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The majority of Cliff Caldwell’s law enforcement career has been focused on protecting students—and that’s what he prefers.

“I have a passion for that type of environment,” said Cliff, who started working in education-sector security when he joined Indiana State University’s public safety team in 2012. “It’s the most impactful. You get to know the people you’re serving, see the same people every day.”

Since then, Cliff’s built an impressive resume, with experience at both the university and PreK–12 levels, including as a lead school safety specialist for a public school district in Lake County, IN, and as director of public safety and security for the Gary Community School Corporation. This background made Cliff a top candidate in an impressive pool of applicants for Rowland Hall’s first director of safety and security position, and he’s excited to bring his experience to an independent school setting.

“I felt like I could really be impactful here and give value-add to this school community,” he said.

Rowland Hall’s beliefs and values align with how I think about school safety and keeping kids safe.—Cliff Caldwell, director of safety and security

While private, independent schools can often get overlooked when it comes to school safety resources, as these schools don’t receive federal or state funding, Rowland Hall is in a fortunate position. As part of an ongoing focus on student and campus safety, the Board of Trustees approved the addition of the director of safety and security role. This position is essential as we prepare for the opening of the Steiner Campus, which will unite all students at a single location.

“It’s time to bring on help to oversee policies, procedures, and safety systems at Steiner, as well as think of this whole 32-acre piece of property and how to make it as safe and secure as possible,” said Chief Information and Safety Officer Patrick Godfrey, who led safety efforts until the new director role was filled.

Patrick said Cliff also stood out during the interview process due to his history of data-driven decision-making, student-centered approach to security, and experience creating welcoming spaces—an area Rowland Hall greatly prioritizes. “We’re building castles, not prisons, providing safety but also an environment for learning,” Patrick said.

It’s a difference Cliff knows well, having seen the effect prison-like security measures, like metal detectors, chainlink fences, and gates, have on students. They don’t understand these systems are preventative, he explained; instead, they get the message that they’re not trusted, or they’re entering a place that’s dangerous.

“We as adults can process this, but kids can’t,” said Cliff. “When you have kids walking into an environment like that, automatically their anxiety is up, they’re on edge. How well do we think they can learn in class?”

Instead, Cliff said, schools must use systems that keep kids safe while also protecting their well-being. This means thinking outside the box instead of relying on what he calls “the easy way” of securing spaces with overly restrictive measures. “This is a tech age we’re living in,” he said. “You don’t need those physical barriers.”

And Rowland Hall wants to lead the way in this space, focusing on technology and nonintrusive tools, such as weapons detection systems and AI cameras, to keep students safe.

FUN FACTS ABOUT CLIFF: Cliff is a dedicated bike rider and can’t wait to get up to Utah’s mountain trails. He also recently bought a car carrier for his two Lhasa Apsos, Chase and Marshall, so they can explore their new state together. (And yes, beginning and lower school families, you correctly guessed the dogs are named after Paw Patrol characters. Students picked the name Chase for Cliff’s first puppy and the theme stuck.)

To assist him with making the best decisions for our community, Cliff is using his first months on the job to explore and more deeply understand the solid safety foundation Rowland Hall already has in place, from building security and emergency communication to drills and evacuation routes. He’s also planning to meet and collaborate with other security and law enforcement professionals in the area, including the Utah Association of School Resource Officers, the University of Utah’s Department of Public Safety, and Salt Lake City. And he’s focused on getting to know students so they know he’s a trusted adult they can approach.

“I love interacting with kids, building good relationships and rapport,” said Cliff.

Only a few days in, he’s already building those relationships, introducing himself to students as he walks the hallways and playgrounds in between meeting with colleagues. He described his onboarding process as one of the best he’s experienced, and it’s reinforced the positive impression he had when he first visited campus in early January.

“Rowland Hall’s beliefs and values align with how I think about school safety and keeping kids safe,” said Cliff. “I knew 100% it was for me.”

People

The first few days of the 2026 Winter Olympics have been something special, and Breezy Johnson ’13 has been right at the center of it.

Breezy kicked off her 2026 Olympic journey on Sunday in the women’s downhill event. True to her name, Breezy blew down the hill in 1 minute, 36.10 seconds, securing Team USA’s first gold medal of the Games. Breezy is the second Rowmarker to win an Olympic gold medal (the first was Picabo Street ’87).

The victory—one that inspired emotion in Breezy as well as those watching her on the podium—marks a significant milestone in her ski racing journey. After making her Olympic debut in 2018, Breezy was scheduled to return in 2022 but withdrew just weeks before the Games after sustaining a knee injury in a training crash. The four years that followed marked an incredible comeback, as Breezy reestablished herself as one of the world’s top ski racers, complete with winning two gold medals at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, one in women’s downhill and another in the team combined alongside Mikaela Shiffrin.

Riding Sunday’s momentum, Breezy was back on the course today, paired again with Mikaela for the women’s alpine team combined. Breezy reinforced her place among the world’s elite speed skiers, powering a first-place finish in the event’s downhill leg. And while the duo narrowly missed the podium by just six hundredths of a second, Breezy’s speed, composure, and ability to deliver were undeniable.

It’s been an incredible start to the Games, with more still to come. Breezy is scheduled to compete in the women’s super-G on Thursday, and the Rowmark and Rowland Hall communities will be cheering her on.

Congratulations, Breezy!

Want more Breezy news? Be sure to check out our RH in the News page for a collection of local and national coverage. And don’t forget to read about the other Rowland Hall athletes competing at the 2026 Olympics.

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Image credit: © GEPA Pictures

Rowmark

A center devoted to connecting learning and community. An array of classes focused on student-designed, college-level research. Ongoing opportunities for learners of all ages to solve real-world problems. A brand-new campus designed to promote innovation and collaboration. The outcomes of Rowland Hall’s newest strategic plan are numerous and impressive—and they’re still unfolding.

Today, the school is nearly four years into an estimated five-year strategic plan guided by an overarching vision, Developing People the World Needs, and centered on four bold strategic priorities that give students a meaningful head start academically and intellectually. Since the plan’s unveiling in April 2022, the school has regularly shared progress and outcomes from this work with the Rowland Hall community.

This diligent work from both faculty and school leadership has significantly elevated our school’s profile.—Brittney Hansen, assistant head of school for academics

“We made commitments to our community about this strategic work, and transparent reporting is essential to showing that we're following through,” said Brittney Hansen, assistant head of school for academics. “Strategic planning requires continuous assessment and iteration, and sharing that process openly creates genuine accountability. When we communicate both our progress and our areas for continued growth, we invite partnership and ensure that these priorities are driving real, lasting impact.”

When Brittney took on the assistant head role in July 2025, she knew it was important to gather the school’s progress into one place, both to illustrate what’s been accomplished and to identify gaps that need to be addressed before the plan wraps. With input from team members across the school, she assembled the Strategic Priority Four-Year Review, a record of how Rowland Hall has followed through on the commitments we’ve made to the community. First shared with parents and caregivers at this year’s State of the School on January 29, the review is available to all members of the community and reflects the ongoing impact of our strategic priorities on students, as well as their role in strengthening our reputation as a leading independent school.

“This diligent work from both faculty and school leadership has significantly elevated our school's profile,” said Brittney. “We've built deeper partnerships with the University of Utah, been featured in Independent School magazine multiple times, and continue to gain recognition as leaders in the delivery of rigorous, student-centered PreK–12 education.”

Read Rowland Hall’s Strategic Priority Four-Year Review (2022–2026)

Strategic Priorities

We’re celebrating four Rowland Hall and Rowmark Ski Academy alumnae who will represent the United States and Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy: Breezy Johnson ’13, Katie Hensien ’18, Madison Hoffman ’18, and Mary Bocock ’22.

These alpine skiers’ selections continue a remarkable Olympic legacy: at least one Rowmark alum has been selected to compete at every Winter Olympic Games since 1988.

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A Guide to Alpine Skiing Events

Alpine skiing events are broken into two categories: technical and speed.

Technical events, slalom and giant slalom, emphasize precision and control. Slalom focuses on rapid, short turns and exact edge control, while giant slalom features wider gate spacing, blending technical skill with higher speeds and longer turns.

Speed events, downhill and super-G, are, unsurprisingly, all about going fast. Downhill is the fastest event, prioritizing maximum speed, aerodynamic efficiency, and the ability to handle long jumps and sustained gliding. Super-G combines elements of downhill and giant slalom, requiring high speed alongside more frequent turns and technical precision.

Alpine skiers also compete in a team combined event, a two-run race where teammates pair up, with one racing a technical discipline and the other a speed discipline. Their combined times determine the final result.

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Meet the Athletes

Breezy Johnson ’13

Olympic selections: 3 (2026, 2022, 2018)
Anticipated events: Downhill and super-G; possibly team combined
Known for: Fearless, high-speed racing and World Championship–level consistency in downhill
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Breezy Johnson made her Olympic debut at the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, competing in super-G and downhill. She was set to return in 2022 but withdrew weeks before the Beijing Games after sustaining a knee injury in a training crash, a significant loss for the US women’s speed team.

Since then, Breezy has mounted a standout comeback, highlighted by a career-defining performance at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, where she won gold in the women’s downhill. Three days later, she added a second gold in the team combined event alongside Mikaela Shiffrin, reestablishing herself as one of the world’s top speed racers heading into Milan Cortina.

Update, February 8, 2026: Breezy Johnson won Team USA’s first gold medal of 2026 in the women’s downhill. She is the second American woman ever to win gold in this event.

Katie Hensien ’18

Olympic selections: 2 (2026, 2022)
Anticipated events: Slalom and/or giant slalom
Known for: Precision, rhythm, and control in the technical events
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Katie Hensien made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China, competing in the women’s slalom. Her first Olympic selection followed a standout collegiate career at the University of Denver, where she won the 2022 NCAA slalom national title and was named National Women’s Alpine Skier of the Year.

After a severe knee injury sidelined Katie for the 2023–2024 season, she returned to top form in 2024–2025, posting a career-best fourth-place finish in giant slalom at Sölden, Austria (the top American result that day), and later qualifying for her first World Cup Finals.

Update, February 4, 2026: Katie Hensien announced she will sit out the Games this year after determining she is not yet back at the competitive level required to race at the Olympics.

Madison Hoffman ’18

Olympic selections: 2 (2026, 2022)
Anticipated events: Slalom and giant slalom
Known for: Consistency and technical precision on the World Cup circuit
Team: Australian Alpine Ski Team

Madison Hoffman will make her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games after being selected for the 2022 Winter Olympics but sidelined by a season-ending ACL injury before competition.

Madi’s long-awaited Olympic appearance follows a return to full health and a breakout collegiate season at the University of Utah in 2023. That year, she swept the NCAA slalom and giant slalom titles (the first University of Utah woman to do so since 1990) and earned First Team All-America honors. Madi continued to balance NCAA and World Cup racing in 2024, earning podiums on both circuits and recording a top-25 World Cup slalom finish in Levi, Finland, the first by an Australian woman in more than 20 years.

Mary Bocock ’22

Olympic selections: 1 (2026)
Anticipated event: Super-G
Known for: Versatility across multiple disciplines and strong results on the Nor-Am circuit
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Mary Bocock will make her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games after emerging as one of the most versatile racers in the US alpine pipeline, with the ability to compete in both technical and speed disciplines.

Mary captured the 2022–2023 Nor-Am Overall title, securing a World Cup quota and making her World Cup debut during the 2023–2024 season opener in Sölden, Austria. In 2024–2025, she expanded into speed events, racing her first downhill and super-G World Cup starts while continuing to collect Nor-Am Cup victories, including a giant slalom win at Stratton, VT. She is currently balancing her ski career with her studies at Dartmouth.

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How to Watch Our Olympians

Join us in cheering on our athletes! Races will be broadcast on NBC and USA Network; you can also stream them on Peacock. Because events take place in Italy, most races will air early in the morning Mountain Time, with additional highlights and replays broadcast later in the day.

While schedules may shift based on weather (so be sure to check daily listings), the women’s alpine skiing events are scheduled for the following dates:

• Downhill: February 8
• Team combined: February 10
• Super-G: February 12
• Giant slalom: February 15
• Slalom: February 18

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Former Rowland Hall Students to Also Keep an Eye On

In addition to the four Rowmarkers covered in this story, two former Rowland Hall students will be competing at Milan Cortina. Tallulah Proulx will represent the Philippines in alpine skiing, and Tasia Tanner will represent the United States in freestyle aerials.

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Image credit: © GEPA Pictures

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