Davis Education Foundation -

There are a lot of ways to celebrate great teaching, but this one is our favorite: show up, quietly, during the school day, and put something immediately useful in a teacher’s hands. That’s what happened as Davis Education Foundation staff members, district leaders and Murdock representatives spread out across Davis School District in a coordinated morning of surprise visits. The goal was simple: recognize excellence and do it with the least disruption to learning.

In each classroom and school office we stepped into, the story was the same in a dozen different versions: educators doing the steady work that moves students forward. The Excellence in Education classroom grants are designed to be small enough to be fast, but meaningful enough to matter. For teachers, $200 can turn into a new small-group tool set, a set of classroom novels that finally matches reading levels, hands-on materials that make a lesson click, or the kind of targeted resource that helps a student stay engaged and confident.

Recipients were identified using multiple indicators, including testing results improvement, overall performance scores and parent feedback. Davis School District compiled the data through a district-developed scoring model and the results were reviewed and confirmed with district leadership. The common thread is growth: teachers helping students move forward, year over year, with consistency and care.

Most Recent Recipients

Watch highlights from the morning below. It’s a snapshot of what this partnership makes possible, real recognition for educators and real support for students, delivered right where learning happens.

Watch on Canva

Thank You to the Murdock Auto Team and the Murdock Family Foundation

This recognition is possible because the Murdock family has built a model where business success and community investment go hand in hand. The Murdock Auto Team is a family-owned dealership group operating across Northern Utah, with deep roots in the region and a long track record of giving back.

Through the Murdock Family Foundation, a portion of every car sold at Murdock Auto Team dealerships helps support the foundation’s programs and community giving. That support shows up in practical ways, including classroom grants that can be used immediately and directly for students.

We are grateful for their partnership and for the way they continue to invest locally, not just through the vehicles they sell and service, but through the educators and students who shape the future of Davis School District every day.