2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Welcome to URSA 2026 at Southern Utah University! All sessions will be in buildings on the upper campus (east end). Here’s the Campus Map (PDF) if needed.

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1:30pm MDT

Coaching Learning Intentions and Success Criteria as Formative Assessment Opportunities

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT

BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103

🧠 Format Alert: This is an immersive, 2-hour deep-dive workshop designed for intensive, uninterrupted coverage of this topic.

This collaborative session is targeted toward school leaders and instructional coaches who support teachers in strengthening teacher practices. The objectives of the course include: deepen our understanding of Teacher Clarity, determine how formative assessment can drive intervention and extension during tier one instruction, and plan next steps for supporting and coaching teachers in the implementation of these strategies to benefit the growth of all students. Participants will engage in pair shares, review of research, and other collaborative structures to deepen understanding of the strategies and information presented to reinforce that what matters most is continuous improvement by growing each and every student. Teacher clarity provides opportunities to strengthen students’ understanding of what they are learning. While learning intentions specify the content of the standard, success criteria focuses on the skills they need to master that standard. Smaller and rural schools are often limited by the available resources and must depend on evidence-based instructional practices to build the capacity of leaders and teachers. By strengthening teacher clarity and formative assessment, the school can sustain student growth and proficiency without investing in programs and resources that are costly. When teachers engage students in formative assessment, such as checks for understanding, that directly connect to the success criteria, they are able to monitor and adjust instruction to determine the next steps. Formative assessment is a critical practice for ensuring all students grow and become proficient when we make decisions based on that data, including whole group or small group reteach, intervention, and extensions. These instructional and assessment skills build a data-rich school within a culture of investment in high expectations.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

Speakers

Stephanie Davis

School and District Improvement Specialist, WestEd

Stephanie served as a turnaround principal in Arizona at a Title One school. Focused on high yield strategies, the school became an A-rated Arizona School, A+ School of Excellence, ICLE Model School for Growth, and Stephanie was named a top ten principal in Arizona for student growth... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Leadership, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required. | Assessment & Data Management, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Instructional Coaches, District / School Administrators
Subject Area Language Arts, Mathematics

1:30pm MDT

Fractions and Art: Beyond the Pizza

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT

GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306

💻 Format Alert: This is an extended, 2-hour hands-on session—please bring your own laptop or tablet to fully participate!

Move beyond traditional fraction pizzas and pies! In this hands-on workshop we will. create multiple visual art projects designed to help children develop an understanding of fractions and strengthen mathematical skills. Come prepared to think deeply, create, and have fun.Resources Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E944gfv_4K3Vg-URZiDE93Tc1PHmAZ37?usp=share_link

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: None

Speakers

Alisa Petersen

Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair of Elementary Arts Education, SUU - Southern Utah University

Alisa Petersen is the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Endowed Chair of Elementary Art Education at Southern Utah University. As the director of the artsFUSION outreach program, Alisa combines her passions for art, creativity and the maker movement to coordinate, develop, and teach arts-integrated... Read More →

Zoë Petersen

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 2 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level Elementary - grades K - 6
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists, District / School Administrators
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Mathematics

2:50pm MDT

Using the Early Math Assessment Data

Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT

SC 122 - Science Center, Room 122

We will learn how to use the data from the early math assessment to inform our instruction. To assist our learning, we will utilize the data through available reports and other tools in the assessment system.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

Speakers

Jared Wright

Elementary Math and Science Assessment Specialist, USBE - Utah State Board of Education

I have been in Education for 20+ years. Approximately half of that time was as an elementary school teacher of students in grades 2, 3, and 4. The other half has been in multiple roles at USBE in the Assessment and Accountability section.

Teresa McEntire

Presenter, Utah State Board of Education

Teresa McEntire is the Elementary ELA Assessment Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. She has a master's degree in School Administration and a bachelor's in Elementary Education. She spent eleven years in the classroom in grades 3-6 and three years as an administrator... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm MDT
SC 122 - Science Center, Room 122 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Assessment & Data Management, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.