2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

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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8:30am MDT

Joanna Andres, Utah’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year

Friday July 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT

AU - Auditorium

TBD

Speakers

Joanna Andres

Social Studies Teacher & Utah's 2025-26 Teacher of the Year, Park City High School

2026 Utah Teacher of the Year

Joanna Andres is a dedicated social studies educator at Park City High School and the 2026 Utah Teacher of the Year. Currently in her seventh year with the Park City School District, she is recognized for her innovative, student-centered approach to education and her ability to foster... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am MDT
AU - Auditorium 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format Keynote
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience All of the Above
Subject Area Not Applicable

9:50am MDT

AI Tools for Digital Storytelling: Google Vids and Adobe Podcast

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

ED 202 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 202

Unlock the potential of AI to transform how your students create, narrate, and publish their ideas. This session focuses on two powerful tools: Google Vids, which streamlines video creation, and Adobe Podcast for professional-grade audio and video enhancements and editing. You'll learn how these tools can rapidly accelerate the process of turning a simple idea into a fully-produced piece of digital media.

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: 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 →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
ED 202 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 202 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists
Subject Area Not Applicable

9:50am MDT

Beyond Plagiarism: Reimagining Assessment & Assignments in the Age of AI

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

ED 104 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 104

Worried that generative AI makes it too easy for students to take shortcuts on assignments? This session reframes the challenge, moving beyond detection to focus on redesigning assessments for a new era. Just as calculators changed how we teach math, AI pushes us to evaluate higher-order thinking, not just information recall. We'll explore how to develop AI-resistant assignment designs using project-based learning and other innovative approaches. Discover how to create assessments that encourage students to use Google AI as a partner in the learning process—a tool for brainstorming, research, and revision—all while upholding academic integrity. You will leave with a portfolio of new assignment ideas and a clear framework for creating assessments that prepare students to use AI ethically and effectively.

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: Any web-enabled device is recommended.

Speakers

Chris McCaffrey

Google Certified Trainer & Coach, Google ~ Kiker Learning

Chris McCaffrey is a Google for Education Certified Trainer & Coach as well as the Coordinator of Innovation, while managing the virtual academy at Wilson School District in PA. Drawing from over 25 years in education—including experience as a school board director, adjunct professor... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
ED 104 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 104 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Not Applicable

9:50am MDT

Technology: What Are We (Or Should We Be) Afraid Of?

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

CC Charles Hunter - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter Room (100 Level)

Recently passed and proposed legislation proposes to reduce technology use in schools. Is that wise? Is it good? What is it that concerns our parents and legislators? Should it concern us as well? Do we need to rethink our use of technology in our schools? This presentation will review some of the research that either supports or raises concerns about how we use technology in our schools. It will touch on how technology has impacted society, especially our students, and will attempt to tease out the first principles that can help guide our decisions around technology in our schools and our lives.

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

Christijan Draper

Technology Director, Daggett School District

Christijan Draper graduated from high school in the Alaskan Bush as a class of one—valedictorian by default. Dr. Draper has a PhD in instructional psychology and technology, a MS in youth and family recreation, and he studied communications as an undergrad. He spent five years as... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
CC Charles Hunter - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter Room (100 Level) 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Everyone
Subject Area Other, Not Applicable

9:50am MDT

Joanna Andres Breakout Session

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

AU - Auditorium

TBD

Speakers

Joanna Andres

Social Studies Teacher & Utah's 2025-26 Teacher of the Year, Park City High School

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
AU - Auditorium 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Keynote Breakout Session, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format Keynote Speaker Session
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience All of the above
Subject Area Not Applicable

9:50am MDT

Advancing Opportunity: Utah Rural Education Supported By Community Partnerships

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT

CC Yankee Meadows - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows Room (100 Level)

1 hour BYOD Workshop:Think about an academic outcome in your school or district that has been particularly difficult to improve (i.e. kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, 8th grade math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, etc.) In this session, in both large and small groups, we will dig into the data and explore what might change if we bring the full power of the community together to address the sticky outcome. We will examine the strategies you could ask the community to pursue to contribute to improving the outcome. We will discuss community shared accountability for the outcome. Finally, through shared example, we will uncover the power of cross-sector partnerships to move educational outcomes forward.

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

Amy Ahrens Terpstra

Chief Impact Officer, Promise Partnership of Utah

Amy Ahrens Terpstra has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. Amy has served as the Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Salt Lake since January 2022, where she is responsible for driving social impact. During the 2026 legislative session, Amy was instrumental in ushering... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
CC Yankee Meadows - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows Room (100 Level) 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Utah Core Curriculum, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Leadership, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Assessment & Data Management, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Other, 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 Everyone, District / School Administrators
Subject Area Not Applicable

11:10am MDT

Bringing Characters to Life Using Adobe Character Animator

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

ED 202 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 202

Discover the magic of Adobe Character Animator as you step into the future of storytelling. Learn how to create engaging, animated characters that can lip-sync in real-time with your own voice (or your students' voices), bringing lessons to life in an interactive and fun way. You'll learn how to make characters sync to your face, shoulders, and hands so you can both speak and act in character. Adobe Character Animator is provided free of charge to Utah public school teachers in grades K-12, and to public school students in grades 7-12. Join us and transform the way you connect with your students through the power of animation!

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: Mac Laptop; Windows Laptop

Speakers

Rob Bentley

Instructor and Adobe Product Manager, UEN - Utah Education Network

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
ED 202 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 202 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists, EdTech Coach / Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists
Subject Area Not Applicable

11:10am MDT

Real or Rendered? Promoting Digital Media Literacy in the Age of AI

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

ED 104 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 104

In a world where AI can generate realistic but false text, images, and video, how do we equip students with the skills to be critical digital citizens? This essential workshop moves beyond content creation to focus on critical evaluation. We will provide a framework for teaching students how to identify the hallmarks of AI-generated content, verify sources with greater scrutiny, and understand the societal implications of deepfakes and misinformation. We'll explore how to design assignments that challenge students to evaluate digital content and build their discernment skills critically. You will leave with practical lesson plans and strategies for embedding the crucial 21st-century skill of combating misinformation directly into your existing curriculum.

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: Any web-enabled device is recommended.

Speakers

Chris McCaffrey

Google Certified Trainer & Coach, Google ~ Kiker Learning

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
ED 104 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 104 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Not Applicable

11:10am MDT

What does a balanced approach to instructional technology use look like in reality?

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

SC 127 - Science Center, Room 127

With so many varying opinions and thoughts around what is and isn't good/healthy surrounding the use of technology in the classroom, what can be done to find a realistic and viable balanced approach to classroom instruction? What are the pillars of a balanced instructional technology approach, and how can we involve our stakeholders to build common understanding and vision?

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

Tony Campbell

Director of Learning & Innovation, Washington County School District

I am the Director of the Learning & Innovation Technologies Division for the Washington County School District. I serve on the National Future Ready Schools Advisory Committee, the Utah Digital Learning Advisory Committee, & the National McGraw-Hill Literacy Advisory Committee. I... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
SC 127 - Science Center, Room 127 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Leadership, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Assessment & Data Management, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Instructional Coaching, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Other, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Everyone
Subject Area Not Applicable

11:10am MDT

Norms of Collaboration: Fostering Belonging On and Offline

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT

CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level)

In this presentation, we’ll explore the Seven Norms of Collaboration through the lens of digital collaboration and digital citizenship, empowering educators to foster respectful, inclusive, and effective communication—both in person and online. Participants will engage in thoughtful discussions and practical activities that highlight how these norms can strengthen relationships and build a sense of belonging within digital learning communities. Learn to create meaningful connections and foster collaborative cultures that thrive in both physical and virtual learning environments.

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

Dani Sloan

IT Product Manager, UEN - Utah Education Network

Dr. Dani Sloan helps educators lead, research, and teach digital citizenship. She's a UEN Product Manager and Instructor at the University of Utah. She is a former Elementary Teacher and current mom to a seventh grader. Dani is passionate about preparing students for a digital world... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
CC Shooting Star - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room (100 Level) 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Leadership, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.