American Fork third-grade teacher transforms classroom into Hogwarts

AMERICAN FORK, Utah — An American Fork third-grade teacher is well-known for transforming his classroom into his own version of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.

It’s the fifth year in a row that third-grade teacher Michael Bottita has treated his students, who read the Harry Potter series as part of their curriculum, to a Hogwarts-inspired classroom complete with a game of Quidditch on the field.

Dressed head to toe as Professor Snap, Bottita explained why.

“My focus is always what is going to be best for the students,” he said. “Yeah, it’s kind of a day off of regular traditional learning, but these kids are worth it. I like to make sure that everybody knows it. Our Utah kids are among the best in the nation.”

He said he’s made it his career to make every day so fun that students want to come back the next day.

Bottita has taught in Utah for 31 years.

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