In this episode of the UCET Podcast, host Kiera Beddes continues a special series on Utah educators’ essential elements of education and interviews Lindsey, a fourth-year special education teacher in Granite School District and a current Utah Teacher Fellow. Lindsey shares her second-career path from educational and school secretary roles into teaching, inspired by special education teachers during COVID, and explains how the Utah Teacher Fellows program supports teacher leadership and retention. She describes her classroom’s essential element as a hybrid approach that balances direct, textbook-based instruction with individualized online curriculum and assessment, emphasizing that analog and technology-based methods work best together. Connecting to the UCET Elements theme, she identifies most with “Amplify,” focusing on building confidence and helping special education students find and share their voices, especially through writing and supportive tools. Lindsey also reflects on how technology has changed teaching post-COVID, noting that creativity, enthusiasm, relevance, and connection remain timeless, and that technology should enhance—not replace—the teacher’s role. The episode closes with an invitation to the UCET Conference on March 16–17 at the Salt Palace.
Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk all things Utah, education, and technology. In this special series, we ask the following questions to our featured guests:
The Conversations
In this episode, host Kiera Beddes is joined by Lindsey, a fourth-year special education teacher in the Granite School District and a current Utah Teacher Fellow. Lindsey shares her inspiring journey from higher education and school secretary roles into the classroom—a transition sparked by the unique challenges of the COVID-19 era.
Lindsey discusses the vital role of the Utah Teacher Fellows, a non-partisan nonprofit dedicated to teacher leadership and retention. Her "essential element" for the modern classroom is a balanced hybrid approach: finding the sweet spot between direct, analog instruction (like textbooks and paper) and individualized online curriculum. She emphasizes that technology is a powerful partner, but never a replacement for the foundational skills and human connection found in traditional methods.
UCET Elements
Among the four conference strands, Lindsey feels most connected to Amplify. Working in special education, she is passionate about helping her students build confidence and realize the power of their own voices.
She shares how supportive tech tools—particularly in writing—can help students "Amplify" their thoughts and abilities. Reflecting on the post-COVID landscape, Lindsey reminds us that while technology has fundamentally shifted how we deliver instruction, the creativity, enthusiasm, and relevance a teacher brings to the room remain the most timeless elements of education.
Episode Timeline
00:00 Welcome to the UCET Podcast + Series Intro
00:28 Meet Lindsey: From School Secretary to Special Ed Teacher
01:11 Becoming a Utah Teacher Fellow (and Why It Fit)
02:18 What Are the Utah Teacher Fellows?
02:45 Essential Classroom Element: The Hybrid Analog + Digital Approach
04:31 Why Paper Still Matters: Foundational Skills & Real-World Surprises
05:56 UCET Elements Spotlight: “Amplify” Student Voice & Confidence
08:24 How Technology Changed Teaching: Post-COVID Shifts + What Stays Timeless
10:34 Tech as Enhancement, Not Replacement: Finding the Balance
11:39 Wrap-Up + UCET Conference Invitation
Conference Details
This year's conference is March 16 & March 17th at the Salt Palace. Our theme is "UCET Elements." If you want to attend the UCET conference as a vendor, or as an attendee, you can find more info at: ucet.org/conference/
Special thanks to Kayla Towner for the podcast producing & editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.