Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley close out this season of the Teacher Fellows Podcast by diving into the role of the Utah State Board of Education and why educator experience is vital in public leadership.

Their guest is Kacee Weaver, a Teacher Fellow and veteran Weber County educator with 20 years of experience across charter, district, private, and nonprofit settings. Now a candidate for State School Board District 2, Kacee shares what motivated her run: a desire to fix repeated systemic mistakes and a firm stance against rhetoric urging families to leave public schools—which she views as a vital community service.

In this episode, Kacee discusses:

• Bridging the Gap: How the Fellowship clarified the flow of policy from the Capitol to the classroom.
• Trusting the Experts: The need for instruction aligned with research and student development.
• Removing Barriers: Addressing the unique challenges faced by economically disadvantaged and multilingual students.
• Student Well-being: The urgent need for program stability and addressing Utah’s high suicide rates through family collaboration.

Kacee concludes with a powerful call for educators to vote and find their voices. To learn more about her platform, visit kaceeforutahschools.com.

LAYOUT:

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:41 Season Recap and Catch Up

01:28 Why Teacher Voice Matters

02:26 Meet Kacee Weaver

03:43 Why Run for School Board

06:56 Teacher Fellows to Policy

11:04 Fixing Utah Education

15:20 Making the Case for Public School

17:45 Call to Vote and Speak Up

19:45 How to Support Kacee

20:22 Host Takeaways

25:38 Closing and Next Season

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• 📍 Kacee Weaver | Candidate for District 2 (North Weber, Ogden Valley, South Ogden)
• 🌐 kaceeforutahschools.com
• 🅾 @kaceeforutschools

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2026 ACTE Region V Teacher of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @itsteachertowner) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Education Technology Specialist, Project Manager, Podcast Editor & Producer, and the 2023 Honors in Education Award in Administration and the 2020 UCET Outstanding Young Educator Award.

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.

Hosts Ryan Rarick (Education Pathway Teacher/Instructional Coach and 2026 UACTE Teacher of the Year) and Lauren Merkley (2020 Utah Teacher of the Year) discuss special education with Teacher Fellows Shannon Neeley, a ninth-grade special education math teacher who co-teaches and teaches solo, and Sydney Whatcott, a K–2 special education teacher who frequently pushes into classrooms and pulls small groups for academics and social skills. They note 7.5 million U.S. students qualify for IEPs, special educators have dropped 17%, and many students spend most of their time in general education. Shannon describes co-teaching models like parallel teaching, stations, and one teach/one assist, plus consultation on accommodations and behavior. Both guests address misconceptions about disability and low expectations, emphasizing access, high expectations, and student success, and share what they love: relationships and foundational growth (Sydney) and data, meetings, and protective IEP documentation (Shannon).

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

01:27 Why Special Education Matters

02:18 Meet Shannon and Sydney

03:18 What SPED Looks Like Daily

06:10 Co-Teaching That Works

12:07 Misconceptions and Mindsets

16:49 What They Love Most

20:57 Final Advice and Takeaways

26:25 Wrap Up and Subscribe

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• Shannon Neeley - 9th Grade Special Education Math Teacher
  • Instagram:@spedmathwithmrsneeley
  • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-neeley-a6053616b/
• Sydney Whatcott - Early Elementary Special Education Teacher
  • Instagram:@risewithroom15

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• USBE - Special Education Services

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2026 ACTE Region V Teacher of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @itsteachertowner) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Education Technology Specialist, Project Manager, Podcast Editor & Producer, and the 2023 Honors in Education Award in Administration and the 2020 UCET Outstanding Young Educator Award.

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.

In this special live recording from the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology (UCET) conference, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley sit down with students from the Career Tech High School (CTHS) Education Pathway. Following their poster presentation, these students discuss their practical experiences in the field and their motivations for entering the teaching profession.

• Tayleaha Pollock & Marlie Saxton: On the importance of patience, building relationships, and managing early childhood emotions.
• Charlotte Seals & Emily Burke: Reflections on the workload of an educator and the preparation required for success in Educators Rising competitions.
• Rebecca Winsor: The process of earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and pursuing a path in counseling.
• Evie Palmer: Learning through observation of various teaching styles and classroom environments.
• Crystal Vargas: Strategies for connecting with Spanish-speaking students and an interest in Special Education and behavior tech roles.

The episode concludes with a look at the value of paraprofessional placements and the various pathways available to the next generation of Utah educators.

00:00 Welcome to UCET Live

00:47 Meet Tayleaha Future Teacher

02:10 Marlie on Patience and Community

03:42 Charlotte Shadows a Coach

05:54 Emily on Why Teach

08:08 Becca Preschool and Counseling Goals

10:09 Evie Turning Struggles into Purpose

12:27 Crystal Behavior Support Calling

14:30 Conference Wrap and Thanks

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• Students from CareerTech High School Education Pathway
  • Tayleaha Pollock — 10th Grade — Undecided
  • Marlie Saxton — 11th Grade — Elementary
  • Charlotte Seals — 11th Grade — Elementary
  • Emily Birck — 12th Grade — Elementary
  • Rebecca Winsor — 11th Grade — Secondary (undecided content)
  • Evie Palmer — 11th Grade — Elementary/Secondary
  • Crystal Vargas — 12th Grade — Elementary SPED

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Career Tech High School - https://cths.washk12.org/

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

Want to be on the podcast? Fill out this form - Podcast Interview Survey

Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (insta: @lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (insta: @raricks_room) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District, 2026 ACTE Region V Teacher of the Year

Executive Producer:

• Kayla Towner (insta: @itsteachertowner) -- Taught elementary education K-6th, Education Technology Specialist, Project Manager, Podcast Editor & Producer, and the 2023 Honors in Education Award in Administration and the 2020 UCET Outstanding Young Educator Award.

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (insta: @9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.