2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference: Full Schedule

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9:50am MDT

Surviving the RISE: Lowering the Cognitive Lift

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

Let’s be honest: high-stakes testing season can make everyone involved want to hide under a desk. But what if we could make the RISE test a little less terrifying for your 4th-6th graders?In this session, we’ll pull back the curtain on those notorious RISE Cluster questions and dissect them together. We’ll cover practical, no-nonsense test-taking strategies and explore how to give your students low-stakes practice with the actual testing interface. By making the platform second nature beforehand, we'll drastically lower the cognitive lift on test day. This means your students can focus their brainpower on actually showing what they know—rather than trying to figure out what the heck they are supposed to do!Join us to make test prep less painful, more intentional, and a whole lot more effective.

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

Rachael Coleman

Teacher Sprcialist, Jordan School District

Jordan School District

Lynn Gutzwiller

District Science Specialist, Jordan School District

Lynn has worked in education for over 20 years, with extensive experience in middle school classrooms, administration, and instructional coaching. She holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and multiple endorsements including Secondary English, Instructional Coaching... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 10:50am MDT
SC 128 - Science Center, Room 128 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level 5-6, 3-4, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Science

9:50am MDT

3D Science Assessments and the New HS RISE

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

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

The new RISE tests that will be coming to High School Science courses will be administered in the 2026-2027 school year. These tests utilize three-dimensional assessments to assess teachers implementation and students application of the three-dimensions of science teaching and learning. In this participants will explore the characteristics of high quality three-dimensional assessments, gain access to USBE's formative assessments in science, and understand how the RISE for high school science courses will look like.

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

Speakers

Milo Maughan

Secondary Science Education Specailist, USBE - Utah State Board of Education

Milo Maughan is the Secondary Science Education Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. With a strong background in physics and a passion for innovative teaching methods, Milo has been instrumental in developing and implementing science standards that engage and inspire students... Read More →

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

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level 3-4, 5-6, Elementary - grades K - 6, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Science

9:50am MDT

Grow Lab

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

BC 208 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 208

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

With lessons that support SEEd standard 3.2.1, Grow Lab evolved from an award-winning classroom program Red Butte offered for over two decades. In addition to engaging with the curriculum, this workshop provides you with your own grow frame and supplies to grow plants in your classroom at no cost to you. The seeds you receive are Wisconsin Fast Plants® (Brassica rapa); these plants complete their life cycle, from planting seeds to harvesting the seeds, in 40 days. This allows you and your 3rd graders to develop and refine models of changes that happen throughout the life cycle of Fast Plants® in real time.

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

Heather Paulsen

Teacher Resource Coordinator, Red Butte Garden & Arboretum

Heather has over 20 years of experience in both formal and informal education K-12. Most of that has been spent in informal science education working with statewide programs that include outreach, teacher resources, professional development and writing curriculum to support state... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 12:10pm MDT
BC 208 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 208 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Utah Core Curriculum, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop
Grade Level 3-4, Elementary - grades K - 6
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists, Library Media Specialists
Subject Area Science

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2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

9:50am MDT

Rachael Coleman

Lynn Gutzwiller

9:50am MDT

Milo Maughan

9:50am MDT

Heather Paulsen

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