Guest Opinion: Thinking of being a teacher? by Emily Willson Growing up, my dad sometimes played a little game with us. He would predict how old we would be when we got married, how many kids we would have, what our careers would be, etc. I even saw him do this with some of my friends. The scary thing was he was right most of the time. I remember he told me that I would become a teacher. That idea did not appeal to me at all. My dad taught high school for 38 years in the same classroom. Growing up, I saw a little of what he did as I took classes from him and hung out with him after school. Some of what he did looked fun, but other things looked really challenging. So, I put my efforts into a more palatable career: performing arts. However, it was not long before the gentle but insistent tentacles of education sought me out. I discovered that I not only liked teaching, but it was my professional calling! I also realized I would never have a more incredible or well-deserving audience than a class full of children. My dad had been right all along... Perhaps you have thought about it, maybe even dreamed about it. Maybe you have shared that dream with others, or maybe you are holding it close to your heart because you donât want to hear things like: âThatâs a really hard job.â or, âTeachers donât make much money.â or my favorite, âBut then you will have to work with those kids!â May I offer another perspective? Yes, it is a really hard job, but itâs also the most important job in the world! Yes, the whole wide world! There are demands and sometimes long hours, but there are also crayon drawings of you holding a studentâs hand with lopsided hearts, getting to be a part of a student succeeding at something they never thought they could, and incredible relationships that will change you forever. (Read More) News Releases Moore introduces bipartisan legislation to enhance the Court Improvement Program Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Court Improvement Program Enhancement Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation to enhance the Court Improvement Program (CIP) so courts can promote quality care and improved outcomes for children and families. Congressman Moore was joined by Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) in introducing this legislation. The Court Improvement Program Enhancement Act will clarify that CIP funds may be used towards technological improvements including technology support for remote hearings and to coordinate with other agencies on backup approaches to prevent disruption and enable recovery from public health crises, natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and more. (Read More) Utahâs economy remains resilient The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the University of Utahâs Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has released the April 2024 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard to inform business leadersâ understanding of Utahâs economy. This tool prioritizes key data on the stateâs economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers. âUtahâs economy remains strong but moderating. Business leaders will continue to keep a keen eye on inflation and interest rates,â said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. âThough we face challenges posed by higher mortgage rates, Utahâs median home sales price has remained steady, demonstrating our capacity to weather fluctuating market conditions. These trends further confirm Utahâs economic resiliency.â (Read More) | 