MUSD deputy superintendent takes Utah job

Deputy Superintendent Ember Conley of the Maricopa Unified School District has accepted a superintendent position at a school district in Utah.

Conley will end her current duties the last week of June and begin her new job July 1 in Park City, a community about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. 

An employee with the Maricopa school district for five years, Conley worked in both the administrative offices and served as principal at Butterfield Elementary School. 

Conley was appointed interim superintendent following the resignation of Jeff Kleck in fall 2011. She was a finalist for Maricopa’s superintendent position in spring 2012, but was beat out by current Superintendent Steve Chestnut. Following the selection of Chestnut, the MUSD school board made Conley’s job as deputy superintendent – a position she took up in December 2011 – a permanent position. 

Chestnut said Conley has made many contributions to the district and will be missed. 

“She’s done a wonderful job,” he said. 

With Conley’s exit, Chestnut said the district hopes to eliminate the deputy superintendent position and create a director position – a job with a slightly lower salary. This move will help save costs amid the district’s financial trouble.

Conley called Chestnut a “great mentor” who assisted in the growth of her career. She said the superintendent was very willing to help her achieve her future goals. 

Although she’s a Utah native, the deputy superintendent said she wasn’t necessarily looking for a new job. The opportunity at the Park City School District surfaced through friends and colleagues who encouraged her to apply, she said. When visiting the Utah city, she saw it was a great match for her family. 

“We’re very excited,” Conley said. 

Conley often invited her parents Eulene and Smokey Conley, who relocated a portion of their then-business, Simmons Lumber, to Maricopa in 1988, to give a living history lesson in the lumber business to Butterfield Elementary School students after they read the book “Marven of the Great North Woods.” Click here to read about their most recent visit this past semester. The couple plans on selling their Ahwatukee home and following their daughter to Park City.

***ADVERTISEMENT***School district board member Patti Coutre called Conley a “wonderful, dedicated, devoted individual” who’s been “a tremendous asset” to the district. 

“She’s a passionate person about education,” Coutre said. “Any district is very lucky to get her.” 

School district president Torri Anderson said she’s “thoroughly enjoyed” working with Conley. 

“It’s been just a delight,” Anderson said. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount from her.”

Anderson added that although she’s excited for Conley’s family to begin a new adventure, the Maricopa school district will miss her. 

A public reception for Conley is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in the lobby of the Governing Board Room at the district offices, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. 

Conley received a doctorate degree in education from Argosy University in 2010. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado-Denver and a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. 

Conley was born in Moab, Utah. She’s married with three children.