Leadership

Tabitha Pacheco is a National Board Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs. She has ten years of classroom experience in public, charter, and digital education settings as a Teacher, Instructional Coach, Mentor, Special Education Director, and Educational Consultant. In 2013, she was awarded the Utah State Office of Education “Significant Disabilities Teacher of the Year” for outstanding leadership and commitment to students with disabilities. As a teacher leader in her state, Tabitha has served on many local and national committees as an advocate for teachers. She believes in large-scale, positive social impact through equitable access to education. Tabitha was a Hope Street Group National Teacher Fellow from 2015-17 before her role as the Utah Fellowship Director.

John Arthur is the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist. Now in his 11th year of teaching, his students have gained national recognition as advocates for themselves and their communities through the digital content they create and share across platforms as @9thEvermore. John Arthur is a National Board Certified Teacher and an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education at Westminster University. In 2023, he was recognized as one of Utah’s Most Valuable Educators by Instructure and received a K-12 Hero Award from eSchool News. John Arthur serves on the Board of Directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, WestEd, REL West, and IncludEd United.

Scott Judy enjoys a successful teaching career at Viewmont High School. His belief that education creates opportunities is clearly seen in both the classroom and on the field. Scott has coached various sports over the years from the freshman to varsity level and resides as the head girls tennis coach for Viewmont. He has helped develop curriculum and educational standards for Davis School District and the State of Utah. Currently, Scott teaches Concurrent Enrollment History and Government in conjunction with Weber State University and is a pioneer in the Davis School District for the satellite broadcast classes. He received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho in History Education and German Education and his Masters of Arts in History from Sam Houston State University. Scott was a Hope Street Group Utah Teacher Fellow from 2019-2021 before his role as a Utah Teacher Fellow Professional Learning Facilitator.

Marley McClune is an FCS Teacher with Davis School District at Northridge High School. She graduated with her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership in 2022, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education, Leadership, and Policy at the University of Utah. Marley currently serves as a member of ULEAD, and she was a Utah Teacher Fellow from 2021-2023.

Kiera Beddes has been a secondary ELA and History teacher for nine years, both in rural and suburban Utah, teaching in Nebo, Juab, and Jordan School Districts. She received her undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in History Teaching, with minors in English Teaching and Scandinavian Studies. In 2016, she returned to Brigham Young University to earn her Masters of Arts in Teacher Education. She is passionate about social science, literature, professional learning, and technology in education. She believes in the power of technology to eradicate barriers between teachers and learners. Kiera serves on the Utah Coalition for Education Technology board and is currently the digital teaching and learning specialist with Jordan School District. Kiera was a Hope Street Group Utah Teacher Fellow from 2019-2021 before joining the team as a Network Leader.

Stephan believes that a civically engaged teacher will create the most positive future for students. To that end he has worked on various projects for the Utah State Board of Education that will give students skills they can use for the rest of their lives. He helped write The Roles of a Utah Teacher Leader guidebook that allows teachers to gain leadership skills without leaving their classrooms; thus students and teachers can all gain real skills and experiences to further the goal of elevating education in Utah. Stephan graduated magna cum laude from Utah State University and teaches World History, WWII and A.P. U.S. government and politics at Providence Hall High School. He was a Utah Teacher fellow from 2019-2021 before moving into his current position with the Utah Teacher Fellows.

Kristin van Brunt began her educational journey as an English/Language Arts and Spanish teacher in the Davis School District 27 years ago. Over the years, she has discovered and developed a passion for professional learning and helping teachers continue to grow throughout their careers. She currently works half-time teaching English and half-time mentoring and coordinating professional learning for the faculty at her school. Kristin has worked on a variety of school, district, and state educational projects, many of which relate to professional learning. She received her undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Linfield College in 1989, and her teaching credentials from the University of Utah in 1994. Kristin was a Hope Street Group Utah Teacher Fellow from 2017-2019.

Kayla Towner is the Utah’s Online School Library (UOSL) Product Manager and a Teacher Fellow for Hope Street Group. She’s passionate about learning that focuses on student agency and encourages educators to expand their comfort zone. Before her work at UEN, Kayla was an elementary school teacher in Utah (Davis) and South Korea.

Ryan Rarick is an Education Pathway teacher at Career Tech High School in Washington County School District. In addition to co-hosting the Teacher Fellows podcast, Ryan is also currently a PhD candidate and a 2023 Honors in Education Award recipient from Utah Business magazine.

Lauren Merkley is a high school English teacher and the 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year. She taught AP English, English 11, and Creative Writing at Cottonwood High School in Granite District to juniors and seniors and is currently leading fundraising and partnerships for The Utah Teacher Fellows and co-hosting The Teacher Fellows podcast.