After more than four years on the job, Mitko is resigning from the state Office of Ethnic Affairs as the state's Asian Affairs director to become a special education and English as a Second Language teacher. Her last day on the job is June 8.

"I'm going to miss the ethnic office, but every time I get into a classroom, I get so excited," she said Monday.

Mitko, a 1970 University of Utah alum, said she informed her boss in January that she might be leaving the ethnic office early this summer to complete her dual teaching license at Brigham Young University.

The mother of two grown sons said she's always wanted to be a special education teacher but her career took her on a different path, including 26 years as a staffer at the Salt Lake Community College skills center.

Now, Mitko plans to start teaching in August at Sunset Ridge Middle School in West Jordan, where about one out of every three students is a minority. She said she hopes to help special education and ESL students "to fully develop their abilities."

"We do them a disservice when we don't expect the very best from them," she said.

The search for Mitko's replacement in the ethnic office has started. Applications for the position will be accepted until May 14, according to the state's job posting.

The job requires five years of administrative or management experience and a "preference will be given to candidates with experience working with the Asian community," according to the posting.

For information about applying for the post, contact Bonnie Burley at 538-8715 or bburley@utah.gov.

jsanchez@sltrib.com