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2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

1:30pm MDT

Earn Credits, Endorsements, and APPEL Competencies with Utah Microcredentials! Room #147Amy Coray • Daron Kennett Empowering Student Sensemaking: A Student-Driven Approach to Learning Room #232Lora Gibbons Beyond the Page: Elevating Students with Digital Resources Room #235Chris Haught Bucking the National Trend: Competency-Based Licensing Impacts Teacher Shortages Room #134Malia Hite Burnout or Resilience: Addressing the challenges of educators in today’s schools and classrooms? Room #143Dale COX • Meghan Everette Equal Opportunity in Education Room #238Holly Bell Mild to Spicy- Turning Up the Heat on Math Rigor Room #146Jenna Keyes • Paula Carlson • Stephanie Folkman On the Edge of AI: Exploring Emerging Innovations Lecture HallEmma Moss • Jonathan Stewart The National EdTech Plan in Action: Improving Technology Use in Utah Schools through Shared Successes Room #133Amber Wright • Rick Gaisford • Melanie Valentine The Power of Feedback: Using Data and Reflection to Enhance Instruction Room #131Kelbie Jackson The Role of Prevention and Intervention in school behavior Room #234Heidi Mucha Centering On Students: PCBL In Action from Modern Classrooms In Utah Room #233Michael Hakkarinen Navigating the Landscape of School Mental Health: A Comprehensive Systems Approach Room #145Trevor Olsen • Chathuri (Chat) Illapperuma-Wood • Matthew T. Smith Six Leadership Moves for High-Impact Professional Learning Systems Room #141Andrea Rorrer • Cori Groth • Kody Colvin Using TBRI and Connection to Teach Content and Standards Room #136Amie Huggins

2:50pm MDT

Elevating Classroom Management Room #237Kenneth Applegate Water Wise: Engaging Science, Inspiring Stewardship Room #146Milo Maughan • Jill Flygare • Chris Miller Won't you be our neighbor? Free educator resources from PBS Utah Room #241Annie Frazier • Melanie Pehrson A Legislation Update on Education Law Room #132Quinn Kellis Designing Support for students with Executive Function Skill challenges Room #147Sheryl Vernon • Lauren Ezzell • Katie Clark From Potential to Proficiency: Driving Systemic Change Room #244Marci Houseman Reaching Every Student: How Utah is Using Early Warning Systems to Support Student Success Room #134Nicole DellaRocco Roles and Responsibilities for Faculty and Staff for ALL Learners Room #148Tony Pellegrini • Jenna Olson Suicide Prevention in Schools Room #135Holly Todd Survey Says! Educator Job Satisfaction Room #144Meghan Everette • Julie Lundell Building Better Bots: Elevating Teaching with AI Room #242Emma Moss • Jonathan Stewart

9:45am MDT

Empowering Coach-Teacher Collaboration: Elevating Impact with AI Room #145Amy Wood Not Your Grandmother's Spreadsheets: Deep Dive Into Google Sheets Lecture HallKaley King Rural STEM Learning Pathways and Effective Educator Support: Strategies for Success Room #137Milo Maughan • Michelle Berg What's Next in Google Workspace? Essential Updates for Every Educator Room #131JoLynn Torgerson AI and I: Exploring Generative AI for K-12 Education Room #245Matt Winters AI and Privacy: What Every Teacher Needs to Know Room #241John Lyman • Nicole Sanchez • Jeremy Zabriskie Elevate Your Institution's Competetive Advantage with Family Engagement Room #238 How Nature and Movement Can Impact Educator and Student Wellness Room #144Sarah Roundy • Teri Davis Maintaining Privacy Through the Whistleblowing Process Room #133Mark Meyer Raising Up Readers: Scaffolding Grade Level Text for All Room #235Dr. Jennifer Throndsen Taming the AI Dragon: Practical Gemini & Notebook LM for Educators Room #135Clint Stephens SchoolAi: Using AI in the Classroom Room #233Jeff Couch Keynote Breakout: Fundamentals of Leadership Coaching (A Growth Model) Eccles Center TheaterJim Knight Discover Hidden Gems in Utah’s Online School Library Room #138Kayla Towner Thank You for the Feedback Room #132Paula Carlson • Melissa Metcalf • Shelley Halverson • Greg Maughan Tier 1 Text: Scaffolded Reading Techniques to Engage Every Student Room #148Breyanna Evans • Rachelle Packer InstaTeacher: Teacher Leadership in the Age of Social Media Black Box TheaterKelbie Jackson • Jamie Marble PD: Walking with You Through the APPEL Orchard Black Box TheaterLorissa Nelson USBE AI in Education Showcase - Teacher-Created Lesson Plans in All Grade Levels & Curriculum Areas Black Box Theater Every Seat Matters: Creating Classrooms of Belonging Black Box TheaterAlaina Marti

11:10am MDT

Bringing Characters to Life Using Adobe Character Animator Room #144Rob Bentley AI for a Rise and Something to Aspire to! Room #143Jason Snow Collective Efficacy: Empowering Teachers and Boosting Student Success Room #235Katie Jones Data-Driven Storytelling: Creating User Friendly Dashboards in Looker Studio Room #135Kaley King Rural STEM Learning Pathways and Effective Educator Support: Strategies for Success Room #137Milo Maughan • Michelle Berg What's Next in Google Workspace? Essential Updates for Every Educator Room #131JoLynn Torgerson AI and I: Exploring Generative AI for K-12 Education Room #245Matt Winters Celebrating Educators: Creating Meaningful Recognition Practices Room #242Kristin van Brunt Digital Skills, Analog Tools: Unplugged Coding for Kids Room #147Kelli Cannon Exploring Cultural Responsiveness: Practicum Experiences in Rural Educational Settings Room #136Laureen Graves • Heather Kennedy From Comics to Comprehension: Why Graphic Novels Belong in Every Classroom and School Library Room #241Gretchen Zaitzeff • Davina Sauthoff Lessons in Leadership from the Culture Code Room #231Dani Sloan Power Tools: Differentiate For All Your Learners Without Teacher Burn-Out Room #234Dari Thacker Taking a Unified Approach to Meet School Prevention Requirements Room #238Cathy Davis • Clarissa Stebbing Learning How to be Diagnostic. Evidence-Based Interventions Made Easy and How to Intensify Them for Each Tier. Room #145Sheryl Vernon

11:30am MDT

Mindset Shifts: Actionable Growth Mindset Techniques Room #144Dani Tuttle

1:40pm MDT

AI for a Rise and Something to Aspire to! Room #131Jason Snow Building a STARfleet: Mentoring for Teacher Retention Room #235Katie Jones Connecting to Best Practice: Small Moves for Big Effects Room #242Meghan Everette Elevating Your Art Instruction: Adobe Fresco Room #234Steve Weller AI and I: Exploring Generative AI for K-12 Education Room #245Matt Winters Building STEM Leadership and Integration: Lessons from Utah’s SEI Cohort Room #135Kellie Yates • Kody Colvin Discovering what your students really know when “asking” the right questions Lecture HallJennifer King Energize and Elevate Teaching and Learning for All! Room #137Kathy Einhorn Leading with Hope: Building Resilient Communities Room #141Holly Todd Nearpod 2.0: Renaissance Next Connection Room #244Faith Smith Professional Development Credit Options Room #237Joey Foote Reel Rights: Curating, Streaming, and Copyright Essentials for Schools Room #134Gretchen Zaitzeff Student and Child-Centered: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model Lives in Rural Schools Room #147Darren Parry • Pam Powell • Sarah Allen Teaching through Modeling: DigCit in Action Room #136Dani Sloan Transform Your Canvas in 3 Minutes: Boosting Student Engagement and Reducing Failure Rates Room #238Jared Chapman Math the Matters: Reaching Every Student Room #148Molly Basham • Mike Spencer • Melissa Garber CATALYST - Coaching and Alignment Toward Adaptive Leadership Yielding Systemic Transformation Room #138Andrea Rorrer • Cori Groth • Quinn Kellis • Kody Colvin Lead From the Classroom to the Community Black Box TheaterFangaafa Tuifua USBE AI in Education Showcase - Teacher-Created Lesson Plans in All Grade Levels & Curriculum Areas Black Box Theater

3:10pm MDT

Try Walking In My Shoes Room #133BethAnne Chidester • Hillary Palmer Won't you be our neighbor? Free educator resources from PBS Utah Room #134Annie Frazier • Melanie Pehrson AI and I: Exploring Generative AI for K-12 Education Room #245Matt Winters Beyond the Page: Elevating Students with Digital Resources Room #242Chris Haught Building Bridges: Practical Strategies to Empower Teachers To Help All Language Learners Succeed Room #147Talia A. Casares • Patricia Zavala From Silos to Synergy: Integrating Instructional Ecosystems Room #132Nathan Auck No Cap: Finding the "Joy Snacks" in Ed Tech Integration Room #241JoLynn Torgerson Raising Resilient Kids In A Tech Heavy World Room #238Nate Webb Strategies to Reignite Your Joy of Teaching! Room #137Kathy Einhorn Taming the AI Dragon: Practical Gemini & Notebook LM for Educators Room #131Clint Stephens Teaching with Heart: Fostering Compassion and Hope in Every Classroom Room #141Holly Todd

9:45am MDT

Building Dignity in Schools: Exploring the Dignity Index Room #146Karren Pyfer Connecting to Best Practice: Small Moves for Big Effects Room #143Meghan Everette Navigating the Information Jungle: Strategies for Teaching Information Literacy Room #142Kayla Towner AI and Privacy: What Every Teacher Needs to Know Room #145John Lyman • Nicole Sanchez • Jeremy Zabriskie Diffusing Defiance- Navigating Resistance Effectively Lecture HallKatie Clark Energizing your Classroom Black Box TheaterBrandon Harrison From Comics to Comprehension: Why Graphic Novels Belong in Every Classroom and School Library Room #134Gretchen Zaitzeff • Davina Sauthoff Google Demo Slam: 2025 Room #137Kelli Cannon Illuminate Learning with Lucid Tools for FREE Room #241Clint Stephens Learning to Learn: Teaching that Supports the Science of Learning Room #237Jeremy Smith Nearpod 2.0: Renaissance Next Connection Room #244Faith Smith New Teacher Retention: Influence Your Young Teachers to Stay Room #238Pamela Pedersen Raising Up Readers: Scaffolding Grade Level Text for All Room #231Dr. Jennifer Throndsen Superpower to Success: Leading People, Teams, and Yourself in Today’s Landscape Room #232Adam Mendler The Power of Feedback: Using Data and Reflection to Enhance Instruction Room #144Kelbie Jackson Updates from the School Safety Center Room #135Ashley Pistello Elevate Learning and Leadership with the CLEAR Feedback Framework Room #138Andrea Rorrer • Cori Groth • Kody Colvin CYA: The Most Important Skill for Personal and Professional Fulfillment Room #141McKinley Withers

11:00am MDT

Adding in AI for Accessibility with Google Tools Room #131Emma Moss • Kelli Cannon ELL as a Foreign Language Room #231Rachel Grindstaff PBL Reimagined - Unleashing Student Potential through EdTech & Community Impact Room #232Lora Gibbons Self Care: What is it? Room #145Sheryl Vernon USETS - Your toolkits of One-Pagers Elevating Science Room #134Milo Maughan • Michelle Berg Creating a predictable environment for optimal behavior In our schools and classrooms Room #237Elizabeth Howcroft Engendering Hope in Teachers and Students: Using the Skills of Improv and Storytelling in Education Room #146Jacob Earnest Keep It Together With Google Keep Room #241Clint Stephens Nearpod 2.0: Renaissance Next Connection Room #244Faith Smith School Attendance and the Effect on Risk and Protective Factors Room #143Phillip Bertoch Singleton PLCs: We Survived, and Thrived! Room #238KC Olson The Adventure Awaits: A Teachers Guide to unlocking their Leadership Potential. Room #142Kelbie Jackson • Courtnee Justice