We all know teachers are important here in Utah. They need our support as they teach and guide the next generation who will one day be running things. My brother is a teacher and I’m always amazed at his desire to help his students.

So, how are we doing here in Utah when it comes to teachers? How do we stack up with the rest of the nation? 

Surprisingly, Utah ranks third in the nation for best states for teachers according to a study done by Wallethub. Number one on the list was Virginia followed by New York. After Utah were Washington and Florida. 

Here’s how they determined the ranking for each state: 

In order to determine the teacher-friendliest states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, “Opportunity & Competition” and “Academic & Work Environment.” 

Utah was at number two for Opportunity and Competition and at twelve for academic and work environment. It is encouraging to see Utah do well in this study. 

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-raising-hand-inside-the-classroom-8466776/
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-raising-hand-inside-the-classroom-8466776/
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There is always more we can do for our teachers. When I was in between jobs, I thought I would try substitute teaching. I taught a fourth-grade class for one day and it was an experience. I can see how it can be a rewarding job. I also became much more appreciative of the patience and dedication teachers put into their work. 

The bottom five states on the list were Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, District of Columbia and at the bottom, New Hampshire. 

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