Today is the LAST day to take the Guiding Our Growth survey!

What makes Utah so great?

Unmatched natural beauty. Countless outdoor recreation options. Strong families. Connected communities. One of the most vibrant economies in the U.S. There’s so much that makes Utah special. And what makes Utah great is also what makes Utah grow. What can we do now to safeguard Utah’s future quality of life? Quick! The survey closes on August 31st at midnight. Don't lose the chance to share your opinion on housing, water, transportation, and open space & recreation.

Enter for a chance to win big! When you take the survey, you can be entered to win one of four $250 Amazon or Home Depot gift cards or other prizes like national/state park passes, lagoon tickets, and more!

Click HERE for Sweepstake Rules

How much do teachers in Utah make?

The evidence is clear: within a school, nothing makes a bigger impact on student outcomes than our teachers. If we want our best and brightest young people entering the teaching profession, and if we want to keep great teachers in the classroom, we need to do what any other industry would do — we need to compensate teachers well. 

A few years ago, Envision Utah brought together state, education, business, and community leaders to figure out just what that compensation needs to look like. And we’ve been making progress!

This year, starting teacher pay in nine school districts is at or above $60,000. Our teacher compensation task force, identified a range of $60,000 to $70,000 to start to make teacher pay more competitive — meaning nine districts have starting pay about where it needs to be.

But starting pay isn’t the end game. Competitive and attractive compensation also needs to extend into a steeper compensation curve and higher end-of-career salaries. Once we add to that effective training, scholarships, and career flexibility, we should be able to leave the teacher shortage behind.

Take a look at these nine school districts in Utah who have been able to hit this first compensation target, and then revisit the Vision for Teacher Excellence to explore what else we can do to ensure Utah students have the best teachers possible.

By championing competitive compensation, we not only uplift our educators but also invest in the future of our society.

Utah high school students speak up! 🎓

This summer, Envision Utah empowered young voices across the state of Utah by inviting them to take a survey. High school students from every corner shared their invaluable insights on education and their aspirations for the future. We were thrilled to see an overwhelming response from students eager to share their perspectives. The collective wisdom of these young minds promises to be a guiding light for the education landscape of Utah.

Additionally, participants were allowed to enter a drawing for a Nintendo Switch. We're thrilled to congratulate Brenna from Utah County for clinching the grand prize!

Now, the dedicated Education Team at Envision Utah is meticulously analyzing the plethora of opinions and ideas that were generously shared. These insights will form the basis of well-informed recommendations that we will present to our community and state leaders.

Together, we're charting a course toward an educational future that resonates with the aspirations of our young minds. Stay tuned for updates as we journey forward, hand in hand with the leaders of tomorrow!

2023 Common Good Awards nominations

At the Common Good Awards, we recognize those who have gone above and beyond, selflessly dedicating their time, resources, and efforts to address critical challenges and create a lasting difference in our community. Their inspiring work spans various fields, including environmental conservation, education, poverty alleviation, healthcare, social inclusivity, arts and culture, volunteerism, and more.

We believe that every community is filled with remarkable stories of compassion, resilience, and progress, and now we are excited to hear about the great things happening in your community. We are officially opening nominations for exceptional individuals or organizations who have been catalysts for positive change. If you know someone or an organization that deserves recognition for their outstanding contributions, we encourage you to submit your nominations!

Please stay tuned for more details regarding the event, including the specific date, time, and location, which will be shared with you in the near future.

In the News

Daily Herald

"Each year in Utah, 3,000 teachers leave the profession — and each year, 1,500 to 2,000 students in the state graduate with teaching degrees. That math doesn’t work in teachers’ favor.

The shortage of teachers is an ongoing issue, and in 2019, Envision Utah, a nonprofit organization, created what it calls the Vision for Teacher Excellence to solve the shortage.

Envision Utah’s original suggestion was that a starting salary for teachers needed to be $60,000 but that was later revised into a range of $60,000 to $70,000 to allow for adjustments within districts for different circumstances. Part of the group’s vision is an ending salary of $110,00 to $125,000 for teachers."

Desert News

"Late last year, a survey by Envision Utah showed that education was Utahns’ top priority among many current issues. Proof of this is that more Utahns attend college than the national average — 26% compared to 23%. Higher education in Utah is also funded well above the U.S. average.

We understand the value of education in Utah. We know that our children will have higher incomes and more opportunities if they pursue more education. Communities are healthier, have lower crime rates and enjoy greater civic involvement because of higher levels of education. The strength of our education system is one of the reasons new residents are flocking to the state and employers come here to set up shop."

KSL NewsRadio

"Jason Brown, vice president of Envision Utah, joins KSL NewsRadio’s Dave Noriega and Leah Murray, who is also host of KSL@Night to discuss why Utah teachers are leaving and how to keep them in the classroom.

Brown said the Utah State Board of Education conducts exit surveys every year to ask teachers why they are leaving the profession. 

“Among the top reasons is always stress and burnout and emotional exhaustion,” he said.

Another reason educators are leaving their jobs, Brown said, is compensation. 

“If we want these careers and professions to be esteemed, we need to compensate them in a way that shows that they’re esteemed,” Brown said."

For 25 years, Envision Utah has brought Utahns together to tackle some of the biggest challenges related to growth — and you have made that happen. But whether we’re talking about air quality, water use, transportation, education, disaster resilience, or a host of other issues, there’s more work to be done. When you support Envision Utah, you’re helping to create a bright future for our state.

Thank you for your support!