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2025 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Welcome to URSA 2025 at Park City High School!

1:30pm MDT

Analyzing Acadience Reading Data Room #132Dallas Brooks Empowering Student Sensemaking: A Student-Driven Approach to Learning Room #232Lora Gibbons High Engagement Writing Room #148Buffy Camps Rhythm, Rhyme, and the Hip-Hop Canon Room #144Elyse Arrington You've Got To Move It! (Incorporating Movement in Secondary Classrooms) Room #241Mary Saylor Accuracy & Automaticity: Science of Reading for Upper Elementary Students Room #137Jake Downs Bucking the National Trend: Competency-Based Licensing Impacts Teacher Shortages Room #134Malia Hite The Power of Feedback: Using Data and Reflection to Enhance Instruction Room #131Kelbie Jackson Science of Reading Foundations: Building Student’s Executive Functioning Skills Room #142Jared Lisonbee • Cristina Barrera • Katrina Herd Polleneighbors Room #243Heather Paulsen Using TBRI and Connection to Teach Content and Standards Room #136Amie Huggins

2:50pm MDT

You've Got To Move It! (Incorporating Movement in Secondary Classrooms) Room #133Mary Saylor 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 The White Whale of Reading: Effective Comprehension Instruction Lecture HallJake Downs Writing with Purpose: Build a Collaborative and Supportive Community of Writers Room #235Jenny Blauer

9:45am MDT

Empowering Coach-Teacher Collaboration: Elevating Impact with AI Room #145Amy Wood Pedagogy First: Guiding Principles for Using AI to Empower Students Room #244Nicole Johnson • Braxton Thornley The Pressure is on: Using SEEd to Design Highly Effective 3D Lessons Room #143Jan Hermansen • Kaylei Jones • Westen Miller 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 Let Them Count Room #237Jaci Keetch Raising Up Readers: Scaffolding Grade Level Text for All Room #235Dr. Jennifer Throndsen Trigonometry in Motion Room #141Josh White Tier 1 Text: Scaffolded Reading Techniques to Engage Every Student Room #148Breyanna Evans • Rachelle Packer Every Seat Matters: Creating Classrooms of Belonging Black Box TheaterAlaina Marti

11:10am MDT

AI for a Rise and Something to Aspire to! Room #143Jason Snow Collective Efficacy: Empowering Teachers and Boosting Student Success Room #235Katie Jones A Love Affair With Picture Books Across the Standards Lecture HallTeresa Pugmire Celebrating Educators: Creating Meaningful Recognition Practices Room #242Kristin van Brunt 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 Sine Curves and Spaghetti Room #141Josh White Learning How to be Diagnostic. Evidence-Based Interventions Made Easy and How to Intensify Them for Each Tier. Room #145Sheryl Vernon

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 Elevating ELA Engagement with Adobe Express Room #241JoLynn Torgerson Scrible 102: Scaffolding Research and Writing in ELA & Social Studies Room #233Shilpa Duvoor Unlocking Authentic Expression: How AI Empowers Writers Room #132Naomi Watkins • Davina Sauthoff 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 Playful Pathways: Teaching Science of Reading Using Developmentally Informed Interactions Room #143Jared Lisonbee • Cristina Barrera • Katrina Herd Reel Rights: Curating, Streaming, and Copyright Essentials for Schools Room #134Gretchen Zaitzeff Writing instruction for grades K-2 Room #142Christine Elegante • Courtney Bills Math the Matters: Reaching Every Student Room #148Molly Basham • Mike Spencer • Melissa Garber Supporting Language Development through the Creative Process Room #243Mindy Curtis • Liz Brown 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

3:10pm MDT

Self-Determination is on the Menu! Room #144Deanna Taylor • Julianne Hunter • Stephen Kwiatek Building Bridges: Practical Strategies to Empower Teachers To Help All Language Learners Succeed Room #147Talia A. Casares • Patricia Zavala How to Improve Fluency through Partner Reading-Paragraph Shrinking Lecture HallMelinda Meccariello • Dina Wise Movement Integration for K-6 classes Room #234Ashley Boyack No Cap: Finding the "Joy Snacks" in Ed Tech Integration Room #241JoLynn Torgerson Writing Instruction in Grades 3-6 Room #142Denice Maedgen • Courtney Bills

9:45am MDT

Navigating the Information Jungle: Strategies for Teaching Information Literacy Room #142Kayla Towner Unlock Creativity in Your Classroom with Adobe Express Room #234Lisa Perry AI and Privacy: What Every Teacher Needs to Know Room #145John Lyman • Nicole Sanchez • Jeremy Zabriskie From Comics to Comprehension: Why Graphic Novels Belong in Every Classroom and School Library Room #134Gretchen Zaitzeff • Davina Sauthoff 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 The Power of Feedback: Using Data and Reflection to Enhance Instruction Room #144Kelbie Jackson Customized Learning: ELA and Health Education Integration Room #148Jodi Parker • Christine Elegante Elevate Learning and Leadership with the CLEAR Feedback Framework Room #138Andrea Rorrer • Cori Groth • Kody Colvin Elevating Your Literacy Instruction with the Arts Room #132Liz Brown • Amy Hickenlooper

11:00am MDT

Integrated Singing Games for the Elementary Classroom Room #147Katie Hejazi-Far PBL Reimagined - Unleashing Student Potential through EdTech & Community Impact Room #232Lora Gibbons Pedagogy First: Guiding Principles for Using AI to Empower Students Room #137Nicole Johnson • Braxton Thornley Self Care: What is it? Room #145Sheryl Vernon 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 HELP! My Students Can't Write...Advancing Thinking Through Writing K-5 Lecture HallAmy Mahoney The Adventure Awaits: A Teachers Guide to unlocking their Leadership Potential. Room #142Kelbie Jackson • Courtnee Justice

1:30pm MDT

From PD to Practice: A Practical System for PD That Sticks CC Yankee Meadows - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows Room (100 Level)Camille Johnson Carrots over Sticks: Transforming School Culture Through Positive Incentives GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109Nathan Blackner Rising Above Low Expectation: How to Scaffold Learning for Students ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215Laureen Graves • Heather Kennedy Coaching Learning Intentions and Success Criteria as Formative Assessment Opportunities BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103Stephanie Davis Fractions and Art: Beyond the Pizza GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306Alisa Petersen • Zoë Petersen Sing It. Draw It. Learn It! GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201Liz Brown • Kim Montano

2:50pm MDT

Using the Early Math Assessment Data SC 122 - Science Center, Room 122Jared Wright • Teresa McEntire Teacher Reflection and Instruction Data Made Easy With AI CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level)Yaerli Anderson • Lance Hatch Bridging the Gap: Addressing Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Rural Utah Schools SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128Celina Poppe An Educational Expedition: Rediscovering Educator Joy ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215Laureen Graves • Heather Kennedy A Brief Introduction to Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) ED 204 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 204Lauren Ezzell

9:45am MDT

20 in 20: Rapid-Fire Strategies for Classroom Engagement ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215Emma Moss Canva Reimagined: Unlock the Magic ED 102 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 102Kayla Towner Making Sheets Work For You ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203Stacey King AI, Bloom, and the Cognitive Gap in Educational Technology CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level)Valarie O'Bryan 10 Minute Movement ideas for Language Arts k-6th grade CC Charles Hunter - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter Room (100 Level)Ashley Boyack Beyond Aspire Plus: Navigating the Transition in High School Assessment CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level)Teresa McEntire • Samantha Tinkey Simple and Easy Adaptations in the Classroom GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106April Stevenson Commemorate America250 Utah with History, Civics, and Heart CC Sage Valley - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Sage Valley Room (100 Level)Wendy Rex Atzet • Rebecca Kirkman The Power of Student Voice: Enhancing Literacy Through Oral Language GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109Denice Maedgen • Harmony Langford Supporting Multilingual Learners in the ELA Classroom SC 122 - Science Center, Room 122Jennifer Throndsen Getting Your New Teachers to Stay: Research to Impact Practice in Small Schools AU - Auditorium FoyerPamela Pedersen Patterns & Partnerships BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103Heather Paulsen

10:06am MDT

Community Access to Care for First Episode Psychosis ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215Dylan Chase • Kylie Frandsen • Brandon Gren

11:10am MDT

Scam Academy - Teaching Students to Outsmart the Algorithms CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level)Dani Sloan Engagement 101 CC Sage Valley - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Sage Valley Room (100 Level)Melissa Metcalf Engagement Strategies for the Middle Years 6th-8th Grade GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106April Stevenson • Melodie Garcia Exploring Utah's Writing Benchmark Platform SC 122 - Science Center, Room 122Dallas Brooks Intro to PCBL: Guiding Principles & Strategies for Improving Learning ED 102 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 102Kayla Towner The Science of Learning in Utah Math Classrooms GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109Jennie Earl

11:52am MDT

Igniting STEAM ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215Kathleen Riebe

1:30pm MDT

From Data to Insights: Monitoring Student Achievement Over Time via Utah RISE CC Yankee Meadows - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows Room (100 Level)Brooke Anderson From Prompt to Page: Building Better Canvas Content with AI CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level)Crystal Stott Today's Middle School Student GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106April Stevenson Writing Formative Assessment Clusters GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201Jared Wright • Dallas Brooks • Samantha Tinkey Art Tools and Teacher Tricks GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306Liz Brown Evidence-Based Instruction Available to Your Area from The UURC BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103Breyanna Evans

2:50pm MDT

Scaffolding Tier 1 Phonics Instruction CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level)Jennifer Throndsen Middle Level Educators Unite GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106April Stevenson • Kristy Stevens 3D Science lessons- Gravity and Inertia CC Sage Valley - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Sage Valley Room (100 Level)Westen Miller • Kristine Erickson

9:50am MDT

Where have all the Teachers Gone (and can we get those left to STAY)? GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109Sean Rickert Courtside Culture - Lessons in Leadership from Basketball's Greatest Minds CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level)Dani Sloan New Teacher Retention: Influence Your Young Teachers to Stay SC 127 - Science Center, Room 127Pamela Pedersen You Are Not the Test Score: Reclaiming Care and Influence in an Age of Testing CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level)Joshua Hales Strategies for Students Reading Below Grade Level in Middle School GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106Laura Mauer Understanding & Supporting Student Behavior: A Teacher-Centered Approach GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201Amanda Powell Grow Lab BC 208 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 208Heather Paulsen Thinking on our Feet: A Building Thinking Classrooms Experience GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306Wendy Moss-Doong

11:10am MDT

4-Part Model to School Culture ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203Stuart Hepworth • Amy Robinson Unplug and Play: Teaching Computational Thinking Skills Through Game Play SC 129 - Science Center, Room 129Kelli Cannon • Traci Rindlisbach Bridging the Gap to Grade-Level Text in the secondary classroom marks a critical shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" through evidence-based, equitable instruction. CC Sage Valley - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Sage Valley Room (100 Level)Amy Mahoney