Past District Teachers of the Year
We have amazing teachers in our district, and the annual District Teacher of the Year award is a great way to honor and recognize them. Many of our district winners have gone on to win Utah Teacher of the Year and some have even been finalists for National Teacher of the Year.
2024 District Teacher of the Year
Cathy Bigler, Whittier Elementary
2023 District Teacher of the Year
Netanya Elise Maxwell, Bonneville Elementary
selected as a Utah finalist
2022 District Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Carver-Hunter, Mountain View Elementary
selected as a Utah finalist
2021 District Teacher of the Year
John Arthur, Meadowlark Elementary
Utah Teacher of the Year and selected as a national finalist
2020 District Teacher of the Year
Rebecca Richardson, East High
selected as Utah first runner up
2019 District Teacher of the Year
Kellie May, West High
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year
2018 District Teacher of the Year
Erin Newsome, Horizonte Instruction and Training Center
selected as a Utah finalist
2017 District Teacher of the Year
Valerie Gates, West High
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year
2016 District Teacher of the Year
Doug Jorgensen, Highland High
2015 District Teacher of the Year
Mohsen Ghaffari, North Star Elementary
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year and received a $10,000 NEA Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016
2014 District Teacher of the Year
Cate Praggastis, East High
selected as Utah first runner-up
2013 District Teacher of the Year
JoAnn Bussell, Emerson Elementary
2012 District Teacher of the Year
Leigh VandenAkker, East High
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year
2011 District Teacher of the Year
Robert Gardner, Highland High
selected as Utah second runner-up
2010 District Teacher of the Year
Mary Jane Morris, Northwest Middle
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year
2009 District Teacher of the Year
Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, Dilworth Elementary
selected as Utah Teacher of the Year and received the $25,000 NEA Member Benefits Award in 2010