There’s a quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that reads, “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is; treat him as he could be, and he will become what he could be.” 

That concept has been a guiding philosophy Justin Pitcher the new principal at Cottonwood High School. As an educator and leader, Pitcher applies that idea to every student who walks through the doors.

“Every individual comes with their own story,” he said. “If we can help tell those stories, and those stories include graduation, then they can be more successful. They can go forward and their future opens up. The resiliency in these students shows up when we show up for these kids.”

Pitcher has worked in education for 23 years, serving in various capacities within the Canyons School District, including assistant principal at Brighton High, principal at East Midvale Elementary and girls track and cross-country coach at Alta High School.

After graduating from Bingham High School in 1994, Pitcher attended Southern Utah University before serving a mission in Lansing, Michigan, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was on his mission where a leader told Pitcher he should become an educator.

“It’s been the best career because these kids are looking for someone to care about them,” he said. “We come to school every day, with a lot of energy, a lot of love and a lot of caring for these kids.”

Pitcher replaces the former CHS principal, Mike Douglas, who took over the role in the 2022-23 school year. With a student body of nearly 1,500 students from 50 countries, in grades nine-12, the job will keep him on his toes as he learns the systems, key players and resources in a new district. 

He has three focus areas as he starts the school year: academics, belonging and a culture of caring. Literacy rates at CHS are low. It’s his goal to increase those rates because reading is the stepping stone to all learning. 

“If we can increase our literacy rates, we can also increase our numeracy rates, we can increase our social studies. Literacy is the pathway to success in our country, and many of our students come with limited English. We need to help them.”

Pitcher said providing a high-quality education for each student isn’t the challenge because the educators do that every day, showing up prepared and excited to teach. The challenge is creating the best partnerships to help students.

The Ron McBride Foundation provides $10,000 for the CHS after-school programs, Promise South Salt Lake has initiatives that support the goal of a 100% graduation rate and the PACE program targets first-generation and low-income students, allowing them to earn a Salt Lake Community College scholarship for up to six semesters. 

“These are goals that have been at Cottonwood High School for years, but they are the goals that truly will make a difference, that will move the dial,” Pitcher said. “We want every kid to understand that we care about their academic success. We care about you. We want you to belong here, and we want you to have the sense that you’re cared for when you’re here. That’s why we provide so many different resources and services.”

Pitcher and his wife, Ashley, have lived in Eagle Mountain for 20 years. Ashley teaches art at Pony Express Elementary and is currently working on a master’s degree. They have four children. 

A big fan of Ernest Hemingway, Pitcher visited the Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida, this summer. It was an event that moved him to tears.

“We were on a tour and my eyes are watering, like, I can’t believe I’m in the presence of Ernest Hemingway. It was one of those moments,” he said. “In ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ I love the story of struggle.

“It’s the story of these kids here at the school, too. They have incredible experiences that they’re dealing with every single day. Some are positive. Some aren't so positive. But as they deal with them, we get the chance to be able to hear a little bit about their journey.”