Originally published on June 21, 2024.
Friend, advocate and mentor to many scores of third graders during his 45 years of teaching,
Rex Burton has created a lasting legacy that has earned him the respect of countless former
students and their families and brought him plaudits as SUU’s Carmen Rose Hepworth Alumni
Award winner at this past year’s Thunderbird Awards Ceremony.
Rex graduated from SUSC in 1977, majoring in sociology. He taught one year in Cedar City
before calling Parowan Elementary home; his first year he was privileged to team-teach with his
own 4th grade teacher.
As a child, the Parowan native attended Parowan Elementary for six years and recalls moving
schoolbooks in a wagon to a new campus from the old yellow building where all grades had
been under one roof.
Mr. Burton’s third grade students will remember him most for his annual Utah History Program,
which he brought to the school as a young educator to teach and engage students. For
generations, students have learned to sing, dance, and perform speaking parts from memory.
With its quilts and projects, the program has grown into a well-loved tradition.
When asked about the success of the program, Rex says, “The number one part of this program
isn’t the history, it’s bringing the kids out of their shells and giving them opportunities to do
things they have never done before.”
Rex believes his number one role as an educator is to genuinely love the kids. “When students
know someone cares about them, their self-confidence expands, they are able to overcome
personal challenges, and their abilities are multiplied,” he says. “The knowledge you have is
important, but you have to let people know you genuinely care about them and that they can
trust you.”
Rex retired this year, and his future plans include a visit to England, the homeland of his wife
Chris. And, they look forward to spending time with their five children and 15 grandchildren.
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Teacher Education
