Silver Mesa Elementary's Lisa Hayes won't be among the educators competing for the 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year title, even after becoming the first special education teacher to earn Canyons School District's top honor.

The Utah State Board of Education on Tuesday, Aug. 4, announced five finalists for the statewide award. Hayes, who was CSD's nominee in the state competition, did not make the cut.

The five finalists, dubbed the "Fab Five," are:

  • Danielle Carter, 5th grade special education, Delta Middle School (Millard School District)
  • Talia Casares, 6th grade Spanish Dual Language Immersion, Moroni Elementary (North Sanpete School District)
  • Sondra Knudsen, kindergarten, Adams Elementary (Logan City School District)
  • Daren Lentz, 7th grade mathematics, South Cache Middle School (Cache County School District)
  • Megan Morrison, 7th–9th grade special education, South Jordan Middle School (Jordan School District)

Two of the five finalists teach special education, the same specialty as Hayes. She has taught accommodated core classes for fourth and fifth graders at Silver Mesa since Canyons District's founding in 2009.

What happens next

The finalists will sit for in-person interviews with a 13-person selection committee that includes representatives from USBE, the Utah Education Association, Utah PTA and other education stakeholders. The winner will be announced at an awards banquet on Thursday, Sept. 3, and will go on to represent Utah in the National Teacher of the Year Program.

Hayes and the local recognition pipeline

Hayes earned CSD's Teacher of the Year award at a ceremony at Union Middle School this spring, where she received a $1,000 prize from the Canyons Education Foundation. Corner Canyon High School math teacher Ashley Ekenstam and Draper Park Middle School social studies teacher Cami Aley were district finalists, each receiving $500.

"Our kids are all coming to us with a different story, and I think that needs to be honored," Hayes said at the ceremony, according to the district's announcement. "They all have the ability to do something."

Silver Mesa Principal Aimee Wagner praised Hayes at the event, saying she has "a passion for student dignity and student ability."

No Canyons District teacher has won the state title in recent years.

Canyons District is still accepting nominations for its 2026 Apex Awards in all categories except Teacher of the Year. The deadline is Sept. 11.