South Cache Middle math teacher Daren Lentz named 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year
The state board says Talia Casares, named in September before she died, will permanently hold the 2027 title.
HYRUM - Daren Lentz, a math teacher at South Cache Middle School, has been named the 2027 Utah Teacher of the Year, the Utah State Board of Education announced in a Nov. 5 news release.
The selection follows the death of Talia Casares, who was named and publicly honored as Utah Teacher of the Year in September, the board said. It says Casares will permanently hold the 2027 distinction.
Lentz, a state finalist, will represent Utah in the National Teacher of the Year program, take part in state policy discussions and attend national meetings in Washington, D.C., during 2027, the release says.
“Talia’s impact as an educator set a standard that inspired all of us,” Lentz said in the release.
Lentz has taught for 28 years at two schools, according to a Cache County School District profile. “Daren builds great relationships with kids and engages every kid,” Principal Doug Snow said in the profile.
Why this matters
A Cache County School District middle school teacher will speak for Utah's teachers in state policy talks and on the national stage this year. Families at South Cache Middle and across the district have one of their own in that seat.
Source: Utah State Board of Education news release, Nov. 5, 2026 and Cache County School District announcement, opened Nov. 10, 2026.