Talia Casares of North Sanpete School District has been named the 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year, becoming the first teacher from the district to receive the honor. Casares, a sixth-grade Spanish Dual Language Immersion teacher at Moroni Elementary, was selected by a state committee during a banquet held in Salt Lake City on Sept. 3, 2026.
Selection and Recognition
The selection of Casares follows a competitive process involving a committee of representatives from the Utah State Board of Education, charter schools, higher education, and various parent and teacher advocacy organizations. According to the Utah State Board of Education, Casares was chosen from a pool of local teachers of the year representing districts and charter schools across Utah.
National Competition and Awards
Casares was presented with a $10,000 check for her achievement. In addition to the monetary award, she will compete against other state teachers of the year in a national competition next year and will participate in various state and national leadership opportunities.
Educational Background
Originally from Mexico City, Casares has spent nine years in her career developing innovative learning experiences. Her teaching focuses on connecting language, literacy, STEM, and technology to help students build confidence and discover their potential. She earned a Master of Arts in Spanish Pedagogy from Brigham Young University, where her research focused on integrating literacy, science, and technology within dual language immersion classrooms.
Instructional Excellence
Casares previously received the 2025 Utah Coalition for Educational Technology Innovative Teacher Award. Beyond her classroom instruction, she is recognized for supporting educator growth through professional learning opportunities, leadership, and mentorship. Her instructional approach aims to create environments where students feel empowered and capable of making a positive difference.
District History
The North Sanpete School District has seen significant recognition in recent years. On Sept. 11, 2025, the district announced that Ben Cox had been voted the District Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year. Cox, an English and journalism teacher and counselor at North Sanpete High School, was set to represent the district in the state-wide Utah Teacher of the Year competition.
Cox, who has been an educator for 23 years and a counselor for 12, holds an Associate of Arts from Snow College, a Bachelor of Arts in English Teaching from BYU, and a master's degree in psychology and school counseling from Utah State University.
2027 Finalists
The Utah State Board of Education also named several finalists for the 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year, each of whom received $2,000. The finalists include Danielle Carter, a 5th-grade special education teacher at Delta Middle School in the Millard School District; Sondra Knudsen, a kindergarten teacher at Adams Elementary in the Logan City School District; Daren Lentz, a 7th-grade mathematics teacher at South Cache Middle School in the Cache County School District; and Megan Morrison, a 7th-9th grade special education teacher at South Jordan Middle School in the Jordan School District.
