# The upshot of ‘Showing Up’ for Utah’s teachers: Student success, connection > Source: > Published: 2026-07-10 01:49:13+00:00 - Thousands of teachers participate in annual Show Up for Teachers Conference. - Annual event is part of Utah first lady Abby Cox's Show Up service initiative. - Educators were offered professional training in almost three dozen instructional sessions. Utah first lady Abby Cox would challenge assertions that AI will shrink the essentialness of teachers. “AI increases the relevance of our teachers because we need, more than ever, the human connection,” said Cox at Thursday’s annual Show Up For Teachers Conference. “Our kiddos need you more than ever.” Anchored to the theme “Finding Focus,” Thursday’s event drew thousands of educators from across the state to Sandy’s Mountain America Exposition Center. The daylong conference included a variety of speakers and almost three dozen breakout sessions addressing evolving topics facing today’s Utah teachers such as creating connections in an age of loneliness, AI in action, preventing misbehavior, proper nutrition and sleep. It was all about prioritizing educator wellness. Attachments are vital in today’s Utah schools, affirmed Cox during the event’s morning general session. “We need to get attached,” she added. “We need to get attached to these children. We need to make sure that we are connecting with these kiddos in every single way that we can. And we need to make sure that we have human connection with our peers, with our families. “It is a beautiful moment when we see those children have that connection with us.” Today’s children are arriving at school with brains overloaded by the noise of the day. It’s essential that someone curates such information — and teaches children how to navigate that noisy world. “And you are the people to make that happen,” she told the teachers. “You are more important than ever.” ### Returning to ‘play-based’ childhoods Abby Cox saluted [recent legislation establishing bell-to-bell cellphone bans in Utah’s K-12 schools. ](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/02/23/how-voters-feel-about-utah-school-cellphone-ban/)The state’s new default cellphone law will allow teachers and their students to refocus and connect. “It’s critical that we get back to a play-based childhood, not a phone-based childhood,” she said. “And as we open our hearts and we teach children to be human, that solidifies the need for teachers to connect on a human level. “Teaching is the best profession to do this — and we need more humans in this environment, not less.” The first lady said the Show Up For Teachers Conference has always prioritized teacher well-being, both in and out of the classroom. So stay connected with loved ones, she advised. The result will be better focus in the classroom. And then shelve the negatives. “You don’t need to wallow in it,” she said. “What we need is for you to bring your best self. Fill up the moments with beautiful things so that when you come to your classroom, you can give the best of you to your students.” ### Pep-talk from a veteran pigskin coach/teacher Thursday morning’s keynote speaker was a teacher of a different sort — Utah State football coach Bronco Mendenhall. Overseeing a team of young men who are not far removed from high school gives the veteran coach a keen appreciation for K-12 teachers. “I admire what you do,” Mendenhall told his audience of Utah educators. “I get to see so many schools and so many homes while recruiting all these student-athletes. And the teachers that I see — the passion, the energy, the competency, the capability, the leadership — it’s really impressive.” During his remarks, Mendenhall drew upon his 19 years of experience as a Division 1 college head football coach to offer insights and counsel. He shared many lessons he’s learned while imparting lessons upon his players. Mendenhall’s “personal purpose” is anchored to faith, hope, gratitude, family — and teaching and developing others to magnify their divine potential. The former BYU head coach recalled receiving an unexpected letter shortly after being hired at Utah State from Latter-day Saint apostle Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. The letter, penned by his friend and veteran teacher, offered a simple directive to the new Aggie coach: “You will bless lives and build character, as you’ve always done.” Today’s school teachers are also charged with blessing lives and building character. And today’s young people, stated Mendenhall, possess unlimited capacity. “They are capable of anything — and they need hope and they need optimism,” said the coach. “But they also need rigor. They need standards. They need belief. And that’s what you’re doing. And man, is that cool. “I appreciate that and acknowledge that and I’m grateful for you.” ### Gov. Cox: Literacy worries — and hopes Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined his wife at Thursday’s educator advocate breakfast to tout one of his primary priorities: literacy. Americans are perhaps reading more words than ever before through texts, social media and emails. But a growing number of people are no longer reading books. Cox suggested that the U.S. has become a “post-literate” society. “Less than half of Americans read a book in the past year; that’s not great,” he said. “Only 38% read a novel or short story. And a study analyzing 236,000 responses from the American Time Use Survey found that the proportion of Americans who read for pleasure on any given day fell from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023.” More Americans today, he added, are gambling and placing bets at significantly higher rates than they are reading. Meanwhile, most American high school students are not proficient at advanced literacy skills such as analyzing complex fictional themes and evaluating a book’s arguments. But there is hope, assured Cox — pointing to bell-to-bell cellphone bans in school. And research is showing that such bans are fostering interest in reading. “Our Legislature gave us more money than we thought we could get for reading coaches and literacy coaches in our schools,” he said. “It’s going to make a tremendous impact. We now know the science of reading. We know how to get kids to read.” Almost every child, Cox added, can learn to read if given the correct resources. The governor himself has read more fiction in recent years — and it’s bettered his life. “I’m a better governor because of it. I’m a better husband. I’m a better father. I’m a better American because I’m reading again. “And I want that for all of you. I want that for all of us. And I truly believe that the history of our country depends on it.” ### Showing Up for teachers Utah 2026 Teacher of the Year Joanna Andres, a social studies teacher at Park City High School, noted in her remarks during Thursday’s educator advocate breakfast that teaching is not simply a profession. It’s an emotional investment. “For teachers, we don’t just teach content, we don’t just teach skills. We’re counselors. We’re advocates. We’re mentors. We’re resources for our students all year long. “And it can be heavy.” She thanked the Park City School district for prioritizing her well-being. Such encouragement, she said, has resulted in enrollment increases in her AP classes and greater student success. Meanwhile, [the first lady’s Show Up Initiative for educator wellness ](https://www.showuputah.org/educator-wellness)champions the need to support teachers. But more support is needed, said Andres. “We need it more often because it reminds all of us — teachers, business leaders, educators, as well as other community members — that we need to show up for teachers.”