Jonathan Kesler spent the past decade helping keep Canyons District schools running smoothly as a Facilities Maintenance Technician. This fall, he’ll return to those same schools in a new role — as the first Aspiring Canyons Educator (ACE) Scholarship recipient to begin teaching in a Canyons classroom.
The milestone marks a full-circle moment for the employee-funded scholarship program, which helps Canyons employees and graduating seniors pursue careers in education and, ultimately, return to serve students in the District.
“I’ve always been interested in learning, and art is my particular emphasis,” Kesler says. “I also have family in education, so it was just one of those fits that seemed to work out and click.”
Kesler was among the inaugural recipients of the ACE Scholarship, having received the award in 2024. Since then, the employee-supported scholarship fund has doubled in size and helped six Canyons employees and two graduating seniors afford training toward licensure. Funded by Canyons employees through an optional payroll deduction program, the scholarship provides up to $5,000 in annual tuition assistance. To date, the Canyons Education Foundation, which administers the scholarship, has paid more than $40,300 in tuition for ACE recipients.
“It’s been really nice because I’ve been paying my own way through school,” Kesler says. “I’ve been taking classes halftime while continuing to work. The District has been very good about accommodating my schedule.”
For Brooke Carn, Development Officer for the Foundation, Kesler’s return to Canyons classrooms is validation that the program is fulfilling its mission.
“The ACE Scholarship gives employees from every department the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming a teacher,” Carn says. “Thanks to the generosity of their coworkers, we’re seeing that dream become reality in our own classrooms.”
Kesler will begin his student-teaching requirement this fall at Brighton High where he will finally be able to apply his love of learning about sculptures, ceramics, and fiber arts to teaching students to have that same passion.
“It’s just been a really good opportunity,” Kesler says. “I’m glad to have been accepted and being able to make use of this scholarship.”
Anyone can make a one-time ACE donation online, while Canyons employees have the option each fall of supporting the scholarship by designating how much they are willing to contribute through a payroll deduction.
If every employee gave $1 per pay period to the scholarship fund, the Foundation would have $150,000 to support future educators.
“Half of our scholarship recipients plan to teach in special education classrooms, where the need for educators is especially great,” Carn says. “Jonathan’s return to the classroom is exactly what this grow-your-own program was designed to do. By investing in dedicated members of Team Canyons, we’re building a pipeline of highly qualified teachers who already know our schools, our students, and our community. Ultimately, we’re investing in the success of our students.”
Applications for ACE scholarships will open in the spring.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a current, non-licensed CSD employee enrolled in a college-level education prep program.
- Be a CSD high school senior with proof of admission to a college or university and plans to study education.
Eligibility details and instructions for applying for an ACE Scholarship can be found online.
ACE Scholarship Winners
Alyssa Hill — Paraprofessional Educator, Bella Vista Elementary School
Jonathan Kesler — Facilities Maintenance Technician, Canyons Facilities Department
Melody Otterstrom — Senior, Brighton High School
Jenny Green — Administrative Assistant, Life Skills Academy
Sara Mitchell — Paraprofessional Educator, Union Middle School
James Merrill — Support Assistant, Midvale Middle School
Samantha McCullough — Graduating Senior, Alta High School
Jackson Christensen — Paraprofessional educator, Albion Middle School’s Essential Elements Classroom
