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Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

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Wednesday, July 9
 

1:30pm MDT

High Engagement Writing
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Come participate in a highly engaging writing experience that you can take back to modify and share with your students. This session will outline a start to finish process as an example of what is possible with the combination of tools used to create a final student product. This training will showcase WeWillWrite (grades 4-12), Google Slides, and Adobe Express in a mashup that will keep your students immersed in writing, collaborative group work, creating, and problem solving.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Device that connects to the internet

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Mac Laptop, Windows Laptop, Android Tablet / Smartphone, iPad / iPhone, Windows Tablet / Smartphone, Chromebook
Speakers
avatar for Buffy Camps

Buffy Camps

6th Grade English Teacher, Helen M. Knight Elementary
I am in my 20th year of teaching. Fifteen of those have been in sixth grade, with the most recent nine years teaching English after we departmentalized.
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #148 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

How to Ukulele Your Way to Classroom Success
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ukulele has become a popular instrument of choice for music educators of all grade levels. It is affordable, simple to learn, and kids love it because they can play their favorite popular songs. This workshop is designed to help administrators and music educators build thriving ukulele programs or ukulele units in their classrooms. It will introduce strategies through hands-on learning on how to get kids playing songs the very first day. Ukulele instruction is best when playing popular music and when singing is encouraged, so we will be singing and playing popular songs.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Bring their Ukuleles if they have one
Speakers
CW

Chris Woods

Music Teacher, Rich High School
Chris has been a music educator, songwriter, composer, and performer for over 20 years. He began his teaching career at a small after-school academy in Park City in which he taught guitar lessons to students ages 10-50. When he became a full-time teacher, he was able to expand the... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #237 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

Rhythm, Rhyme, and the Hip-Hop Canon
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
What literary qualities earn a text a place in the canon? Who gets to decide? Shakespeare wisely wrote, “Even the genius asks his questions.” …Actually, Tupac Shakur penned those words. Does their value change if the author does?
What if we expanded our definition of essential literature? This session explores the literary evolution of Hip-Hop, from its cultural roots in the Bronx, NY, to its impact as a powerful form of expression. Using East High School’s 11th & 12th-grade ELA topics courses as a case study, we’ll examine how Hip-Hop texts align with Utah’s Common Core State Standards. Participants will step into the role of students, experiencing a sample lesson with texts and activities that illuminate Hip-Hop’s influence beyond music—revealing it as a lens for understanding identity, history, and the world. Walk away with practical strategies to bring Hip-Hop into your classroom and redefine what it means to teach literature.

Speakers
avatar for Elyse Arrington

Elyse Arrington

ELA Teacher & Reading Interventionist, Utah Teacher Fellow, East High School, Utah Teacher Fellows
Elyse E-Z-E Arrington has worked as a secondary Reading interventionist, Language Arts teacher, and Restorative Justice practitioner for seven years at East High School. Elyse graduated with her MA from Columbia University’s Teachers College in NYC and was a founding teacher at... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #144 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

You've Got To Move It! (Incorporating Movement in Secondary Classrooms)
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ever feel like your high school students are half-asleep by third period? Or that no matter how engaging your lesson is, they’re glued to their seats (and their phones)? It’s time to shake things up—literally!

In this high-energy session, you’ll learn 10 easy, no-prep movement strategies that get students out of their seats, engaged in learning, and actually having fun. These aren’t just “brain breaks” (though those are great too!)—these are purposeful, content-driven movement strategies that boost focus, retention, and participation.

Whether you teach ELA, Math, Science, or Social Studies, or almost ANY content, these techniques will fit seamlessly into your lessons—no extra planning required. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that will transform your classroom from static to dynamic… and keep your students moving toward success!

Come ready to laugh, move, and learn—because, let’s be honest, nobody learns best when they’re stuck in a chair all day! 🚀🎉

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Some kind of computer to take notes with may be helpful.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Saylor

Mary Saylor

Instructional Coach, Cedar Middle School
Mary Saylor is a secondary ELA teacher turned Instructional Coach who is passionate about helping teachers create engaging classrooms without adding hours of extra work. With 16 years of classroom experience, she shares practical strategies, mindset shifts, and classroom systems that... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #241 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

What's New and Exciting in Adobe Express?
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Adobe Express continues to evolve in innovative and exciting ways. This session will showcase the latest (and best) new features, including the amazing new mobile app, the powerful Classrooms feature, useful Google Drive and Canva integrations, how to make your own assignment templates, and more! You'll come away from this session even more ready to Express yourself with this most useful Adobe tool.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Mac Laptop, Windows Laptop, Chromebook
Speakers
avatar for Rob Bentley

Rob Bentley

Instructor and Adobe Product Manager, UEN - Utah Education Network
Rob taught secondary Spanish and Language Arts for 6 years. For the last 19 years, he's been teaching teachers how to integrate technology effectively into their curriculum. During his time at UEN, he's presented at URSA,  UELMA, UCET, ISTE, FETC, UFLA, SUMS, and the CTE conferences... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #231 1763 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

Vector Self Portraits
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
This lesson is designed to guide students in creating a vector self-portrait using Google Drawings. This engaging activity is suitable for in person, distance learning or as a substitute teacher activity. While younger students may need some initial guidance, the project is enjoyable and yields fantastic results that students will love revisiting in the future.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Access to either a personal or school Gmail account. Students need to use Google Drawing and a mouse.

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Students need to use google drawing and a mouse.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Feik

Sarah Feik

Art Teacher, Carbon Schools
I have had the pleasure of teaching art to both elementary and secondary students in a rural school for the past six years. Art, in all its forms, has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I genuinely enjoy sharing this enthusiasm with anyone who will listen.
On a personal note, I am a mother of four and have been happily married for 25 years. My family and I have made Utah our home for the last 20 years, although I’ve also had the chance to live in California, Washington, and Oregon. We share our home with two dogs and seven chickens... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #245 1765 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:30pm MDT

Best Practices for Using Scrible in the Classroom
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
Discover how Scrible, an advanced research and writing platform, can transform the way students approach their assignments. Available to all K-12 students in Utah, Scrible allows users to seamlessly curate research, annotate sources, and generate citations—all within a single platform. In this session, you'll learn best practices for integrating Scrible into your classroom, empowering your students to enhance their research and writing skills. Join us to explore practical tips and strategies for making the most of this innovative tool.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Any type of laptop

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Again using mainly a laptop
Speakers
avatar for Kayla Towner

Kayla Towner

Senior Product Trainer, UEN - Utah Education Network
Kayla Towner is a Senior Product Trainer at the Utah Education Network (UEN) and, first and foremost, a passionate educator. She loves spending time with her family—playing soccer ⚽️, reading books 📚, hiking 🥾, and adventuring across Utah 🏔️. Kayla is dedicated to... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #138 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2:50pm MDT

You've Got To Move It! (Incorporating Movement in Secondary Classrooms)
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Ever feel like your high school students are half-asleep by third period? Or that no matter how engaging your lesson is, they’re glued to their seats (and their phones)? It’s time to shake things up—literally!

In this high-energy session, you’ll learn 10 easy, no-prep movement strategies that get students out of their seats, engaged in learning, and actually having fun. These aren’t just “brain breaks” (though those are great too!)—these are purposeful, content-driven movement strategies that boost focus, retention, and participation.

Whether you teach ELA, Math, Science, or Social Studies, or almost ANY content, these techniques will fit seamlessly into your lessons—no extra planning required. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that will transform your classroom from static to dynamic… and keep your students moving toward success!

Come ready to laugh, move, and learn—because, let’s be honest, nobody learns best when they’re stuck in a chair all day! 🚀🎉

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Some kind of computer to take notes with may be helpful.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Saylor

Mary Saylor

Instructional Coach, Cedar Middle School
Mary Saylor is a secondary ELA teacher turned Instructional Coach who is passionate about helping teachers create engaging classrooms without adding hours of extra work. With 16 years of classroom experience, she shares practical strategies, mindset shifts, and classroom systems that... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #133 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2:50pm MDT

The Power of Connection: Influencing Others Through Authentic Relationships
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
In an age where people, especially children are feeling disconnected, it is critical to find ways to connect with students, teachers and staff. As leaders, we must find ways to build genuine relationships with all that we can within our buildings. We will share our experience in making connections and building relationships.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Not Applicable
Speakers
TH

Travis Henderson

Assistant Principal, North Sevier High School
Travis Henderson as been in education for 11 years and 7 years in administration.
RH

Ryan Harris

Principal, Sevier School District
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #238 1758 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2:50pm MDT

Utilizing the New Focused Graduation Pathway to Keep Students Engaged
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Too often students who are severely credit deficient become hopeless and drop out of school. The new Focused Graduation Pathway (FGP) provides these students with the opportunity to stay in school and acquire the necessary high school level knowledge and skills needed to pass the GED® test. The FGP will provide a student with a High School Credential and allow them to graduate in the same year as their peers. This session will provide a brief overview of the GED® test and the FGP, including how to bring the pathway into your school or district.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Not Applicable
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Patton

Stephanie Patton

Adult Education Coordinator, Utah State Board of Education
Stephanie's career has focused on working with underrepresented populations in various positions, including teaching and counseling at an alternative school; working as an advisor for Educational Talent Search; directing an adult education program; and working with adult education... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #232 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060
 
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