2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference

WiFi: SUU Conference, Password: TBD

Tech Support for presenters can be found at this phone number - (435) XXX-XXXX or by swinging by the Level 2 Lobby of the Education Building.

It's been 250 years since the pivotal events of 1776. The student activities, lesson plans, and resources from America250 Utah will help you connect to the our nation's founding and our state's rich history no matter what content you teach! This session will introduce key resources for elementary, middle, and high school, with a focus on events that connect to Utah in 1776, and the individuals, groups, ideas, and actions that shaped the Revolutionary Era.America250 Utah offers hands-on opportunities to explore history, create shared experiences, and engage with this milestone celebration. You can create powerful opportunities for your students and school community to reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look together toward the future. Presenters: Wendy Rex Atzet, PhD, and Rebecca Kirkman, Curriculum Specialist, Utah Historical Society

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

TBD

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how educators plan, teach, and learn - but what does that look like in practice, especially in rural contexts? In this interactive workshop, the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) will facilitate a collaborative learning experience where research insights and educator expertise come together to help make sense of AI's rapidly evolving role in education and in their schools and classrooms. Drawing on recent UEPC research, participants will explore the opportunities, functions, and guardrails for responsible human-AI collaboration, including how AI can serve as a feedback partner, instructional support tool, and collaborative coach, alongside key considerations for ethics, transparency, and teacher agency. The UEPC will share findings from ongoing survey research with Utah educators about their AI use, including which tools they're using, how it's changing their practice, and what concerns and questions remain. These insights set the stage for the session's central activity: a structured, collaborative exchange in which participants share their AI experiences, strategies, cautions, and questions with peers across diverse rural school contexts. Participants will leave with:Key research insights on AI's roles in professional learning and instructionA snapshot of where Utah educators currently stand with AI integrationPractical strategies and ideas from fellow educators to support responsible human-AI collaboration Whether you're an AI enthusiast, skeptical adopter, or hopeful bystander, this session is designed to meet you where you are. Bring your experiences, your questions, and your willingness to learn alongside your peers about how AI is shaping our educational landscapes.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

This session moves beyond basic digital safety checklists to teach students the crucial skill of healthy skepticism. We will introduce \"Scam Academy\" resources, which implement Civic Online Reasoning’s Three Questions. These questions help move students from being vulnerable to online manipulation to being digital detectives. Resources available for all grade levels (K-12). Let’s teach students to be smarter than the bots, influencers, and algorithms that exist to trick them!

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: None

🕒 Format Alert: This is a fast-paced, 20-minute showcase that is grouped together with two other quick sessions in this time block.

Empower your multilingual learners! In this session, you'll master essential AI tools for communication. We'll cover document translation using Canva, instant live captions with Google Meet and Class Tools, and creating scaffolded activities that align with language goals using the SchoolAI Chrome Extension and Gemini. Additionally, we'll detail a replicable welcome packet complete with community resources for your newcomers. Leave with immediately applicable strategies to use with your multilingual tomorrow.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

Secondary students are constantly navigating a digital world that was designed to capture their attention. This session provides 6–12 educators with practical strategies to help students manage this reality. Instead of just talking about safety, we will focus on building Digital Resilience.We will explore how to teach students to "look under the hood" of their social media feeds, recognize how algorithms influence their worldview, and use mental health check-ins to combat digital fatigue. You will leave with a toolkit of routines that integrate easily into any subject area, ensuring your students develop the self-regulation skills they need for the modern workforce.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

The Holocaust Learning Experience is a free resource offered to any school district, charter school, private school or home school network.During this session participants will experience one of our over 40 lessons from the Holocaust and discover how these lessons are imperative to teaching resiliency and empathy. Data will be shared, teachers will hear about the thousands of survey outcomes we have received and how the program is impacting students and teachers, how they are learning and understanding the importance of standing up for others. Character building is at the heart of our program, we are transforming generations to understand the importance of mitigating the language of hate, bigotry, bias and antisemitism, through the lens of lessons from the Holocaust.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Windows Laptop

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: None

💻 Format Alert: This is an extended, 2-hour hands-on session—please bring your own laptop or tablet to fully participate!

AI is already shaping classrooms and schools—but how can teachers and leaders use it to meaningfully improve teaching, learning, and decision-making?In this interactive session, participants will explore lessons from Utah’s AI & School Leadership Collaborative, a statewide effort focused on practical, ethical, and human-centered uses of AI in schools. We will build a shared foundation by unpacking key concepts such as traditional vs. generative AI, large language models (LLMs), bias, hallucinations, and responsible data use, including considerations around PII and “walled garden” tools.Through educator case studies and student-facing scenarios, participants will examine real-world applications of AI for instructional planning, student engagement, and leadership decision-making. Using a simple AI fluency framework (e.g., the 4Ds), participants will explore how to move from awareness to intentional implementation. The session emphasizes ethical use, human judgment, and the role of educators in AI-supported environments.By the end of this session, participants will be able to:Build foundational AI understanding, including key concepts and risksAnalyze AI use cases to identify meaningful instructional and leadership applicationsApply an AI fluency framework to guide responsible implementationIdentify ethical and data privacy considerations in school contextsDevelop one concrete next step for AI use in their setting

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

🕒 Format Alert: This is a fast-paced, 20-minute showcase that is grouped together with two other quick sessions in this time block.

Trello uses kanban board style task management to help quickly visualize tasks and organize steps in a process. I will demonstrate the basics of the kanban approach and how I specifically use Trello to manage my technology-related tasks for our district. If time permits, I will also show some automation tools that help make the product work even better to reduce the time I spend managing my time. 

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

TBD

Talmage works with teachers and staff to tackle screen time head on.Here is what we cover:The digital dangers affecting students and educators todayAdvice from the "digital doctor" on managing your own screen timeWhat is really happening to our students and why it mattersPractical tips to help kids build healthier habits with technologyStaff will walk away with:A better understanding of their own relationship with screensReal insight into what students are struggling with dailySimple, actionable strategies to help kids manage screen time in and out of the classroom

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

This session provides a practical, strategy-based guide for educators to navigate the 2026 updates to Utah’s sensitive materials laws. We will focus on the professional standards used to develop high-quality classroom and library collections that align with both state law and Utah Core Standards.Participants will learn how to apply objective selection rubrics to ensure new materials are age-appropriate and educationally relevant. We will explore how to stay current with the USBE statewide tracking system and how to handle the local review process with transparency and professional clarity. Whether you manage a school library or a personal classroom collection, you will leave with the tools to build a compliant, high-quality environment.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

In a learner-centered classroom, students shouldn't have to guess what success looks like or how to get there; proficiency scales provide the essential GPS for their educational journey. This session will explore the what, why, and how of building scales that transform Utah Core standards into transparent, actionable roadmaps for every learner. We’ll define proficiency scales as a progressive continuum that breaks down complex skills into observable milestones, moving far beyond the static nature of traditional rubrics. By shifting from a "mystery grading" system that combines behaviors and understanding into one opaque measure, we can foster true learner agency, empowering students to identify exactly what they need to know and how to get there. Participants will explore a practical design process: first, exploring standards to identify essential skills; second, crafting clear descriptors for varying levels of mastery from emerging to extending; and third, integrating student voice to ensure the language is accessible and meaningful. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with the tools and concrete examples needed to replace traditional grade books with a system that turns every student into a self-directed, assessment capable learner.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these