Kelly Education on May 8 announced that Trina Kohler, a building substitute teacher at Daniels Canyon Elementary in Heber City, has been named the 2026 Substitute Educator of the Year Runner-Up.
The honor, announced during Teacher Appreciation Week, recognizes substitute educators whose dedication, adaptability and care for students set them apart in their school communities.
Kohler was celebrated at a school assembly at Daniels Canyon Elementary on May 6. During the event, Kohler expressed gratitude for the recognition and the support from her school community.
Kohler received a $1,000 bonus in recognition of her contributions, along with a $500 donation to Daniels Canyon Elementary on her behalf.
Kohler did not set out to make substitute teaching her calling. A resident of Heber City and a graduate of Utah Valley University, she originally began substituting to fill time while going back to school to become a regular education teacher. What she discovered surprised her. The flexibility, the variety, the chance to work with students across every grade level and subject area, from preschool through fifth grade, PE, music, art, library and office made the role something she did not want to leave behind, she said.
Six years later, Kohler serves as Daniels Canyon Elementary’s dedicated building substitute teacher.
“Trina consistently demonstrates exceptional professionalism, adaptability and dedication,” Principal David McNaughtan said. “Whether covering a class long term, filling in for lunch duty, or changing classrooms at the last minute, she adjusts instruction seamlessly while ensuring continuity of learning. Teachers frequently return to find that lesson plans were followed thoroughly, classrooms were well-managed, and students remained on task. That is why she is the number one requested substitute teacher in our building.”
For Kohler, what makes the building substitute teacher role meaningful is the consistency it affords.
“I get the opportunity to work with excellent educators, teach and get to know all the students in the school, and see firsthand the amazing growth each and every student experiences as they transition from grade to grade,” she said.
Her advice to new substitute teachers reflects was straightforward.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the teachers you interact with,” she said. “They know the students you’ll be teaching, and they have great insight on how to help you teach them so you and the students can have a great educational experience.”
The moments that stay with Kohler are quiet ones, she said. Working one-on-one with a student who has struggled to grasp a concept, watching the understanding slowly take hold.
“To be able to see the light of understanding grow in their eyes,” she said, “was simply magical.”
Learn more about the program at kellyeducation.com.