Mrs. Miner is Magic: Julie Miner Named CCSD District Teacher of the Year
Teaching first grade isn't just Julie Miner’s career—it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong calling. In her classroom, curiosity and kindness reign supreme. Her dedication to creative, compassionate education has earned her Cache County School District’s highest honor: District Teacher of the Year.
Miner admits the recognition was a shock. “I honestly feel unworthy of the recognition,” she admitted humbly, “but I’m truly honored.” Colleagues and former students from her 12-year career overwhelmingly agree that she’s being modest. Their collaborative compilation of heartfelt notes, a book titled “The World Needs You to Be Who You Were Made to Be," perfectly summarizes their consensus: Julie Miner was made to be a teacher.
One former student gushed, “Mrs. Miner is the best teacher ever!! I wish I could go back to first grade!”
Interactions with her students keep Miner’s passion burning. "My students make the job worth it!" she exclaimed. "Even on days that I feel grumpy and less than enthusiastic,... they walk in with their smiles and energy and there just doesn't seem to be any room for anything else."
According to Miner, young children have a wealth of social-emotional intelligence that adults should strive to emulate. "I feel like we can learn so much from children about what it means to be a friend and to be kind,” she said. “First-graders are so welcoming and forgiving. One day, they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m so mad at you,’ and then the next day, they’re like, ‘That’s okay, we’re best friends again!’ It’s so beautiful to me. We all need to be more like that.”
Children often follow the examples they’re given. In Miner, they find a teacher who leads with kindness, curiosity, and compassion– qualities that they mirror.
Principal Stacie Williamson describes Miner's work in one word: "magic."
“Watching her teach—she just does magic. It’s such a pleasure to be in her classroom and watch her interact with her first-graders,” Williamson said. "She has a way of making learning fun, engaging, and positive for every student while running a very efficient classroom.”
Miner continuously strives for better, more exciting ways to engage her students. “I always think, ‘How can I make this more exciting the next time? How can I help the kids enjoy this unit or this story more?’” One example is her "Author Share” activity, where students sit in her swivel chair, hold her microphone, and read their work to their peers—a practice that builds excitement and confidence at every stage of the writing process.
Miner’s influence extends far beyond her first-grade room. Williamson highlighted her work as a district mentor and technology trainer for new teachers. “She is always the first person to reach out,” Williamson said, “and she does go back to check if there’s anything they need!"
This dedication to both students and colleagues solidifies her legacy. As Principal Williamson noted, "Over the next 10, 20 years of her career, she will just keep influencing more teachers and more kids." It's a fitting commendation for Miner.
“I love teaching,” she smiled. "This is where I want to be!"
