Husband-and-wife team teach seventh-grade students at St. John the Baptist Middle School

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Raquel and Casey Davis

DRAPER — Among the faculty at St. John the Baptist Middle School is the husband-and-wife duo of Casey and Raquel Davis, members of the seventh-grade team. Casey teaches religion/theology and consumer studies; Raquel teaches science and forensics.

It’s an unusual arrangement but one that works extremely well, said Principal Patrick Reeder.

It all came about last spring when Reeder was interviewing Casey Davis for one of several openings. Casey mentioned his wife was a science teacher and also was looking for a position. The school had an opening, so Reeder also interviewed Raquel, and both were hired.

“It has been a great decision since day one; they are exceptional teachers,” Reeder said of the Davises. “They work on the exact same team. In some situations that might not be a good thing, but they work really, really well together. They are both exceptional teachers and dedicated Catholics.  We’re so blessed to have them on our SJMS team.”

The Davises came to Utah from Texas via Arizona. The pair met as students at Texas Women’s University; Casey was one of just two men in his class. When Raquel tutored Casey in biology, the two became close and eventually married on July 4, 1992.

They each taught for several years in the Texas public school system, along with some time at public, charter and Catholic schools in Arizona. During those years, the Davises had a daughter, Shelby, who eventually grew up, married and moved to Ogden. Last year, the couple moved here to be close to their daughter and their two grandchildren.

When they moved to Utah, they specifically sought openings in Catholic schools, they said.

“I feel like we’ve done our time” in public education, Casey said. “Most of the schools we taught in were Title 1 schools, with very high poverty, very low investment in education, you might say. It was very rewarding to teach in those, but it also took a lot out of you. … So, we were looking for a place where we could become part of the community and really rekindle our love of teaching again and not having to teach to the test, as you have to do in public school, actually educating the whole child as much as possible.”

Teaching religion is a perfect fit for him, he said. “I really wanted to, at this point in my career, focus on what I think are big life questions and providing students with tools and challenges to grow holistically, and I think religion and theology is the best way to do that.”

Casey and Raquel said they have taught on the same team or at least in the same school many times in their careers, and it works well for them.

“Where he is strong is different than where I am strong,” Raquel said of her husband. “So, it really is a yin/yang kind of a thing. We are very capable of separating work and home. It’s also a really neat experience when you come home and your spouse understands what your day is really like.”

In their current assignment as science and religion teachers, “they are living proof that faith and reason can live together,” Reeder said.

However, this stint as members of the same team will be short-lived for the Davises. Next year, Raquel will be the school’s director of student services and counseling.