When Ryan Wells’ father suggested they go for a bicycle ride up the canyon on such a delightfully sunny day, he readily agreed. All was well until the police sirens sounded behind him.
Confused, Ryan slowed his bike and stopped on the shoulder of the road. Than out of the back of the squad car stepped Superintendent Bates.
Confusion quickly turned to surprise and elation as Dr. Bates explained to Ryan he’d been selected as the 2020 Granite School District Teacher of the Year. At that point he turned his bike around to head home, where a (socially distanced) welcome party awaited him.
Señor Wells, as his students know him, has reorganized and expanded Taylorsville High School’s Spanish language department over the past several years to provide more meaningful cultural experiences for his students. He works to ensure every student contributes to the class and discover their language capabilities.
“Señor Wells shows such enthusiasm for teaching and learning, and his methods are superb.”
Last year Señor Wells was named the World Languages Teacher of the Year by the Utah Foreign Language Association. At that time he was interviewed about his teaching dedication by the City Journals.
Wells will now be considered for the Utah Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced later this year.
Congratulations, Señor Wells!