams’ parent, helped with Spartan Closet, taught social-emotional learning, spent hours with the dance celebration for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympics at Viewmont and coordinated the 50-year celebrations of both Murray High and Riverview.

“I love being in the schools; I love being with kids,” she said. “I feel blessed I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer.” λ