What happens when a career educator decides to step into the world of state policy? In our season finale, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley are joined by Kacee Weaver, a Cohort 3 Teacher Fellow and veteran educator with 20 years of experience across district, charter, private, and nonprofit settings. After being encouraged to run and witnessing rhetoric from an outgoing member, Kacee is now a candidate for the Utah State School Board (District 2). In this conversation, Kacee discusses how the Teacher Fellows program provided her with a deeper understanding of how policy moves from the legislature into the classroom. She makes a compelling case for why educators belong at decision-making tables, highlighting her priorities: trusting teacher expertise, aligning instruction with child development research, and addressing critical issues like youth suicide and support for economically disadvantaged students. This episode is a call to action for every educator to recognize the value of their voice in the systems that govern their work. Whether you’re in District 2 or across the state, Kacee’s message is clear: your expertise is a vital part of the legislative process. To see her full platform and vision for Utah’s students, visit kaceeforutahschools.com. Tune in for the season finale episode!
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:
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: