Eighth-grade U.S. history and language arts teacher Jennifer Van Haaften helps both students and teachers excel at Butler Middle School in Cottonwood Heights. She implemented a Success through Citizenship program to teach citizenship, rights, respect and responsibility, and was part of the teacher team that earned Butler a grant as a First Amendment School-one of only 11 middle schools nationwide to receive this honor-through which educators raise awareness of issues surrounding the First Amendment. As head of the social studies department, Van Haaften helped lead the school in establishing grade-level and cross-curricular collaborative teaching teams.
Currently, Mrs. Van Haaften is the Teacher-Librarian at Butler Middle school and has shifted her efforts to reading and media literacy for all students. She works closely with teachers in her building to instill a love of learning and reading in students. She is the Digital Citizenship coordinator in her school, making sure that kids are interacting safely online, and using critical analysis skills when evaluating sources. She has presented at statewide library conferences and enjoys mentoring new Teacher-Librarians.
2004 University of Utah, M. Ed.
1995 Brigham Young University, B.S.
