FARMINGTON—A big surprise was waiting for fourth grade teacher Hollie Fisher when she walked into the assembly at Lakeside Elementary on Thursday. Her friends and family were in the audience along with district administrators and the students broke into cheers. All the excitement was in celebration of Fisher being named the 2025 Davis School District Teacher of the Year. 

“I was very, very surprised,” she said. “It was a crazy thing. There are so many amazing teachers I thought it couldn’t be me. It was so fun to have my family and students there. They were so excited.”

Lakeside fourth graders gather around Fisher and her new car. Photo courtesy of DSD

 Fisher has been at the school for 19 years. “My passion is technology,” she said. “I try to infuse it in everything we do. I’m a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) and trainer. I have developed something for students called the Junior Microsoft Expert program.”

Students have to show mastery in six essential Microsoft apps, said Fisher. “They earn badges and when they have completed all six they become a Junior Expert. We have a huge celebration and Microsoft sends a congratulations video. It’s a big deal. Since 2018 I’ve shared it at Microsoft Expert training and conferences. It’s been used in the district and schools across the nation.”  

Technology inspires students to engage in learning, Fisher said. “I’m preparing them for jobs that have not even been created yet. I want them to be really versatile with all the tech that’s out there. I’ve had parents tell me that their fourth grader is helping them.”

Fisher is also the robotics and VR club coach. “It helps them learn in different ways.”

A trip to Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington solidified her interest in technology, she said. “It inspired me and showed me all of the possibilities of what I could use in my classroom. I learned so much that made me a better teacher.”

“She’s an amazing teacher,” said Lakeside Principal Hilaree Lowry. “She’s so dedicated and humble. She does all of these things but doesn’t expect to receive any accolades. She’s the perfect choice.”

She is loved by the students and parents, Lowry said. “She expects great things and instills confidence in them to achieve great things.”

Something Fisher is known for is her board with “Have I told you lately that I love you? “It’s from the Rod Stewart song. I tell them so many times when I’m proud of them or they’re doing something really great that I’m grateful they are working through hard things and hanging in there. I say it often and as I pause the kids say ‘yes, we know you love us.’”

Fisher has a board that she puts tally marks on every time she tells them she loves them. “The kids know the points don’t mean anything, it's just to show them I appreciate them and that I’m happy they’re here with me.”

In addition to receiving the award, Fisher was presented with an all-expenses paid lease on a new vehicle courtesy of Young Kia. “It’s unbelievable,” she said. “My family loves roadtrips so I’m excited to go see fun things in it.”

Fisher didn’t start out wanting to be a teacher. “I was a business major in college,” she said. “I was an ESL specialist and taught kids who were learning English. I loved it and I shifted gears. I knew this is where I should be.”