Uintah High School English teacher Amanda Muffler has been selected as one of 10 winners of the Utah Education Association Excellence in Education Award, according to a notice from the Uintah School District.
Muffler was nominated for the honor by Aaryn Birchell, an English teacher at UHS and President of the Uintah County Education Association.
As the 10th-grade English team lead at UHS, Muffler implemented an innovative intervention system that resulted in accelerated student growth. Birchell stated that the success of this framework led other departments within the school to adopt it.
Birchell noted that Muffler's leadership, innovation, and compassion exemplify the best of the profession. Birchell added that Muffler focuses on innovation to ensure students have access to meaningful progress rather than for recognition.
Muffler's work with the Utah Teacher Fellows program serves to amplify teacher voices at state and national levels. Her contribution, titled 5 Small Classroom Changes for Big Rewards, was featured in Education Week.
Birchell highlighted Muffler's advocacy for students, particularly those who feel marginalized or unseen. Birchell noted that Muffler demonstrated resilience and compassion last school year by supporting students after two classmates passed away in separate incidents.
Muffler will be honored at the UEA Banterra Bank Superstars in Education Awards Banquet on Sept. 11 in Sandy.
