The Utah Education Association proudly congratulates three of its members who have been named among the five finalists for the 2026 Utah Teacher of the Year award. The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) announced the finalists after a rigorous statewide nomination and review process.
Representing diverse grade levels, subjects, and school districts, the following UEA members were selected as finalists:
- Markay Anderson | Elementary Education | Ashley Elementary, Uintah School District
- Joanna Andres | Social Studies | Park City High School, Park City School District
- Aston (Rai) Pattison | Special Education | Kearns Junior High School, Granite School District
They are joined by two additional educators to form the “Fab Five” finalists for this year’s honor:
- Aaron Andersen | Chinese and AP U.S. History | Skyridge High School, Alpine School District
- Dr. Joseph Kozlowski | 2nd Grade | Edith Bowen Laboratory School, Utah State University
“Utah public educators work tirelessly every day to create meaningful learning experiences and ensure students feel seen and supported,” said UEA President Renée Pinkney.
“UEA members have a long and proud history of being recognized as Utah Teachers of the Year. We are thrilled to see Markay, Joanna, and Rai carry that legacy forward.”
The 2026 Utah Teacher of the Year will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 4, 2025, and will go on to represent Utah in the National Teacher of the Year program.
To learn more about the Utah Teacher of the Year program and view the full announcement, visit schools.utah.gov.
