Lakeside Elementary School fourth grade teacher Hollie Fisher has been named the 2026 Teacher of the Year in the Davis School District.
A licensed educator of 21 years and an ESL specialist for four, Fisher distinguishes herself as a leader in personalized learning and technology integration and is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE). She has spent her career tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs of every student who enters her classroom.
"Hollie Fisher is more than an educator,” said fellow educator Cody Johnson. “She's a visionary. She built a thriving technology program from the ground up, empowering students to become confident creators and ensuring they're prepared for a digital future.”
Fisher’s work as a MIEE has also extended far beyond her own classroom. She has trained teachers across Davis School District and at national technology conferences and has been featured by Microsoft for her work in educational equity and innovation.
She also created the Junior Microsoft Expert Program which has not only spread across the district, but to other districts across the nation.
Fisher teaches advanced technology skills, and in turn, her students teach others through projects and tutorials. She also uses robotics to enhance learning and motivate students.
“I reach far more than the students in my own classroom as the school robotics teacher,” Fisher explains. “I love engaging students through robotics club. I also … use Virtual Reality to engage my students beyond what we read in class. We have traveled to erupting volcanoes, entrancing coral reefs, the frigid land of Antarctica and majestic castles dating back to the Roman Empire.”
“These experiences engage my students in ways no other technology can,” she adds. “I encourage my students to become experts in technology. I’m preparing these students for jobs that haven’t been created. My goal is to give them many experiences to give them advantages in the ever-changing world of technology.”
Fisher also engages students in recording and editing green screen videos, creating pitches, inventions and using digital accessibility features to make the technology work for them.
“My students and our school community especially love the Junior Microsoft Expert program,” she explains. “This is a program I created in 2018 to engage my students in becoming experts in Microsoft apps like: Word, PowerPoint, Sway, Forms, OneNote and One Drive. Students learn to become experts and prove their expert status by completing projects including “How To” videos that help other students learn 21st century skills. Through all these experiences, I engage students in learning in extraordinary ways.”
It’s not just technology that sets Fisher apart. It’s her heart.
Parents regularly express gratitude for the joy and confidence she brings to their children. Her classroom is known as a place of belonging, kindness and enthusiasm.
"She instills confidence, teaches with kindness and encourages them to be their very best," said parent Brittany Szymanski.
As part of the district Teacher of the Year recognition, Fisher was awarded a new car courtesy of Young Kia. In addition, Goldenwest Credit Union provided her one year of car insurance and Marathon Petroleum provided gas gift cards. The Young Caring for Our Young Foundation also played a role in the recognition.
Event sponsorships are the direct result of partnerships established by the Davis Education Foundation.
Fisher holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Weber State University and a master’s degree from National University in California.