2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

Only Purchase One Ticket for Each Individual Attendee
Full URSA 2025 Session Schedule will be published here NO LATER than June 1. Please check back soon!

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9:45am MDT

InstaTeacher: Teacher Leadership in the Age of Social Media

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT

Commons

In today’s digital world, teachers have become more than classroom leaders; they are influential figures online. InstaTeacher explores how educators can use social media to build their professional identity, advocate for their roles, and strengthen connections with the broader school community.

This session dives into key strategies for:
-Self-Advocacy & Self-Presentation: Learn how to create a professional online presence that reflects your teaching philosophy and promotes your leadership.
-Community Guidelines: Understand the importance of establishing clear boundaries to protect yourself, your students, and your school in the social media space.
-Community Outreach: Discover how to engage with parents, students, and fellow educators through social platforms to foster collaboration and support.
-Digital Literacy: Equip yourself and your students with the skills to critically analyze and create content online.
-Healthy Student-Teacher Relationships: Explore how to build safe, respectful, and professional online interactions with students while maintaining clear boundaries.

Whether you're new to social media or a seasoned pro, this session provides practical insights and tools to help you lead confidently in the digital space. You'll leave ready to enhance your online presence, advocate for your profession, and connect meaningfully with your community.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Social Media Platform

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

Speakers

Jamie Marble

Classroom Teacher, Bear River High School

Jamie Jo Marble is an English Teacher at Bear River High School, and is currently in her 5th year of teaching. She strives to make authentic connections with her students, and develop collaborative relationships based on the practical applications of language arts education in both... Read More →

Kelbie Jackson

Instructional Coach, Bear River High School

Kelbie Jackson is an Instructional Coach at Bear River High School with seven years of experience teaching English Language Arts. She is passionate about increasing literacy in secondary schools and improving student learning through teacher collaboration and Professional Learning... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
Commons 1761 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2 Hour Poster Session - informal discussions, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Leadership, Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy
Subject Area Not Applicable
Audience All of the above
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

USBE AI in Education Showcase - Teacher-Created Lesson Plans in All Grade Levels & Curriculum Areas

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT

Commons

**Specific presentation titles and descriptions coming soon!

These poster presentation sessions showcase innovative and engaging AI-infused lesson plans developed by Utah K-12 educators and supported by the Utah STEM Action Center and USBE. These lesson plans integrate AI technologies and concepts into various subject areas, demonstrating how AI can transform teaching and learning. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore and discuss these lesson plans, connect with educators who implemented them, and gain insights into best practices for incorporating AI into K-12 education.

Key Takeaways:
* Discover a variety of AI-infused lesson plans across different grade levels and subjects.
* Learn from educators who have successfully implemented these lesson plans in their classrooms.
* Explore strategies for integrating AI technologies and concepts into teaching and learning.
* Engage in discussions with peers and experts about the potential and challenges of using AI in K-12 education.

Speakers

Presenters TBD

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
Commons 1761 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2 Hour Poster Session - informal discussions, Beginner

Learning Strand or Track Utah Core Curriculum
Subject Area All
Audience Teachers
Grade Level All Grade Levels

1:40pm MDT

Rock Band - The Secret to Building Meaningful Music Programs in Rural Schools

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 4:10pm MDT

Commons

Great music changes lives, but making and playing great music in a rock band can change the world. To quote Jack Black from The School of Rock, "One Great Rock Show Can Change the World!" Are you interested in building a meaningful, life-changing and school-culture changing music program at your school, or do you already have a music program that needs a little more spice and pizzazz? Then this is the presentation for you. Rock Band represents all genres of popular music heard on the radio - rock, country, pop, punk, hip hop, etc. Most importantly, it represents the popular music that connects our students to the world in which they live. In this presentation/workshop, I will share experiences from my own life and 20 plus years of teaching that reinforce the idea of Rock Band and popular music as essential elements of modern music programs. I will teach you how to build Rock Band programs in your school on a limited budget. Lastly, I will demonstrate with volunteers from the audience how to create a performing rock ensemble on day 1 using ukuleles. And if I am able, I will include live performances from the Rich High School Rock Band.

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

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 →

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 4:10pm MDT
Commons 1761 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2 hour Playground - hands-on and discussion, Advanced - considerable experience; significant prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Leadership, Instructional Coaching, School-based Mental & Behavioral Health
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Music
Audience Teachers, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators
Grade Level Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12

1:40pm MDT

Lead From the Classroom to the Community

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 4:10pm MDT

Commons

Discover how early-career teachers can step into leadership as Community Outreach Leads by building strong partnerships between schools, families, and local organizations. This session explores how this role provides teachers with opportunities to grow professionally, strengthen relationships with students and families (especially marginalized communities) and create meaningful school-community connections.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Mac Laptop, Windows Laptop, Android Tablet / Smartphone, iPad / iPhone, Windows Tablet / Smartphone, Chromebook

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: No

Speakers

Fangaafa Tuifua

Teacher, Teacher Fellows

Fangaafa Fataimoemanu Tu’ifua, known to her students as Ms. Fatai, is currently a 5th grade teacher at Canyons School District and serves as a Hope Street Group Utah Teacher Fellow. She was Teacher of the Year 2023-2024 at East Midvale Elementary. Her greatest investment as a teacher-leader... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 4:10pm MDT
Commons 1761 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2 Hour Poster Session - informal discussions, Advanced - considerable experience; significant prerequisite skills required.