2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

12:10pm MDT

Keynote: Honoring the Ask – Respecting What it Takes to Engage in Coaching

Wednesday July 9, 2025 12:10pm - 1:25pm MDT

Eccles Center Theater

Speakers

Katie Dewey Hill

Quality Instruction Coordinator, Utah State Board of Education

I'm the Quality Instruction Coordinator at the Utah State Board of Education. I lead the work of instructional coaching throughout the state and support the implementation of Utah's Professional Learning Standards - I believe that professional learning should be something that 'makes... Read More →

Wednesday July 9, 2025 12:10pm - 1:25pm MDT
Eccles Center Theater

Keynote

Learning Strand or Track Keynote
Audience All of the Above

8:30am MDT

Keynote: Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected

Thursday July 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

Eccles Center Theater

Our schools are only as good as the conversations that take place in them. This workshop introduces communication beliefs and habits that will help anyone communicate more effectively, both professionally and personally.

*Identify and explore personal communication beliefs and habits
*Gain new communication habits that will have an immediate, positive impact on your ability to communicate at work and at home
*Discover how your communication beliefs transfer into habits that lead to an authentic life

Book gift from URSA: Better Conversations

Speakers

Jim Knight

Instructional Coaching Group

Jim Knight is a founding senior partner of the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) and a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning, effective teaching, and instructional coachin... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
Eccles Center Theater

Keynote

Learning Strand or Track Keynote
Audience All of the Above

9:45am MDT

Keynote Breakout: Fundamentals of Leadership Coaching (A Growth Model)

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

Eccles Center Theater

Leader’s Effectiveness

This session will briefly explore how a coaching approach, together with a strong coaching process and key coaching skills, can make a significant and immediate difference in the conversations in which school leaders engage every day.

Speakers

Jim Knight

Instructional Coaching Group

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Eccles Center Theater

Keynote Breakouts, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Instructional Coaching, Keynote, Leadership
Subject Area All
Audience Everyone
Grade Level All Grade Levels

8:40am MDT

Keynote: "Strong Instruction, Community, and Relationships"

Friday July 11, 2025 8:40am - 9:40am MDT

Eccles Center Theater

Drawing on her experience teaching multilingual students, Sayre explores how project-based learning, culturally responsive curriculum, and public products foster academic growth, civic engagement, and student voice. Student-centered instruction, deep community connections, and powerful relationships transform classrooms into spaces where all learners can thrive.

Speakers