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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9:50am MDT

GEG Utah Demo Slam 2026

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

SC 016 - Science Center, Room 016

This is a Demo Slam style presentation and we will host the demos in video form (This makes the presentation go very smoothly). The participants will get to see us present the videos and then vote on the video/tool that they think is the best! The rules will be as follows: Each Google Certified Educator will submit one video Video must demonstrate use of Google tools/add-ons/extensions/etc. Demonstration portion of the video must be ≤ 2 minutes Video must include a brief introduction (may be outside of the 2 minute time limit) Video must conclude with a “SLAM”.

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; Android Tablet / Smartphone; iPad / iPhone; Windows Tablet / Smartphone; Chromebook; Any of these

Speakers

Kelli Cannon

Digital Learning Specialist, Jordan School District

Kelli Cannon has been an educator for 12 years, teaching upper elementary students prior to her current role as a Digital Learning Specialist. Kelli holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, as well as endorsements in STEM, Teaching English as a Second Language and Instructional... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
SC 016 - Science Center, Room 016 351 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

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

Emergency Recovery Planning

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

ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203

Being prepared to manage crisis is critically important. School administrators are familiar with Emergency Prepardness and Emergency Response Plans, however updates to R277-400 now require schools to adopt Emergency Recovery Plans begining July 1st. In this 60-minute breakout session, Utah’s school safety experts will share an overview of Utah’s four core components of effective Emergency Recovery Planning, including Academics Recovery, Business Services Recovery, Physical and Structural Recovery, and Health, Wellbeing, and Behavioral Recovery. Recovery is rarely prioritized within emergency planning, and in the aftermath of a crisis, recovery efforts are largely met with a patchwork of disjointed actions. Participants will have a better understanding of why recovery planning improves the immediate, short-term, and long-term impacts on school communities.

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

Scott Eyre

Emergency Recovery Planning in Schools, Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Scott Eyre serves as the School Based Mental Health Specialist for Utah’s School Safety Center. He works for the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Use and Mental Health and is a member of the Education Advisory Board to the State Security Chief. Scott’s... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Leadership, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | School-based Mental & Behavioral Health, 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 Counselors or School-based Mental / Behavioral Health Professionals, District / School Administrators
Subject Area Other

9:50am MDT

Strategies for Students Reading Below Grade Level in Middle School

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

GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106

Middle school is a critical turning point for literacy. As content anguage becomes denser and subject matter more complex, the achievement gap for students reading below grade level can widen rapidly. By 6th to 8th grade, many striving readers have become experts at masking their struggles with apathy or avoidance. They don't just need more independent reading time—they need a lifeline.This dynamic, highly practical session is designed specifically for middle school educators. We will bypass dense theory and dive straight into actionable tips and classroom routines that respect the maturity of young adolescents while actively repairing foundational reading gaps for any content area. What You Will Learn:The Middle School Buy-In: Proven engagement tactics to break down defensive walls, rebuild reading confidence, and motivate reluctant learners.Age-Appropriate Interventions: How to discreetly address foundational gaps in phonics and fluency using tools and texts that never feel "babyish."High-Yield Scaffolding: Equip students with strategies to tackle complex, grade-level texts across ELA, Science, and Social Studies.Quick-Win Routines: Low-prep, daily habits that rapidly build vocabulary, background knowledge, and reading stamina.Join us to build a customized toolkit of high-impact strategies you can immediately implement to empower your students and change their reading trajectory.

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

Laura Mauer

English /Reading Teacher, Utah Middle Level Associaiton

Hi, I am a 10th-year teacher (a 30-year employee of the Granite School District) who has worked in many different teaching environments. I was an SPED teaching assistant for 20 years, worked with students in a lock-up facility, and teach methods courses at Westminster University in... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Other

9:50am MDT

Understanding & Supporting Student Behavior: A Teacher-Centered Approach

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 12:10pm MDT

GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201

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

Understanding & Supporting Student Behavior: A Teacher-Centered ApproachBehavior challenges are one of the most exhausting parts of teaching — but what if the key to change started with you? In this interactive session, we'll explore how your perspective, mindset, and classroom practices directly shape the behaviors you see every day. Grounded in the science of behavior, participants will gain a clear understanding of the four functions of behavior and learn to decode why students act the way they do — not just what they're doing.Walk away with three practical, low-prep preventative strategies you can implement immediately, plus a personalized action plan to tackle your most pressing behavior challenge. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, this session will leave you feeling more confident, equipped, and empowered to build a classroom where every student can thrive.

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

Amanda Powell

CEO of Close the Gap, Close the Gap

Amanda is a passionate advocate for educational equity and a trailblazer in literacyintervention.She is the CEO of close the gap, and also works as a professional learning consultant with EPS Learning , an organization dedicated tomove students forward on the path to literacy.With... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 12:10pm MDT
GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

School-based Mental & Behavioral Health, Advanced - considerable experience; significant prerequisite skills required. | Other, Advanced - considerable experience; significant prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Mental/Behavioral Health, Other

11:10am MDT

In Our Google Era: 50 Tools Shaping the Future of Learning

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

SC 016 - Science Center, Room 016

This session explores 50 powerful Google features and integrated tools categorized by six essential future-ready teaching needs: AI, Creation, Collaboration, Creativity, Accessibility, and Personalization. Our focus is on utilizing Google tools to build skills for tomorrow's world. Leave with a ready-to-use plan for instructional change.

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

Kelli Cannon

Digital Learning Specialist, Jordan School District

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
SC 016 - Science Center, Room 016 351 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 BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience EdTech Coach / Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Everyone
Subject Area Other

11:10am MDT

Building Sustainable School Wellness Systems In Rural Communities

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

SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128

Rural educators and administrators are often asked to do more with less—balancing academic priorities, student behavior, mental health needs, and limited staffing. This session shares how Duchesne County School District built a practical, sustainable wellness system that supports both students and staff—without adding more to already full plates.Using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework, this session focuses on how to integrate wellness into what schools are already doing. Instead of one more initiative, participants will learn how wellness can support attendance, improve behavior, increase student engagement, and ultimately strengthen academic outcomes.Attendees will walk away with strategies they can realistically implement in rural settings, including:How to build staff buy-in without overwhelming teachersSimple ways to form and sustain school wellness teamsUsing tools like the School Health Index (SHI) to guide decisions without extra workloadIdentifying small, high-impact “quick wins” that improve school cultureAligning wellness efforts with administrator priorities like test scores, attendance, and classroom behaviorThis session is designed for real school settings—where time, funding, and staffing are limited. Participants will leave with practical ideas, ready-to-use tools, and a clear path to start or strengthen wellness efforts in their own schools—without it feeling like “one more thing.”

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

Halee Ficklin

School Wellness and Safety Coordinator, Northeastern Utah educational services

Halee Ficklin is a Mental Health Therapist (ACMHC) and District Wellness Advisor for Duchesne County School District in rural Utah. She leads district-wide efforts aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, focusing on improving student mental health... Read More →

Mary Kathryn Curcio Stoddard

Epidemiologist/Evaluator, Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Mary Kathryn received her undergraduate degree in Health, Society, and Policy (2020) and Master of Public Health (2023) from the University of Utah. With an academic interest in human development, family studies, and community health, she assisted in several pediatric research studies... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience District / School Administrators, Teachers
Subject Area Other

11:10am MDT

Beyond the B.E.A.C.O.N.: Lighting the Way for AI in Education

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

GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106

B.E.A.C.O.N. is a group of educators who host monthly discussions centered on emerging best practices, and timely, relevant uses of AI in education. Join our panel discussion where we will explore current questions from Utah educators about AI topics in their classrooms.

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

Becca Esplin

6th Grade Math and Science Teacher, Cedar Middle School

Becca Esplin is currently 6th grade math and science teacher in southern Utah. She has 15 years of classroom experience with five as an educational technology coach. She is a proud third generation educator, in a family full of educators. She has always been interested in edtech integration... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
GC 106 - General Classroom Building, Room 106 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs & PLNs), Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | Educational Technology - including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.