Clark Tenney

Clark Tenney moved to Prescott in 1983 at the age of 14 with his family. He attended Granite Mountain Junior High School and Prescott High School. At PHS Clark competed in cross country and track and field, played the tuba in the Pride of Prescott marching band, and was involved in musical theater. Growing up in Prescott, Clark played Prescott City League softball, volleyball, and basketball, and he loved to explore Granite Dells and run on the trails and streets of Prescott. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and earned his Eagle Scout award.

After a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan, Clark attended Brigham Young University and married his high school sweetheart and long-time Prescott resident Sonya Hinton. Clark graduated with Sonya from BYU in 1991, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in Secondary Education and Japanese Teaching, with a minor in History.

Clark’s teaching career soon took him and his young family to Tokyo, Japan to teach Japanese language at an international school, to children of English-speaking diplomats and business executives. Four of the Tenneys’ five children were born in Tokyo. After having both grown up in Prescott, the Tenneys built their first home in Prescott in 1997 and have raised their children in their hometown. All of the Tenneys attended PUSD’s terrific schools, and graduated from Prescott High School.

In addition to teaching United States History, United States Government, and Japanese language for a total of 22 years, Clark coached Cross Country and Track and Field at Prescott High School for many years. Tyler Goodman, Assistant to the Prescott City Manager, and Prescott Mayor Pro Tem Alexa Scholl are two of his hundreds of former students who have gone on to accomplish great things. Clark is also a long-time volunteer adult leader with the Boy Scouts of America, and he has served in many leadership positions in his local church congregation. Clark still runs frequently, and has completed 7 marathons.

Clark earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, with honors. After many years of teaching, Clark was selected as principal of Abia Judd Elementary School, where he helped his students and teachers achieve the highest test scores of any elementary school in northern Arizona. He currently enjoys serving as assistant principal of Prescott High School. He knows that strong community schools are the foundation of a thriving community. In 2019 Clark was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to visit and study successful schools in Finland, and he has worked with other PUSD leaders to implement best practices here in Prescott. Clark’s post-graduate work has been through the University of Arizona, and he currently holds his Arizona Superintendent certificate.

Clark loves to spend time with family. You can often find him outdoors, and frequently right back in Granite Dells and on Prescott’s incredible trails, birding, mountain biking, hiking, or running. He is proud to represent the citizens of his hometown.