Park City coach to appeal license suspension after State Board upholds UPPAC recommendation

Photo: USBE

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City High School dance and cheer coach Melanie Hiatt says she will appeal a decision by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to suspend her teaching license for two years, calling the process unfair and the outcome “insane.”

The board upheld a recommendation from the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC) during a May 1 meeting, following an investigation into Hiatt’s conduct while previously employed at Providence Hall High School in Herriman.

Hiatt began teaching in Park City at the start of the 2023–24 academic year; she lead both the dance team and cheerleading program. She was placed on leave by the Park City School District on April 25 until the USBE made its determination.

Sharon Turner, Director of Public Affairs for USBE, said the suspension is effective immediately.

Hiatt, who was highly-supported by a large group of parents and students at a recent meeting held by the Park City Board of Education to discuss potential consolidation of the dance program next year, has 30 days to appeal Thursday’s decision.

In an interview Friday, Hiatt said the appeal process is already underway. She also criticized the leak of UPPAC’s final brief to KSL News ahead of the board’s vote, calling it “defamatory” and “slanderous,” and said she had no role in disclosing the document.

Hiatt said she argued UPPAC’s case was based solely on the testimony of one former student, while she submitted “literally hundreds” of supporting statements in her defense. She added that even if the allegations had merit—which she denies—similar cases have resulted in only warnings or reprimands.

“This is going to be appealed,” she said. “We’re going to get the truth out.”

Hiatt was placed on administrative leave by the Park City School District on April 25. It’s unclear what her employment status will be during the appeal process; she said she had not yet received official communication from either the district or the board.

“Like we do with other personnel matters we will be continuing to handle issues related to Ms. Hiatt’s employment in as confidential a manner as possible. Because our process is not final and due to the ongoing litigation as well as the possibility of other proceedings we will not be commenting further at this time,” a statement from the Park City School District said.

Hiatt has also filed a defamation lawsuit against the student who reported the misconduct, which is currently under appeal. She said the outcome could have wide implications for professionals across Utah who hold licenses, not just teachers.

“This decision affects anyone with a license—nurses, estheticians, you name it,” Hiatt said. “If false statements in administrative hearings are protected, how is that fair?”

Hiatt’s legal team plans to appeal the license suspension through the civil court system. She said she will continue speaking out until “somebody listens.”