"As a kid, my family moved around a lot, and I went to a new school nearly every year in elementary school. I'm so grateful I had teachers like Tim Davis who helped me feel welcome and safe. Now I am married to a very dedicated first grade teacher and see the genuine love and concern she has for each of her students, and have witnessed the loooong days she puts in to make sure those kids in her care get the very most from their time in her classroom."

"My own dance teacher in high school was amazing. Elva Boyle did not "look" the part of a dance teacher and taught me things I never learned from other teachers in the dance and performing world. She taught me that being a gifted teacher is about investment in the student's well being and celebrating everyone. I was going through a difficult personal challenge at the time, and this teacher talked to me many times and gave the best hugs. I am sad that hugging students is alarming now because in challenging times, a hug can communicate so much more than words. Due to health issues, she was not able to perform or teach us; instead, she gave me confidence regarding autonomy, leadership, teaching, and team building. As students, we were responsible for most of the class and she supervised. The opportunities this created were far more impactful in the long run than someone who was more able to contribute. She was not critical of our work, but rather, critical of how we treated one another. She didn't insert herself to build a team, but led with kindness, respect, and confidence as we created a team. She valued the process more than the product and we knew that she was there for us."

"A teacher’s work day does not end when the school bell rings! Grading papers, decorating classrooms, responding to students and parents are often done outside of the school day. As I’ve grown up I’ve come to appreciate my grade school teachers more and more for the values and skills they taught me as a young child. Though my favorite subject was definitely recess!"

"Carol Shackelford - She was the Bingham High School debate coach during my junior and senior years. Our debate team was cocky, having won my sophomore year, but Shack always had us running speed drills, researching upcoming or current topics, practicing various speech methods, and continuing to help us be better. I had a lot of personal things happening while I was in my junior and senior years, and unfortunately, all of my educators were aware of it too. Shack didn't treat me any differently than she did the other debate kids. She was and still is an outstanding educator, who taught me everything I needed to pass my first semester in my Master's program for researching: how to verify a source, how to find a fact vs crap article, and such. Stanley Andrus - Now a history instructor at Herriman High School, Andrus was the BEST history teacher I ever had at Bingham High. I took two different courses from Andrus and remember both having me excited to learn about historical events. From mini-lectures to documentaries, and even competitions between two self-named teams to quiz us on AP topics. Andrus found ways to encourage his students to participate in discussions yet wouldn't coddle us if we didn't read the chapter (he'd actually find ways to call out the lack of preparedness without disrupting things). Though he was teaching high school kids, Andrus treated us like college students, which better prepared me for my undergrad and graduate courses. To this day, he is someone I can reach out to and discuss historical events and learn from."

"My junior high and high school biology teacher, Doug Bjerregaard, was genuinely interested in me and my classmates as curious learners and engaged thinkers. We often stayed after class to discuss non-biology things, like whatever was going on in the news. By the time we were juniors and seniors, many of us were coming in before first period to talk about… wait for it… Greek philosophy, just for fun!"

"The spring I was in the third grade, my teacher planned activities to celebrate the season. For weeks I looked forward to making treats and dying eggs. I remember telling my mom how much fun it was going to be, and I imagined what colors and designs I would choose. Before the big day, my teacher told us to come to class on Friday with a hollowed-out egg. We were also told to bring our spelling test signed by a parent, and if we didn’t, the teacher warned, we would sit out from the activities. At nine years old, I was the perfect student. I was studious, I was obedient, and I was responsible. So when I forgot to bring my spelling test that Friday, I was devastated. I knew what the consequence would be. When my class jumped from their chairs to collect art supplies, I sat still at my desk examining my perfect, hollowed-out egg, fighting the inevitable tears. It wasn’t long before my teacher pulled me aside. She knelt down and told me I should join the rest of the class. With tears in her eyes, she told me I could bring my spelling test on Monday. And then she gave me a hug. I couldn’t believe it. My disappointment disappeared with this unexpected gift. Twenty years later, I still remember that moment."

"Mrs. Joan Hauri was my sixth grade science teacher. She’s the person who taught me about how to use mnemonic devices to memorize complicated definitions for scientific words. Mrs. Hauri would give her students extra credit on our vocabulary quizzes if we could draw a sketch in the margin of our paper that helped us remember something about the definition of the word. It was a brilliant tactic, and she was a brilliant teacher!"

"I am convinced that my elementary school teachers were the best the world had to offer, though I know I am not the only person who claims it. I vividly remember Mrs. Maughn, Mrs. Vernue, and Mr. Brown, my second grade teaching team, coordinating Halloween outfits. I remember singing 'Miss Mary Mack' and 'Fried Ham' in the Plain City Elementary Cafeteria. I remember Mr. Geurtsch and his endless array of critters, including monty and scarface, two pythons that lived in the library. I remember the librarian, Mrs. Delabout, who always knew I would want to check out another zoobook or the latest Nancy Drew mystery. My junior high band teacher, Mr. Morris, provided a safe place for me. That safety and acceptance continued into high school with Mr. Qualls. As I write this, so many teachers faces and names pass through my mind and heart and I am grateful for the small, simple things that fostered my wonder and curiosity. I will always be grateful for the teachers in my life."

"I had a teacher in the 4rd grade that was wonderful. Mrs. Pence. She really encouraged reading and writing and made it fun and interesting. At the end of the year she put together a book of all the poems and stories we had written throughout the year that I still have.  My 6th grade teacher was an awesome example of kindness and love for the children around her. Even though most 6th graders would think they were too old to have the teacher read to them, Ms. Beck would read us books like “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Ms. Piggle-Wiggle” and encouraged us to write about what we thought of the books and would let us draw while she read.  These two teachers gave me a love of reading that continues today and an ability to express myself through poetry and other types of writing and art."