2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

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1:30pm MDT

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

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 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Educational Technology, Utah Core Curriculum
Subject Area Language Arts, Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Science, Social Studies
Audience Teachers, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level 3 - 4, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12

1:30pm MDT

Rhythm, Rhyme, and the Hip-Hop Canon

Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Room #144

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

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 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Utah Core Curriculum
Subject Area Language Arts, Social Studies
Audience Teachers, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12

2:50pm MDT

Utilizing the New Focused Graduation Pathway to Keep Students Engaged

Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT

Room #232

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

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 →

URSA Focused Graduation Pathway pptx

Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #232 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Utah Core Curriculum, Leadership, Other
Subject Area Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Adult Education, Leadership
Audience Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators
Grade Level High School - grades 9 - 12

2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference

1:30pm MDT

Buffy Camps

1:30pm MDT

Elyse Arrington

2:50pm MDT

Stephanie Patton

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