NEA president Lily Eskelsen Garcia speaks at the annual Utah Education Association convention at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The fall Utah Education Association convention for teachers has been canceled, though schools still plan to give students and teachers the same fall break.
The break is scheduled this year for October 18 and 19. All Utah public schools will be out on those days, traditionally given so teachers could attend the annual conference.
Association President Heidi Matthews says dwindling attendance was a factor in their decision to cancel the professional development for teachers. Matthews also says they’ve canceled it because of teacher burnout.
“Teachers also need a break from the demands of the classroom,” she says.
Another factor in pulling it was the U.E.A.’s need to focus its energies on the “Our School’s Now” initiative, a ballot question that will ask voters in November whether the gas tax should be raised to provide more money for schools and roads.
The Association’s annual convention has tentatively been rescheduled to resume for October 17 and 18, 2019.
Read more about the cancellation here.