Seyyed Sharifi is an educator at Hartvigsen School in Taylorsville, Utah, where he works in the Post High School program for 18-22 year olds with severe disabilities. Last year Seyyed was chosen from more than 2200 nominations for the Granite Education Foundation’s Excel Awards and he received the Granite School District Teacher of the Year in 2024. He continues to be recognized for his work: Seyyed was named a Finalist for the Utah Teacher of the Year in 2025, and recently was recognized as a University of Utah Outstanding Public Educator of the Year for 2025. Seyyed grew up in Utah, went to Kearns High School, and recently completed his Master’s degree of Education in Special Education with an emphasis on mild to moderate disabilities. 

In this episode, Seyyed describes his philosophy of teaching, Connection over Everything, the importance of really seeing his students, and the unique approach he’s taking in his classroom to help his nonverbal students experience activities they might not otherwise and to communicate their needs. He shares the family history and the need for healing that led him to teaching. As he describes the challenges and rewards of teaching in the field of special education it becomes apparent how invaluable the work is for students and their families, how desperately the field needs more teachers, and how difficult it is to retain them. 

For more about Seyyed and his award as Granite School District Teacher of the Year:

https://www.taylorsvillecityjournal.com/2024/05/06/490799/hartvigsen-school-instructor-named-granite-school-district-teacher-of-the-year

For more on Seyyed’s father’s book: 

A Square Sky: A True Story of a Prisoner in Afghanistan, by Ahmad Sharifi