2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

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9:45am MDT

AI and Privacy: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Want to leverage the power of AI in your classroom but worried about student privacy? This session is for you! We'll cover the basics of AI and privacy, including:
- What is AI and how can it be used in education?
- What are the privacy risks of using AI?
- How can you protect student privacy when using AI?
- We'll also provide you with practical tips and resources to help you use AI safely and responsibly.

NOTE: This session repeats on Thursday, July 10 at 9:45 am in Room 241.

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

Speakers

John Lyman

Student Data Privacy Specialist, Utah State Board of Education

John is a seasoned instructional designer with a passion for innovative learning experiences. With two decades of experience, a B.S. in Developmental Psychology, and an M.Ed. in Instructional Design, he brings a unique blend of expertise. John excels in creating cutting-edge, immersive... Read More →

Nicole Sanchez

Student Data Privacy Specialist, USBE - Utah State Board of Education

Nicole Sanchez is a former junior high teacher and instructional coach, and is now a Student Data Privacy Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. Nicole especially loves to work with districts and charter schools across the state to help them improve their privacy practices... Read More →

Jeremy Zabriskie

Data Privacy and Security Specialist, Utah State Board of Education

Jeremy comes to the data privacy team from his previous role as IT Manager at a K6 charter school. While there, he served as the Data Manager and Information Security Officer, in addition to teaching computer science classes. Jeremy’s fervor for cybersecurity is proven by his multiple... Read More →

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #145 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required., Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required., Advanced - considerable experience; significant prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Educational Technology, Leadership, Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy
Subject Area Instructional Coaching, Media Literacy
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Technology Coordinators / Facilitators
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

New Teacher Retention: Influence Your Young Teachers to Stay

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Room #238

New Teacher Retention: Influence Your Young Teachers to Stay: After 17 years in secondary leadership roles working with new teachers, I know our new teachers need our best efforts. New teacher attrition is a concern for all school systems, especially small or rural schools. Learn current research insights regarding new teacher induction. Discuss ways to design effective mentoring and induction activities based on research. Brainstorm with the group about what works in various Utah settings and how we can do better. Participation, interaction, sharing of best practices, and learning ways to impact new teacher retention in your setting will be a key part of this presentation. Finally, I will ask for interview volunteers to help in my research. Together we can work to keep our new teachers in our schools.

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: iPad / iPhone

Speakers

Pamela Pedersen

Doctoral Researcher, University of Utah, Education Leadership and Policy

I bring 27 years of experience in public education, beginning as a special education teacher and later serving as a grant writer and secondary administrator in the Salt Lake City School District.

For the past 17 years, I have led in a range of school settings, including small district charter schools, alternative high schools, and large comprehensive high schools. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities schools face across different... Read More →

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #238 1758 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

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

Learning Strand or Track Leadership
Subject Area Leadership, Instructional Coaching
Audience District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

Raising Up Readers: Scaffolding Grade Level Text for All

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT

Room #231

This session will focus on effective strategies to scaffold grade-level texts, ensuring all students, regardless of their reading levels, can access and engage with complex materials. By leveraging before, during, and after reading strategies, educators will learn how to provide the necessary scaffolding to help students build the skills and confidence needed to thrive in grade-level content. This session will empower educators with practical tools and strategies to accelerate reading achievement for all students, particularly those who may struggle with grade-level expectations. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas that can be immediately implemented in their classrooms to support learner variability.

This session is a repeat from Session 3 on Thursday morning in Room #235

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, Android Tablet / Smartphone, iPad / iPhone, Windows Tablet / Smartphone, Chromebook

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Throndsen

Educational Consultant, Impactful Learning Designs

With over 20 years of experience in education, Jennifer Throndsen, PhD, has served in various roles across the classroom, school, district, and state levels. Her career includes positions as an elementary and middle school teacher, instructional coach, adjunct faculty, district office... Read More →

URSA 2025 Raising Up Readers pdf

25 Scaffolding Strategies List pdf

Active Reading Descriptions pdf

Active Reading Small Group Chart pdf

Building Background Template pdf

Explict Vocabulary Instructional Routine pdf

Graphic Organizer Planning Template pdf

Paragraph Shrinking Coach pdf

Paragraph Shrinking Reader pdf

Somebody Wanted But So Then pdf

WINDOW Template Beginner pdf

WINDOW Template Intermediate pdf

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #231 1763 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Utah Core Curriculum
Subject Area Language Arts, Instructional Coaching
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

Elevate Learning and Leadership with the CLEAR Feedback Framework

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Room #138

Effective feedback is a critical driver of professional growth, instructional improvement, and leadership development. In this interactive two-hour session, educators and educational leaders will explore the CLEAR Feedback Framework developed by the Utah Education Policy Center. Grounded in research and real-world application, the CLEAR approach centers feedback that is Collaborative, Learning-Oriented, Embedded, Actionable, and Reflective.

Participants will analyze feedback scenarios, reflect on past feedback experiences, and practice applying the CLEAR framework to strengthen their ability to give and receive feedback that builds trust, supports instructional shifts, and promotes continuous learning.

By the end of this session, participants will:
• Identify the essential elements of effective feedback using the CLEAR framework
• Differentiate between productive and unproductive feedback practices
• Apply the CLEAR protocol to realistic leadership and instructional scenarios
• Develop actionable steps to integrate CLEAR feedback into their everyday roles as educators and leaders

All participants will leave with a copy of the CLEAR Feedback Protocol, sample sentence starters, and personalized action steps to support ongoing improvement in their coaching, mentoring, and instructional practice.

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

Andrea Rorrer

Director, UEPC - Utah Education Policy Center

Dr. Andrea K. Rorrer  is the Director of the UEPC and a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. Andrea, who has 35 years of experience in education, received her master’s degree at the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas... Read More →

Cori Groth

Associate Director, Utah Education Policy Center

Cori Groth, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC)
Dr. Cori Groth is the Associate Director of the Utah Education Policy Center at the University of Utah, where she collaborates with school, district, and community leaders to strengthen programs, policies, and practices that lead to excellent and equitable outcomes for young people... Read More →

Kody Colvin

Lead School & District Improvement Specialist, Utah Education Policy Center

Kody Colvin is a Lead School and District Improvement Specialist with the Utah Education Policy Center, where he partners with schools and systems to strengthen instructional leadership, professional learning, and continuous improvement efforts. With over 15 years of experience in... Read More →

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Room #138 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

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

Learning Strand or Track Leadership, Instructional Coaching, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs & PLNs)
Subject Area Leadership, Instructional Coaching
Audience Teachers, District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels

11:00am MDT

The Adventure Awaits: A Teachers Guide to unlocking their Leadership Potential.

Friday July 11, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Room #142

A teacher's guide to unlocking their own leadership and potential. There will be handouts for educators to take home to utilize in the future. The goal of the workshop is to help teachers enhance their own leadership skills, take the innate leadership abilities they have then build off of them .

Speakers

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 →

Courtnee Justice

Teacher/Instructional Coach, Emery High

Courtnee Justice has been teaching for 15 years. She has an MS Educational leadership and MA in language arts. Courtnee taught seven years as a 6th grade elementary teacher, then she moved to secondary language arts, she has taught all ELA grades at her high school. Courtnee spent... Read More →

Friday July 11, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room #142 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

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