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Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

Venue: Room #143 clear filter
Wednesday, July 9
 

1:30pm MDT

Burnout or Resilience: Addressing the challenges of educators in today’s schools and classrooms?
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Effective classroom learning depends on the ability of school leaders and teachers to address the deepening complexities and challenges of schools effectively. Job stress and burnout are a significant threat to that work. As a follow up to last summer’s presentation, this workshop will extend the discussion of challenges of burnout and resilience for schools to examine specific strategies that school leaders, teachers, and staff can use to proactively understand and address burnout issues from both the organizational and personal perspectives, and support optimized classroom experiences for students. Discussions will identify how to diagnose factors contributing to stress and burnout. Participants will work collaboratively to identify action steps to implement effective mitigation and intervention strategies in their schools and work. `

Speakers
avatar for Dale COX

Dale COX

Associate Professor, Program Director K-12 Educational Leadership, UVU - Utah Valley University
Dale Cox is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of K-12 Educational Leadership at Utah Valley University.  He received his doctorate in educational leadership from Lehigh University, his M.Ed. in educational administration from Arizona State University, and his B.A. in... Read More →
avatar for Meghan Everette

Meghan Everette

Director of Teaching and Learning, Utah State Board of Education
Meghan Everette is the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Utah State Board of Education. She previously served as the State Director of Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education (ULEAD) Director. Meghanis a veteran educator and taught elementary school... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

2:50pm MDT

Leading the Way to Improved Literacy Outcomes-The Principals Pivotal Role
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
This professional learning session is designed to empower elementary principals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to champion literacy improvement in their schools. Grounded in evidence-based practices and aligned with current educational policy, the session will guide principals through understanding their multifaceted role in fostering a thriving literacy environment.

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
avatar for Christine Elegante

Christine Elegante

K-3 Literacy Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Christine Elegante is a dynamic educator who currently serves as a K-3 Literacy Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. She is passionate about education and considers herself a life-long learner. Her own educational journey began at Utah State University where she earned... Read More →
avatar for Denice Maedgen

Denice Maedgen

K-3 Literacy Specialist, USBE - Utah State Board of Education
Denice Maedgen is a K-3 Literacy Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). She previously served as the USBE Coach of Coaches. Denice has a wealth of experience in education, including 9 years teaching grades 1-3, 3 years as a literacy coach, and 2 years as an elementary... Read More →
Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060
 
Thursday, July 10
 

9:45am MDT

The Pressure is on: Using SEEd to Design Highly Effective 3D Lessons
Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Having participated in the 3-Dimensional Rural Science Teacher Grant this past year, we have crafted an intentional lesson that effectively integrates the Science and Engineering Practices, Cross Cutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas. Attendees will share what they have observed using a student hat and a teacher hat to experience SEEd design to create their own highly effective 3D lesson. Our example lesson “The Pressure's On: How Air Mass Movement Shapes Our Weather” aims to help students investigate and analyze data to observe the interactions between air masses that cause changes in weather conditions (Utah 6.3.2, ESS2.C, Ess2.D, MS-ESS2-5).

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
avatar for Jan Hermansen

Jan Hermansen

Science Teacher
I have been teaching science for the last 10 years. Currently, I am teaching 7th grade science.
avatar for Kaylei Jones

Kaylei Jones

Teacher
Emery School District
avatar for Westen Miller

Westen Miller

Teacher, BYU-3Drst
My name is Westen Miller. I am a 6th grade Math and Science teacher. I work for North Sanpete School District at Fairview Elementary. I am a teacher participant in the BYU 3D-rst program. 
Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

11:10am MDT

AI for a Rise and Something to Aspire to!
Thursday July 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
Come see what how educators are able to mimic the k-8 Rise Test questions and High School Aspire plus questions. Practice all Year using the one tool we all have access to, Canvas! Nothing here to buy you already have all you need! This is a colaborative project, if you don't see what you need, Lets make it together!

NOTE: This session repeats on Thursday, July 10 at 1:40 pm in Room 131.

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
avatar for Jason Snow

Jason Snow

Digital Teaching and Learning Coach, Northeastern Utah Educational Services
Jason a reformed middle school science teacher and the last 7 years spreading the good NUES to North Eastern Utah Teachers as a regional trainer. Trying to personalize the PD to only what matters in your classroom.
Thursday July 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1:40pm MDT

Playful Pathways: Teaching Science of Reading Using Developmentally Informed Interactions
Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
During this session, we will focus our energy on beginning to address the challenges of teaching the science of reading skills in a developmentally appropriate manner. Discover how these skills connect across different age groups and engage in meaningful conversations about their development. We will define these skills in the context of child development and collaborate on strategies to seamlessly integrate Science of Reading instruction into play-based learning experiences for children from preschool through 3rd grade.

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
avatar for Jared Lisonbee

Jared Lisonbee

Preschool Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Jared Lisonbee earned a Ph. D. in Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University. He taught in higher education for over 10 years where his research focus was children’s physiological stress in preschool classrooms. Jared worked in Head Start... Read More →
avatar for Cristina Barrera

Cristina Barrera

Preschool Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Cristina Barrera is a dedicated Preschool Education Specialist with extensive experience in early childhood education. With a career spanning over two decades, Cristina facilitates the healthy development of young children and supports educators and families in this vital field. She... Read More →
avatar for Katrina Herd

Katrina Herd

Preschool Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Katrina has a dual BA in Early Childhood and Elementary education, a master’s in education with an emphasis in early numeracy, and she holds a current dual Utah teaching license in PK-3 and 1-8 grades with a TESOL endorsement. Katrina completed her doctorate degree in Educational... Read More →
Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

4:00pm MDT

USSA Meeting
Thursday July 10, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Speakers
LC

Lexi Cunningham

Executive Director, USSA
Thursday July 10, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060
 
Friday, July 11
 

9:45am MDT

Connecting to Best Practice: Small Moves for Big Effects
Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
https://bit.ly/SmallMove 

Unlock the power already within your practice! Discover the exciting connections between the successful strategies flourishing in Utah schools and proven, evidence-based research. This isn't about starting over; it's about recognizing the impactful, meaningful instruction you already deliver and seeing its foundation in effective practices.

Prepare for a highly dynamic learning experience! You'll dive into practitioner reports through engaging activities featuring movement, lively discussion, and collaboration. Success means clearly seeing how research validates elements of your great work. You’ll identify one small, powerful shift you can immediately apply for significant results in your own context. With choice in topics relevant to teachers, administrators, and stakeholders, this is personalized, practical professional growth. Leave inspired and equipped to make a big difference with a focused change!

NOTE: This session repeats on Friday, July 11 at 9:45 am in Room 143.

Devices are OPTIONAL - You can particiapte without them!

Speakers
avatar for Meghan Everette

Meghan Everette

Director of Teaching and Learning, Utah State Board of Education
Meghan Everette is the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Utah State Board of Education. She previously served as the State Director of Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education (ULEAD) Director. Meghanis a veteran educator and taught elementary school... Read More →
Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

11:00am MDT

School Attendance and the Effect on Risk and Protective Factors
Friday July 11, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
A team approach to addressing chronic absenteeism in schools, specifically in the early learning grades. Students who are chronically absent in the early learning grades of K-3, where students are learning to read, are at extreme risk of developing large gaps in their learning. These gaps manifest themselves in the later grades when students are reading to learn. Additionally, research has shown that absenteeism is a learned behavior that begins in the early, learning to read, grades. Research has linked chronic absenteeism to adolescent risk taking behavior that increases the probability that a student will drop out of school and/or end up in the juvenile justice system.

Duchesne County School District has teamed up with North Eastern Counceling, Uintah School District, V6 Media and our local Prevention Advisory Coalition to bring awareness to all stakeholders of the need to address chronic absenteeism at all levels of schooling, but especially in the early grades of K-3. Come learn with us how we can better address the problem of chronic absenteeism.

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

Speakers
PB

Phillip Bertoch

Human Resources Director, Duchesene County School District
Phillip Bertoch grew up in Duchesne County and graduated from Union High School in 1987. He is the product of rural schools and understands the unique challenges and opportunities that come from living in, and being educated in, a rural community. He is a thirty year career educator... Read More →
Friday July 11, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room #143 1750 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060
 
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