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Ogden High School teacher Chris Davidson is recognized as Ogden School District's teacher of the year and awarded with the all-expenses-paid use of a 2025 Mazda CX-70 by the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Ryan Aston, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High School teacher Chris Davidson is recognized as Ogden School District's teacher of the year and awarded with the all-expenses-paid use of a 2025 Mazda CX-70 by the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Ryan Aston, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High School teacher Chris Davidson is recognized as Ogden School District's teacher of the year and awarded with the all-expenses-paid use of a 2025 Mazda CX-70 by the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Ryan Aston, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High School teacher Chris Davidson is recognized as Ogden School District's teacher of the year and awarded with the all-expenses-paid use of a 2025 Mazda CX-70 by the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Ryan Aston, Standard-Examiner

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OGDEN — During a Wednesday morning celebration in the courtyard at Ogden High School, Chris Davidson — a career and technical education specialist who has taught science and engineering for two decades — was recognized as Ogden School District’s teacher of the year.

In honor of the achievement and his continued efforts as an educator, Davidson was also gifted a one-year, expense-paid lease of a new car by Young Mazda in South Ogden and the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation.

“Just very overwhelmed,” Davidson told the Standard-Examiner of the honor. “I’m not the one who likes a lot of public attention, so this is something.”

Following a swag-bag fakeout, the car — a 2025 Mazda CX-70 — was driven into the courtyard amid the cheers of students, fellow teachers and district officials, and preceded by fanfare from the school’s marching band. Davidson’s one-year lease has been paid in full and Goldenwest Credit Union will cover insurance costs.

And while Davidson mused about taking his new rig on the road during the presentation, making a difference in the lives of his students remains his greatest reward.

“If I can be the tiniest impact on students in their lives, that’s massive,” Davidson said. “To leave a little part of myself, leave a little part of the things that I know, things that I’ve learned, things that I try and teach, how to be a good person — that’s kind of what fills my cup every day.”

Ogden School District Assistant Superintendent Chad Carpenter praised Davidson for his ability to connect with and bring the most out of his students.

“Mr. Davidson is the epitome of what we long for in teachers,” Carpenter said. “He cares about each kid. He meets them where they’re at. He inspires them. He has helped so many kids. We’re just so fortunate to have a teacher like him in Ogden School District.”

Added Davidson: “What’s important to me is just giving them all the opportunities that they can possibly have by the time they leave high school. So, they have opportunities to choose whatever they want to do, whether it’s college or (Ogden-Weber Technical College) or some architecture or tech field.”

This is the third year that Young Mazda has participated in Ogden School District’s teacher of the year recognition event, and one that Young Mazda General Manager Ryan Albert circles on his calendar.

“This is — I say year after year that we’ve done it — one of our most impactful events, our favorite event, because it really is us truly giving back to individuals who provide so much to our community,” Albert told the Standard-Examiner. “Teachers, they don’t get enough credit for what they bring to the community, growing our future, the impact that they have in our children’s lives. Really it’s, in my opinion, it’s second to none. So, to be able to come here and to give back to them and to do for them what they do for so many other people, it just pulls on the heartstrings.”