GAY BECK, 2011 UTAH TEACHER OF THE YEARAlpine School District and Highland Elementary kindergarten teacher Gay Beck recently went to Washington D.C. as part of Teacher Recognition Week. As Utah’s teacher of the year, she was able to not only represent her school and the district but also all teachers in the State of Utah. All state teachers of the year were invited to a special reception with Vice President Biden and his wife at their home. Each teacher also received a photo with the President in the Oval office and stood behind him as he announced the National Teacher of the Year and honored the state teachers. The ceremony was broadcast live on CNN and was made available on the whitehouse.gov website shortly after.
Beck was also able to meet with Senator Orrin Hatch, Congressman Jason Chaffetz and Representatives Jim Matheson and Rob Bishop while in Washington, DC. Teachers were also able to visit the US Department of Education and go on a tour of the monuments.
She was appointed by the Secretary’s office of the US Department of Education to an education committee called the Regional Advisory Committee for the Western Region. It is a short-term commitment that will require her to attend some meetings and participate in conference calls over the summer.
The University of Phoenix also gave each state teacher the opportunity to select a recipient of their Teaching it Forward scholarship.
“I was so proud to represent our teachers. I am so appreciative of this honor and look forward to representing the teachers of our district and state,” Gay Beck said.
