Today during a ceremony, PHS students were honored for their academic achievements, celebrated for their WYTOPP scores, and 175 students presented with academic letters. However, there was more on the schedule than most people knew.

Every year WASSP, or the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals, names two outstanding leaders in a Wyoming high school – the Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year. Out of the 160 school, only two schools have the honor of saying that they have one of these amazing people. 

This year, that honor falls on us here at PHS. Mr. Steve Lensgrav has been named the Assistant Principal of the Year, making him the best assistant principal in the state.

According to the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals (nassp.org), the honor is awarded to extrodinary principals that “that stand out for their ability to inspire, lead, and drive success within their schools. These nominees are individuals who not only excel in their roles but also represent the best of Wyoming, exemplifying the values of integrity, resilience, and community that define our state.” 

These are definitely values that Lensgrav possesses. He has served at PHS for over a decade, starting as a chemistry teacher before becoming the assistant principal. His daughter Jasmyne Lovera, who with the rest of the Lensgrav family was present to surprise her father, said that in all that time, compassion has been his strength.

“[Lensegrav] is a very intellectual man, but he leads most with his heart,” Lovera said. “He always has the best intention for all the students, whether they do get in trouble, and he just wants to make an impactful decision to hopefully put them on the right track, if a student reaches out to him.”

PHS Principal Mr. Timothy Wormald had many of the same thoughts as Lovera. Mr. Wormald and Mr. Lensegrav have been in charge of PHS for six years now. 

“When I had to choose an assistant principal six years ago, I chose Lensegrav,” Mr. Wormald said. “He had the compassion and conviction needed to be successful.” 

Lensegrav will go on to represent Wyoming along with Mountain View High School Principal Ben Carr at the National Association of Secondary School Principals for the positions of National Assistant Principal and National Principal of 2025.