Teachers, administrators, students and parents nominated outstanding teachers and members of the Jordan Education Foundation selected one winner from each Jordan District School and then further honored the top 15 winners, who received additional swag and an awards banquet.

The top 15 included five teachers from West Jordan area schools with two specializing in music

Bridgett Johnson

West Jordan Middle School music teacher 

JEF Executive Director Mike Haynes applauds West Jordan Middle School music teacher Bridgett Johnson. (Kraig Williams/JSD)

As a middle school music teacher, Bridgett Johnson is a master at making connections with students.

“Bridgett's magic as a teacher comes from her combined love of music and creating relationships with students,” WJMS teacher Gwen Wood said. “She knows each of her students individually and can tell you exactly what level they are playing at, as well as a fun fact about them. She gives her everything to her music program.” 

Her fun personality and dedication has resulted in the growth of WJMS’s music department, climbing from 160 when she began teaching at WJMS to the current 275 students.

“In three short years at West Jordan Middle School, she hasn’t just improved the music department--she has transformed it,” a colleague said. “Her classroom is full because students want to be there.”

One of the changes Johnson has brought to the music program is giving students more opportunities to perform. The jazz band occasionally plays in the mornings to welcome students to school. Student music groups also go on multiple field trips throughout the year to perform at assisted living centers. 

“I think that every kid has the ability and should have the opportunity to be able to express themselves, and I think that music is a really good way to do that,” Johnson said. “I think it teaches them hard work. It teaches them to trust one another and work together. I just want to use music to teach them and like to be good people and be good citizens in their community. I want them to use music to find a way, like find their voice and empower them to do the things that they want to or that they care about.”

Johnson uses fun to build relationships with her students. She begins the year by cooking a pancake breakfast for her classes and ends the year with a popsicles in the park social with the elementary and high school band students. And sometimes she slips into her inflatable dinosaur costume and conducts the music with short arms. Students respond in their own unique way, some by writing a rap about their teacher and others by creating a bingo sheet based on her common phrases and mannerisms.

“To me, that shows that not only is Bridgett consistent — which, in middle school, students definitely need from their teacher — but she also is fun and has a great rapport with her students,” WJMS teacher Kaitlin Thompson said.

Johnson’s colleagues also enjoy working with her and are supportive of her ideas. She especially felt their support when many volunteered their heads for the orchestra’s Christmas performance. “We played a bunch of Christmas tunes, and [students] played the boom whackers on the heads of teachers. We gave all the teachers helmets, like bike helmets and stuff, so the kids got to hit their teachers on the heads,” she said. 

Acknowledging their support, Johnson said, “My colleagues constantly challenge and encourage me to be a better teacher and reframe the things I think about. I would not be the educator I am without all the support.” 

Olivia Murphy

Majestic Elementary Arts Academy K-3 Music Teacher

Olivia Murphy still can’t believe she gets paid to sing and play music all day. That’s why she was even more shocked to be chosen as one of this year’s top Outstanding Educators. Her colleagues weren’t surprised at all.

“Olivia leaves an imprint on every student,” first grade teacher Deb Cole said.

As a music teacher working at an arts-integrated school, Murphy has a unique job, which she fulfills in many unexpected ways. First of all, she makes up stuff all the time. Specifically, she writes catchy songs to reinforce academic skills.

“There is a lot of collaborating with the teachers when I write those songs to make sure that I'm getting all of the content in the song correct, and everything they want the kids to actually learn about,” Murphy said.

One memorable song was written at the request of first grade teachers whose students were getting confused that penguins and polar bears don’t live in the same part of the world. Incorporating vocabulary and facts provided by the first grade teachers, Murphy wrote a song about it.

“I wrote this cute song about how polar bears and penguins should be best friends, in theory, because they have so many things in common, but they're actually not best friends, because they've never met each other,” Murphy said. “That was a really fun song, and it's really stuck with those kids. We can identify what kids sang that song because they're the kids in the school that know those facts.”

Other songs she uses in her classroom provide practice with rhyming, spelling, coin values, counting and multiplication facts. Her songs are incorporated into teachers’ literacy instruction.

“I believe some first‑grade success is due to her focus on ‘eyes on text’ and embedding tricky sounds in lessons,” STEAM teacher Meredith Llewellyn said.

One parent said Murphy has taught her kids even more than music and academics.

“Because of her dedication, students develop not only musical skills, but also confidence, cooperation and a love of learning,” the parent said. “She teaches with patience, creativity and heart—celebrating effort, encouraging growth and modeling positivity and respect.” 

Murphy is constantly improvising, structuring her lessons so that every kid is engaged and can be successful.

“I really believe that all my kids can be successful, and it's my job to make them successful,” she said. “If a kid isn't having success in music, then I need to change my teaching to better support them.” This includes adapting lessons for nonverbal students and keeping the classroom free of judgement.

Principal Marianne Johansen is impressed with Murphy’s approach.

“She makes every child feel seen, valued and capable — no matter their age or ability level,” Johansen said.

Even after she read all the nominations from her colleagues, students and parents for JEF’s Outstanding Educator award, Murphy was still humble about the recognition.

“There are so many well deserving teachers at my school, it just didn't occur to me that I could be one of them,” she said.

That was also her response when she was nominated for a Grammy in the Music Education Songwriters category. Other achievements include the Utah Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of 2025. She is also a frequent presenter at teaching conventions and a member of BYU’s Arts Partnership BTS Arts Learning Program PD planning team.