Salt Lake City’s historic West High School named a new principal Thursday, more than two months after its last leader, Jared Wright, was placed on unexplained leave in January.
The new leader is Wayne Culley, who has been serving as West High’s interim principal since Wright began leave Jan. 10. He will continue serving as interim principal until he formally begins serving as principal July 1.
“I am honored and excited to continue serving the incredible West High community,” Culley said. “West is a place where every student belongs, where voices matter, and where dreams are supported. My goal is to foster an environment where students feel safe, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.”
Culley said his top two priorities are student safety and improving West High’s graduation rate, while continuing West High traditions like Spirit Bowl.
“We need to put in place some supports for some of our students to help raise that graduation rate,” Culley said during a news conference Thursday.
West High’s graduation rate for the last school year was around 85%, slightly lower than the statewide average of roughly 88%.
West was one of four Salt Lake City high schools to receive weapons detectors in 2023, a decision that drew mixed reactions from the public and district officials.
However, after investing over $2 million to install and staff the detectors, district officials last year decided to forgo staffing the devices for the 2024-25 school year.
The detectors at West High are in use, but school staff, not security personnel, are operating them, according to district spokesperson Yándary Chatwin.
Culley said security monitors, like the weapons detectors at West High, are part of being an adult in society.
“I spent the Christmas holidays at Disney World,” Culley said. “Every time we went into a park, we went through one of those security monitors. ... I personally see [security monitors] as adulting.”
Culley previously served as an assistant principal at West High starting in the 2023-24 academic year.
His education career began about 20 years ago as a junior high science teacher in the Weber School District before he started teaching in the Salt Lake City School District. He previously served as principal of Bonneville Elementary and as an assistant principal at Meadowlark Elementary.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High interim principal Wayne Culley is officially announced as the new principal on Thursday, March 20,
A week after Wright was placed on leave, West High students staged a walkout on Jan. 17 to protest the former principal’s absence, saying they were “confused” by the district’s decision. District officials said at the time that they could not discuss personnel details.
Wright then resigned Jan. 21, posting on his personal Facebook page that “due to some pressing family obligations, I have decided to resign and step down as principal of West High School.”
The announcement of Culley’s appointment comes the same day President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
One of the primary roles of the Department of Education is to provide federal funding to public schools, especially through Title programs such as Title I. This program gives extra funding to schools with a high number of economically disadvantaged students.
Many Title I schools rely on that funding, because state contributions often inadequately support high-need students.
While West High is not considered a Title I school, more than 50% of its students are economically disadvantaged.
Culley said that during this uncertain time, “clarity will come from our state Legislature, from our governor, from our district office” and “we’ll follow the direction here at West.”
Culley also takes the reins as West High gears up for a near total renovation.
In November, voters passed the Salt Lake City School District’s $730 million bond proposal, securing funding for what officials have called much-needed upgrades for West and Highland high schools.
Construction is not expected to begin until spring 2026 at the earliest, and design plans for the interior and exterior of the buildings are still being developed.
Culley said he has experience leading schools through major construction projects.
“We have a really good plan at West High School,” he said. “Classes won’t be interrupted during that time of the new building.”
