Teacher Aaryn Birchell of Uintah High School honored as Utah’s 2018 Teacher of the Year.

There are many examples of exemplary teachers throughout our country, and one of them is English teacher Aaryn Birchell of Uintah School District, who has been honored as the 2018 Utah State Teacher of the Year.

Aaryn hails from Vernal in Uintah County, Utah. As a high school student at Uintah High School, Aaryn organized 18 service projects for her school’s Honor Society, she coordinated a scholarship-writing workshop, taught ACT prep classes, and co-wrote the annual Senior Poem.

Aaryn earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Utah State University in 1999. After earning her degree, Aaryn became a volunteer at Utah State University’s Writing Center. She also worked as a substitute teacher for 12 years. When a part-time position teaching Advanced Placement sophomore English classes opened at her alma mater, Uintah High School, she applied for the position. She’s been teaching Advanced Placement Literature there since 2010.

Aaryn is a huge advocate for students. “Humanity is our greatest resource and we must invest and nurture all the beauty of potential as we send these souls to the world that needs their best,” she asserts.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Aaryn serves as a Board Member of the Uintah Literacy Commission. She also serves as the Director of the Vernal Storytelling Festival. She has also been a part of the Utah Education Association State Election Committee and has served as the Secretary for the Uintah County Education Association.