When presenting South Cache Middle School’s 2024 Teacher of the Year to the Cache County School Board, Principal Randy Bennion was all smiles. 

 

“In all of my years as an administrator, I have never received such an overwhelming amount of nominations for the same teacher,” he said. “Our school loves her.”

 

Kilee Nilsson has taught for ten years - one as a P.E. teacher, and nine in Resource classrooms. 

 

“In ninth grade, I was asked to be a Peer Tutor,” she said. “And that was it. From there, I knew I would be a Special Education teacher.”

 

Nilsson’s colleagues showered her with praise. One said, “Kilee creates a safe environment for her students.” 

 

“She is always encouraging students to reach a high level of learning. She has a positive attitude and is a joy to work with,” another added.

 

   

 

Nilsson’s greatest joy is found in the constant variety of her work and helping her students feel loved.

 

“This is going to sound kind of cheesy,” Nilsson said, “but I really love being their cheerleader and safe space. I want them to know that it’s a safe space here. I’m cheering for them! I want them to succeed in whatever goals they make in life, in school, in all the things! I tell them all the time that they’re smart enough, that they have the ability to succeed. I love to see my students being successful. Their happiness through success—that means the world to me. It’s amazing.”

 

Principal Bennion summarized Nilsson this way: “I asked her what she’d like to be known for, and her response was ‘a happy person that cares about individuals.’ Isn’t that interesting? Everything she was nominated for is what she wants to be known for. That’s just who she is. She is genuine, she cares about kids, and is an amazing teacher.”