Principal's Corner

Welcome to the McKinley Elementary School website.  My name is Scott Morton and I am proud to be the principal of this great school.  I wanted to take a few seconds to introduce myself so you can get to know me a little better.

I have been in Cañon City for over twenty years and graduated from our own CCHS. I am blessed to have a beautiful wife who is an educator and grew up in Cañon City as well. Together we share in the joy of raising our two young daughters and look forward to watching them grow up here. We truly value what this community has to offer, have put down strong roots, and are invested in the future.

Over the twelve years I have been involved in all levels of education including elementary, middle school, and high school. The majority of my teaching career was focused on middle school social studies; however, I had planned to be a kindergarten teacher for life when I was in undergraduate work and student teaching. I love the challenges that a career in education brings and cherish the moments when students experience the joy of learning something new.  I enjoy being a part of the amazing work that has been done at McKinley and will continue to honor the traditions and beliefs that our Wildcat Community holds dear.

I believe our mission statement paints a clear picture of who we are as educators and what we want our students to accomplish. When we are all dedicated to supporting the same goals, we are able to provide the best learning experience for each of our students.  We are invested in helping them be prepared for successful future endeavors. 

McKinley is proud to be leading the way for technology within the classroom at the elementary level. Teachers at the school continue to incorporate blended learning in the classroom which will combine engaging lessons, resources, and various virtual tours and experiences. Students will also focus on twenty-first century skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.  At McKinley, we are turning the virtual into reality.

We are always looking for students to join our McKinley family.  Transfer requests for all other grades to attend McKinley next year are currently being accepted.  Don’t forget we have added the brand new McKinley Preschool this year to support the littlest Wildcats.  We look forward to you joining our family.

As we continue to navigate the current situation with COVID-19, please know that we are doing everything we can to ensure safety of all students and staff. No matter what changes take place in the coming days and weeks, we will partner with you to provide the highest education possible.  Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as current health regulations have altered some of our programs and opportunities.  

I really look forward to meeting each of you personally in the coming weeks and then getting to work side-by-side with you through the coming years as we help our students and community grow. You are always welcome to contact us. If you are interested in keeping up-to-date on the current happenings at McKinley, follow me on Twitter @WilScoMorton.  Have a great day!