Tiffany Rasmussen, Highland High School

She helps us become greater as students. Its incredible how much work she has put in to keep us all together as one. She has also started highland with a new step team, and there is much more where that came from. – Dayoni

She puts in a lot of work towards her students and often goes out of her way to help them. – Ara Vellinga

Ms.Rasmussen is not just a teacher. She’s a coach/advisor , a friend, someone we could go and talk to when things aren’t right or if we feel discriminated because of our skin color, background, culture, hair type. She’s the only teacher of color that understands where we come and and can talk us throw it. Ever since she’s been here I feel like I’m heard and seen. She’s made clubs ( BSU ) and a Step team for us black kids to feel included but the club isn’t just for black kids, it’s for anyone that feels excluded and honestly anyone that wants to learn more about black culture. She’s made my junior year fun. If I’m being honest without her I don’t know how the school year would’ve went. She’s also the Advisor of our Step team. Ever since I’ve joined the Step team it’s become apart of my routine, go to school , stay for step practice and go home. And the fact that people don’t see the value of this is sad. Step has made a BIG change for us especially us black kids. And to see that people aren’t happy that we started a Step team hurts me because for years highland has had so many discrimination towards black kids and once they see us doing something we love, once they see us being happy they want to take that away from us. Ms.Ras has made it possible for us to feel like we are wanted here, that we belong here and has helped us deal with the racism at our school. She’s really a good teacher, human being. Don’t let the color of her skin define who she is because once you get to know her she’s really a sweet, loving caring person. We love Ms.Ras and we want her to continue teaching her and changing lives of us black kids. Like I’m so glad to have a teacher that has the same skin color of me. – Latnai Bekai

What makes ms. ras incredible is how she have made a change for our black community and at school. I’m now a senior and I’m going to be honest this is the most fun I’ve ever had at school. being a black person and not feeling like i belong at this school or fit in is sad. I’ve tried many sports and i never got a chance to even show my ability/talent off because they won’t let you as a black member at highland. my friend binja that graduated from granger but used to go to highland is a story i want to tell and many more stories. her junior year she was on the varsity basketball team although she made it as a black woman, they always benched her out every game to the point she wanted to follow her dreams at a different school. there are so many unheard stories at highland that need to be heard. One is mine, my sister abshiro and my friend chanceline. chanceline been trying to do cheer for years she was so committed to the point she put most of her time on practicing everything from the cheers to the tumbling. she never missed a tryout or anything that has to do with cheer. me and my sister also tried out, but it wasn’t as serious as chanceline’s. the tryout day after a track meet, we went straight to the gym got ours pins and waited for them to call our names. chance didn’t make it to at least the jv team even if she was good. the cheer coach yelled at me and my sister saying we can’t tryout then walked off without us even getting to ask why. same with the girls’ basketball and many other things. Ms. Ras came this year i didn’t know until my friend chance and my siter told me because I’m never at the third floor. Her being a woman of color gave us the urge to talk about what’s been going on at highland. That’s when we decided to make our own step team where we can feel comfortable around not only our own but any other people that join. BSU been dead these past years but because of her I have great reasons to stay after school. Ever since step started, I have learned so much about myself that I didn’t know. Stepping is fun I love it with all my heart, so do the other members. Seeing how happy the fellow step members become and how we treat each other like family is amazing. Although the principle here acts like he supports around people but really doesn’t when there’s step, I want to give a huge thank you for when Ms. Ras did for the community, and I can’t wait to see where this all leads without her, we would have been all going through the same things that’s been going on these past years. I’m happy at school. Thanks to her others are as well. I also want to say, Step is important to the team and us because of the culture it holds. Knowing we’re the first team in the state makes us proud to be a part of something bigger. We get to be the representation! Keeping step alive is a way for us to bond, create fun activities, and again be the representation for highland diverse student population and for the youth in our communities. Coach Chris, Coach Slade, Deirdre and tiffany we would like to thank you for challenging us, holding us accountable, cheering for us and holding space for us. I also love history now. – Madina Yasin

She’s incredible people because she spent her time after school making sure we have a team and that we feel super included with the school and I genuinely appreciate her for that she also has many amazing qualities about herself, such as being such a great teacher and always being able to provide, and give amazing advice when needed and I hope she continues to stay at Highland with us. – Theresa Seaay

She has an amazing personality, she helped set up BSU and make her students no the sky she also brought in fashion designers hairstylist and make up artist and design specialist just to help us think about our future. She’s a great history teacher, and she’s the only black history teacher in our district. She also made it possible for her students to create a step team in Utah, which I think is amazing. This is why I nominate Miss Tiffany as the teacher award. – Meredith

She has done a lot to allow people of color to feel involved in this school, everyone in that matter! She’s a good teacher, she cares and when u need help or someone to run to MS. Rasmussen. She has done so much for the kids in our school and we all love her!! – Jammie Thompson

Tiffany is a great teacher, coach, friend etc. She can be harsh but because she cares about us, and when we listen she is the best friend. Moral of the story she is amazing in everything she does and we all love her for that! -Gracie Barton

She has made a difference for those who didn’t feel a included she is an amazing teacher and she just want the best for her students -Isha

Tiffany Rasmussen is an amazing teacher but that’s not the only incredible thing about her she has made a difference for students who didn’t feel included she gaind their trust and support. If you were to feel left out she would always support you she has made the biggest difference for the student who were getting pushed out from things they wanted to do I love social studies because of her it’s just nice to have a teacher like that you can always go to and we love that I couldn’t imagine how my junior year would be without her every opportunity and chance she’s put in front of us all she wants Is our voices to be heard and the best for her students . I love her for that – Abshiro

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