Mr. Brandon Gomez, Mapleton Jr High

“Mr. Gomez is my teacher at Mapleton Jr High, and from the first day I walked into his classroom, I knew he was different—in the best way possible. He’s got cool stuff like sneakers hanging on the wall and maps showing all the places he’s traveled. He’s not just any teacher; he’s a first-generation college graduate who made his way from a small town in Veracruz, Mexico, to get his education here in the United States. He knows what it’s like to learn a new language and fit into a new culture—because he’s done it himself. And now, he’s using his story and experience to guide us through our own challenges.

What’s amazing about Mr. Gomez is how much he connects with us, not just as a teacher but as a mentor. He’s super busy teaching five different subjects and even learning how to run Driver’s Ed while taking online classes for himself. and his “occasional golf” And get this—he’s already got 13 teaching endorsements and is working on his 14th! All in his first year, he can teach just about anything: ESL, Spanish, PE, history, geography, psychology, sociology, economics, political science, anthropology, DLI, financial literacy, Driver’s Ed, and Health. It’s like he’s a real-life superhero of education! But more importantly, he understands what it’s like to be a second language learner trying to find your voice in English because he went through it too. He shares stories of how hard he had to work to learn English, and it makes us all feel like we’re not alone.

Every day, he makes his classroom a place where we feel understood and motivated to push ourselves. His favorite saying is, “If the goal isn’t cool or crazy enough, you’re not stretching yourself at that point just play brawl stars” and it’s something we all think about when setting goals. He’s always there for us—helping us not just with English, but with every subject he teaches. Mr. Gomez is more than just a teacher; he’s proof that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard for it.

I love that he tells us about his parents and how they left everything behind in Mexico so he could have a better future. He helps us see that, just like him, we can do more than we ever thought was possible. It’s not just about getting good grades or passing classes—it’s about having the courage to dream big and believe we can do cool or crazy things too. Mr. Gomez isn’t just a teacher; he’s an inspiration for all of us. We’re lucky to have him, and I’m so grateful for how much he’s helping us grow.”

-Brisa Lopez

About Teacher Features on KSL NewsRadio

Teachers are the backbone of our community, and at KSL NewsRadio, we want to highlight the hard work they put in to help their students. 

Do you know a teacher that goes above and beyond? Nominate them today by letting us know how incredible they are, attach their photo, and they’ll have the chance to win a huge prize totaling over $1,000!  

Teacher Feature prizes are generously sponsored by the folks at Cyprus Credit Union, who are dedicated to honoring Utah teachers and uplifting the incredible ways that educators go above and beyond every day.

See past nominations of teachers across the state, and read the official sweepstakes rules here.