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.

WiFi: eduroam or SUU-Conference, password "summertimefun"

PLAN AHEAD - Tentative Future Conference Dates
July 7-9, 2027 - Price, UT
July 17-19, 2028 - Richfield, UT

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9:45am MDT

New Teacher Retention: The Experiences That Shape Career Decisions

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT

AU - Auditorium Foyer

🖼️ Format Alert: This is a relaxed, 2-hour "drop-in" poster session where you can browse at your leisure and chat informally with presenters.

Why do some new teachers remain committed to the profession while others quietly begin planning their exit within the first few years?

After 17 years in secondary leadership roles working closely with new teachers, I have seen firsthand how early professional experiences shape teachers’ confidence, sense of belonging, and long-term career decisions. When new teachers leave, schools experience a cascade of consequences that impact students, staff, school culture, and organizational stability. These challenges are often intensified in small and rural school settings.

Current Utah research often identifies broad categories associated with teacher attrition and retention, but my research focuses on the lived experiences that shape how new teachers navigate the profession. Understanding how teachers make meaning of their early experiences can help schools strengthen mentoring, induction, and leadership practices in ways that genuinely support new educators.

This poster session will invite conversations about practical approaches to supporting new teachers across a variety of Utah school settings. Stop by to engage in discussion, share effective practices, and collaborate around ideas that help teachers feel supported, connected, and successful in their work.
In addition, participants will have the opportunity to learn about my ongoing doctoral research regarding early-career teacher experiences and may volunteer for future interview participation.

Together, we can strengthen support systems that encourage new teachers to remain in and thrive in our schools.

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

Speakers

Pamela Pedersen

Doctoral Researcher, University of Utah, Education Leadership and Policy

I bring 27 years of experience in public education, beginning as a special education teacher and later serving as a grant writer and secondary administrator in the Salt Lake City School District.

For the past 17 years, I have led in a range of school settings, including small district charter schools, alternative high schools, and large comprehensive high schools. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities schools face across different... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
AU - Auditorium Foyer 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Instructional Coaching, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required. | Leadership, Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 2 Hour Poster Session - informal discussions with various small groups during a 2-hour window
Grade Level Not Applicable
Audience District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Instructional Coaching, Leadership

11:10am MDT

Everything that Matters Begins with Trust: How to Create It, Sustain It, and Restore It

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128

This workshop helps educators examine trust as the foundation for effective learning, leadership, and school culture. Participants will review the sources of trust in a school, practice trust-building responses to common school scenarios, and leave with a concrete commitment for specific actions. The focus will be on practical application of concepts in case studies and hands-on activities that answer the question: “What does trust look like in schools? How do leaders and teachers create and sustain it?”

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

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 →

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128 370 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720

Leadership, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Instructional Coaching, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience District / School Administrators, Technology Coordinators / Facilitators
Subject Area Leadership, Instructional Coaching

1:50pm MDT

Modern Classroom tips from teachers who love it.

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm MDT

SC 129 - Science Center, Room 129

This session will share tips, structures and examples of classrooms that use the Modern Classroom Project platform. DawnRae Smith is a Distinguished MCP Teacher as well as School AI Certified Educator. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge using MCP in her History, FACS, Gaming Concepts and CCA classes. She has so many tips and examples to share. Machelle Maxwell will share her experience using MCP with her ELA classes and mentoring opportunities. We will share real life experiences, a tool kits for those wanting to overview it, some data from the how it works and of course specific ways to get started.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: a device since we will have logging into some of our Canva for screen pal options

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

Speakers

DawnRae Smith

Secondary Career & Tech Educator, Iron County School District

DawnRae Smith is a Family and Consumer Sciences and Gaming Concepts teacher who brings 10 years of history teaching and special education experience to the classroom. For the past two years, she's implemented the Modern Classrooms Model, focusing on practical, realistic approaches... Read More →

Machelle Maxwell

Secondary Language Arts Teacher, Iron County

Machelle is still loving teaching after 40 + years. She has taught from1st grade- college level, was a HS Librarian, served as an instructional coach and state mentor. She still chooses to be in a classroom with students and loves collaborating with teacher friends like DawnRae. She... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm MDT
SC 129 - Science Center, Room 129 370 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720

Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.