New Utah Teacher Of The Year Suddenly Dies

(Moroni, UT) — Utah’s Teacher of the Year is dead just weeks after she received the honor. Talia Casares received the award in her Sanpete County classroom on September 3rd. On Monday, she suddenly became unresponsive while at work. It was during a teacher prep day and students were not in her class. Despite the efforts of coworkers and first responders, she passed away. Casares is being remembered as a fourth-grade and sixth-grade teacher who cared deeply for her students. She taught in the dual-immersion program at Moroni Elementary School and used her own experience as a Mexican immigrant to help inspire students.