Springville High School is proud to announce that Ms. Mirriam Draper has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Ron and Eileen Ragsdale High School Teaching Award by the University of Utah Department of Chemistry. This honor recognizes Ms. Draper’s outstanding dedication to chemistry education and her commitment to fostering a welcoming, supportive learning environment for all students.
Ms. Draper’s innovative teaching practices, including a creative chemistry-and-cooking curriculum, have made her classroom a place of high engagement and enjoyment. Principal Robert Fleming praised her for “inclusivity and patience in helping all students succeed,” noting, “Mirriam finds creative ways of answering the question, ‘Why does this matter?’ She has provided a safe and structured lab environment that supports learning and lowers science anxiety.”
In addition to her classroom work, Ms. Draper has contributed as an author of a high-school chemistry textbook, collaborated with educators across the region, and participated in professional events, making a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues in the Salt Lake Valley.
The Ragsdale Award, which includes a $3,000 honorarium, will be formally presented at the Chemistry Teachers Event at the University of Utah on April 25. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Draper on this well-deserved recognition!