2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

1:30pm MDT

Earn Credits, Endorsements, and APPEL Competencies with Utah Microcredentials!

Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Are you working toward an endorsement that is hard to get from a rural location? Or perhaps you are trying to build up credits toward a salary level change? Maybe you want to build skill as an educational leader within your school or community? Or maybe you are an administrator seeking ways to help teachers within your school earn their endorsements?

Utah Microcredentials offer you options to meet your professional learning goals at your own pace and in your own classroom. They are truly personalized, competency-based learning for educators.

In this session, you will not only learn how to earn a microcredential, you will begin working on earning a microcredential with expert support.

Bring your own device, and be prepared to sign in to your MIDAS account at https://usbe.midaseducation.com/microcredentials, where we will be working on microcredentials together.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Any device that can connect to the internet so they can start working on Utah Microcredentials. Even a phone will work, but a tablet or laptop is probably easier.

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any device that will connect to the internet will be helpful.

Speakers

Amy Coray

Digital Innovation Supervisor, Davis School District

Amy Coray is a Digital Innovation Supervisor working in Davis School District. She is passionate about personalized educational pathways for all students, including educators. After teaching five years in elementary and four years in junior high, Amy learned about the possibility... Read More →

Daron Kennett

Professional Learning Coordinator, Davis School District

Daron is the district's accreditation and evaluation coordinator. He taught English language arts, reading, and ESL. He earned his doctorate at Utah State University. Go Aggies!

How to earn a Utah Microcredential pdf

How to Claim Your Utah Microcredentials Voucher pdf

Utah Microcredentials A Choose Your Own Adventure pptx

Wednesday July 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Room #147 1762 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Learning Strand or Track Educational Technology
Subject Area Not Applicable
Audience Teachers, District / School Administrators
Grade Level All Grade Levels

2:50pm MDT

Designing Support for students with Executive Function Skill challenges

Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT

Room #147

Executive function skills encompass cognitive processes like planning, organizing, working memory, and self-regulation. These skills are crucial for academic success and daily life. Students with ADHD and Autism often struggle with these functions, leading to difficulties in school and social settings. Effective supports and interventions can be the catalyst for these students' academic success. In this presentation, you will learn about executive function skills, how the brain operates and manages these skills, and how to create effective interventions for students in need of extra support.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Not Applicable

Shared file URSA NUES/CUES 2025 Executive Function .pdf

Speakers

Sheryl Vernon

School Psychologist, CUES - Central Utah Educational Services

Sheryl Vernon is a School Psychologist Ed.S. at CUES, where she covers diagnostic testing and Trust Based Relationship Intervention for the region. She received her degree from Brigham Young University.
Before working at CUES, Sheryl ran the Crayon Academy Preschool from her home for 16 years. Before that, she was a Special Education Teacher in the Nebo district for five years. She earned an associate's degree from Utah Valley University and a dual Bachelor of Science in special... Read More →

Lauren Ezzell

Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Central Utah Educational Services

Lauren Ezzell is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA). She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis and has been with CUES since 2019. Lauren is passionate about providing behavior-analytic... Read More →

Katie Clark

BCBA, School Psychologist Intern, NUES - Northern Utah Educational Services

A veteran educator, Kristin specializes in creating inclusive and effective learning environments for students with diverse needs. She focuses on systemic improvement as an MTSS and Intervention Specialist, coaching educators to deliver high-impact, individualized support.), Kristin... Read More →

URSA NUES:CUES 2025 Executive Function pdf

Wednesday July 9, 2025 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
Room #147 1762 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.

Learning Strand or Track Instructional Coaching, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs & PLNs), School-based Mental & Behavioral Health, Assessment & Data Management
Subject Area Special Education, Mental/Behavioral Health
Audience Teachers, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

Amplify Classroom Voices with Adobe Podcast

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

Room #147

Learn how Adobe Podcast can help you and your students create engaging audio content, making learning more interactive and fun. Master the ins and outs of Adobe Podcast, from recording to editing. It could be perfect for boosting student engagement and adding a fresh dimension to your teaching toolkit. Ready to amplify your classroom experience? Join us and turn up the volume on learning.

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, Chromebook

Speakers

Rob Bentley

Instructor and Adobe Product Manager, UEN - Utah Education Network

Rob taught secondary Spanish and Language Arts for 6 years. For the last 19 years, he's been teaching teachers how to integrate technology effectively into their curriculum. During his time at UEN, he's presented at URSA, UELMA, UCET, ISTE, FETC, UFLA, SUMS, and the CTE conferences... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #147 1762 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 Educational Technology
Subject Area Not Applicable
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists
Grade Level 3 - 4, 5 - 6, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12

11:10am MDT

Digital Skills, Analog Tools: Unplugged Coding for Kids

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

Room #147

Explore coding through hands-on, screen-free activities using everyday materials. This session equips educators with strategies to teach algorithms, sequencing, and problem-solving. Gain ready-to-use activities that develop critical thinking and collaboration in diverse classrooms, enhancing coding skills with analog tools in an engaging way.

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

Kelli Cannon

Digital Learning Specialist, Jordan School District

Kelli Cannon has been an educator for 12 years, teaching upper elementary students prior to her current role as a Digital Learning Specialist. Kelli holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, as well as endorsements in STEM, Teaching English as a Second Language and Instructional... Read More →

Unplugged Coding for Kids pdf

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
Room #147 1762 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 Educational Technology
Subject Area STEM / STEAM
Audience Teachers, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels

1:40pm MDT

Student and Child-Centered: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model Lives in Rural Schools

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT

Room #147

It is unusual to note the theory in practice as readily as it can be seen when overlaying Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological model in rural spaces. “The bioecological theory of human development, initially termed an ecological model approach, was originally proposed by Bronfenbrenner to explain how human development occurs, focusing largely on the impact of context” (Rosa & Tudge, 2013, p243). His theory places the child at the center and recognizes the many influences on the child and the influence of the child on his world. This nesting of the child provides opportunities for growth and development within a strengths-based framework which employs place-based pedagogy. Likewise, this framework welcomes community engagement and commitment to the growth, well-being, and care of all within a mutual network.

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: Windows Laptop

Speakers

Darren Parry

Former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, University of Utah

Darren Parry is the former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Darren serves on the Board of Directors for Utah Humanities and PBS Utah. He attended the University of Utah and Weber State University and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. In 2024... Read More →

Pam Powell

Dean and Professor in the Beverley Taylor Sorenson College of Education and Human Development, SUU - Southern Utah University

Dr. Pam Powell spent over two decades as an elementary teacher prior to her appointment in higher education at Northern Arizona University. While there, she served as Chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning and as Associate Dean of the College of Education. In the state of... Read More →

Sarah Allen

Department Chair, SUU - Southern Utah University

Sarah Allen, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Family Life and Human Development at Southern Utah University. She received her doctorate in Family Relations and Applied Nutrition from the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada. Over the past... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm MDT
Room #147 1762 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 Other
Subject Area Language Arts, Other
Audience Teachers, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels

3:10pm MDT

Building Bridges: Practical Strategies to Empower Teachers To Help All Language Learners Succeed

Thursday July 10, 2025 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT

Room #147

Helping ESL students succeed can be challenging, especially when negative academic transitions lead to poor performance, low self-esteem or even school dropout. How can we better engage these students and motivate them to improve their English skills and communicate more effectively?
In this session, you'll learn practical strategies and resources to support ESL learners in diverse classrooms. We'll explore ways to create an inclusive environment, break down language barriers, and help students transition smoothly into their academic journey. Whether you teach in a dual-language program, world language classroom, or work with multilingual students in a regular classroom,You’ll walk away with easy-to-apply, powerful tools to help your learners thrive and reach their full potential.

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

Talia A. Casares

DLI Teacher, North Sanpete School District

Talia A. Casares, originally from Mexico City, moved to the U.S. to pursue a degree in Spanish teaching. She holds a Master’s in Spanish Pedagogy from Brigham Young University and has earned endorsements in Dual Language Immersion (DLI), TESOL, STEM, and Educational Technology... Read More →

Patricia Zavala

DLI Teacher, North Sanpete School District

Patricia Zavala is a 5th-grade Spanish Dual Immersion teacher at North Sanpete School District with nearly 30 years of experience teaching Spanish and English in diverse classroom settings. She has taught in language institutes, bilingual, and multilingual schools in her hometown... Read More →

Thursday July 10, 2025 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT
Room #147 1762 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, Instructional Coaching, Other
Subject Area ESL, World Languages
Audience Teachers, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Grade Level All Grade Levels

9:45am MDT

Antecedents in the Classroom: What's the Function?

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

Room #147

This presentation will provide educators with a background in function-based thinking and antecedent interventions in the classroom. We will review common challenging behavior seen in the classroom such as disruption and noncompliance, how to consider potential functions of those behaviors, and how to select antecedent interventions to support students and prevent challenging behavior. Antecedent interventions are interventions that educators can use as a way to support students before challenging behavior begins through small manipulations in the environment and their own behavior, and can be easy to implement consistently with success.

ParticipantsMAY FIND IT USEFUL to 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

Emma Preston

Doctoral Candidate, Utah State University

Emma Preston is a fourth year doctoral candidate in Utah State University's Disabilities Disciplines program specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has an M.S. in Special Education and is working towards her Board Certified Behavior Analyst credential. She has been working... Read More →

Friday July 11, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
Room #147 1762 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.

Learning Strand or Track School-based Mental & Behavioral Health
Subject Area Special Education, Mental/Behavioral Health
Audience Teachers, Counselors or School-based Mental/Behavioral Health Professionals
Grade Level Elementary - grades K - 6, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8

11:00am MDT

Integrated Singing Games for the Elementary Classroom

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

Room #147

Unlock the power of music to enhance learning across subjects with singing games that captivate, engage, and educate! In this lively, hands-on session, you'll discover how singing games can be seamlessly integrated into the elementary general education classroom to support language arts, math, social studies, and more. We’ll explore games that promote collaboration, reinforce academic concepts, and build classroom community—all while nurturing students' musical growth. Be ready to move, sing, and play as you leave with practical ideas to energize your lessons and inspire your students!

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

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

Speakers

Katie Hejazi-Far

Independent Contractor, Independent Contractor

Katie Ross Hejazi-Far graduated from West Virginia University’s School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Education and received her Master of Music Education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Katie taught general music in Virginia before moving to Utah where she... Read More →

URSA Singing Games for the Elementary Classroom (Hejazi Far 2025) pdf

URSA Singing Games Presentation pdf

Sound Scape Lessons Resources Page pdf

Friday July 11, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Room #147 1762 Kearns Blvd, Park City, UT 84060

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