East High teacher named Utah Teacher of the Year

SALT LAKE CITY — East High School social studies teacher Leigh VandenAkker was named Utah's 2012 Teacher of Year at a banquet Friday evening.

VandenAkker was awarded a $10,000 check and will compete with winners from other states in a national competition. VandenAkker was selected out of 18 nominees by a state committee made up of representatives from the Utah State Office of Education, principals, superintendents, the Utah PTA, the Utah Education Association and last year's winner, Highland Elementary School kindergarten teacher Gay Beck.

“Every so often I ask students ‘What teacher gets the most out of you, has the highest expectations, and has made the biggest difference in your life,’” said East High Principal Paul S. Sagers Jr. in a prepared statement. “Inevitably, students quickly respond ‘Mrs. V.’ Her philosophy is to inclusively connect all students to school with a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude in order to make sure they graduate and leave with a rigorous and quality learning experience.”

VandenAkker will also receive an interactive white board, classroom amplification system and a laptop computer. She will join other teachers of the year in meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., and will attend space camp in Alabama next summer.

Jared Berrett, of Blanding, a technology, digital media and engineering teacher at San Juan High School, and Jennifer Bodell, of South Jordan, a sixth-grade teacher at Harry S Truman Elementary School in West Valley City, were named as runners up and each received a check for $4,000.

East High Parent Teacher Student Association President Milissa Mecham said of VandenAkker, "She gives students the greatest education of all — the skills to be successful in both academics and relations.