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.

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

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 306 152 South 300 West, 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

1:30pm MDT

Sing It. Draw It. Learn It!

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

Discover engaging, practical strategies for integrating visual art and music into the elementary classroom to deepen student learning and creativity. This interactive session will explore hands-on activities, cross-curricular connections, and standards-aligned lessons that blend sound, color, movement, and expression. Participants will leave with ready-to-use ideas that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and joyful learning while supporting academic content across subjects. Perfect for K–5 educators looking to bring meaningful arts integration into their teaching practice.

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

Liz Brown

BTS Arts Integration Coach, NUES - Northeastern Utah Educational Services

Liz Brown is a BTS Art Integration Coach for NUES. She was the 2025 Utah Art Educator of the Year for the National Art Education Association and the 2024 Art Educator of the Year for the Utah Art Education Association. She is passionate about arts integration and children getting... Read More →

Kim Montano

Beverley Taylor Sorenson Program Manager, Westminster University

Kim Montano has been teaching music for 20+ years, with experience in public school, private studio, university, and Montessori settings, and has a wide range of experience from preschools to drumlines. She currently works as the Program Director for Arts Education at Westminster... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 3:50pm MDT
GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201 152 South 300 West, Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop
Grade Level PK - 2, 3-4, 5-6
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Library Media Specialists
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Music

9:45am MDT

10 Minute Movement ideas for Language Arts k-6th grade

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

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

We will explore the language arts curriculum for K-6 and integrate movement possibilities for students. Each lesson will be less than 10 minutes long and easily adapted to a classroom setting.

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

Ashley Boyack

Professional Development Director, University of Utah Tanner Dance

ASHLEY BOYACK received her BFA from the University of Utah and MAT from the University of Northern Colorado. She joined the Lawrence Arts Center in 2010, where she was Artistic Director of the Youth Dance Theater. While at LAC she created the modern dance curriculum and served as... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am MDT
CC Charles Hunter - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter Room (100 Level) 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 Elementary - grades K - 6
Audience Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, District / School Administrators, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Language Arts, Performing Arts / Visual Arts

10:27am MDT

Partnership Power! Bringing Poetry to Life with Statewide Competitions from the Division of Arts & Museums

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:27am - 10:45am MDT

ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215

🕒 Format Alert: This is a fast-paced, 20-minute showcase that is grouped together with two other quick sessions in this time block.

The Utah Division of Arts & Museums administers two different statewide competitions for 9-12 grade students designed to bring poetry to life for young learners while advancing literacy, confidence and public speaking skills.

Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide contest that starts at the local level with individual classrooms and schools. Lesson plans and other teacher resources are available to help teachers integrate the contest into their curriculum. Participating schools can request free on-site workshops with the state poet laureate. Students select from a collection of great works of poetry to memorize and recite, and local contest winners move on to the regional and then the state level, where cash prizes are awarded, and one Utah student will get a free trip to Washington D.C. for the national finals to compete for the $20,000 grand prize.

We also hold a statewide poetry writing competition called Poetry Ourselves. Students are encouraged to enter their own original works in both English and Spanish. Free workshops on bilingual poetry are available from our agency to encourage engagement from language learners in your school. Winners receive cash awards and a trip to Salt Lake to read their work at the state finals event in March.

We are committed to expanding this program to every corner of the state. Join us to learn how you can participate in the coming year.

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: Not Applicable

Speakers

Reilly Jensen

Arts Education Program Manager, Utah Division of Arts and Museums

Reilly is an arts educator, teaching artist, and archaeologist with a focus on community and heritage collaboration. She holds an M.F.A. in Community-Based Arts Education from the University of Utah, an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, and a B.S. in Anthropology. Her research explores... Read More →

Justin Ivie

Arts Education Coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Justin Ivie is an accomplished theatre artist and a familiar face on Utah stages with hundreds of acting credits at companies all around the state. He is also a director, stage manager and theatrical designer.

Justin has been with the Utah Division of Arts & Museums since 2022 whe... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:27am - 10:45am MDT
ED 215 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 215 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 20 minute focus on specific solutions or tools (Over The Shoulder)
Grade Level High School - grades 9 - 12
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists
Subject Area Language Arts, Performing Arts / Visual Arts

1:50pm MDT

Art Tools and Teacher Tricks

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

GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306

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

Looking to bring more creativity into your classroom without the mess or stress? In this hands-on workshop, elementary classroom teachers will learn practical tips and tricks for confidently using and managing basic art supplies. From watercolors to oil pastels colored pencils and more, we’ll explore what’s worth buying, what to skip, and how to get the most out of the supplies you already have. How can you use and manage these supplies more effectively?Participants will learn art hacks for the classroom that will minimize chaos and maximize instructional time. We’ll also cover easy-to-teach techniques that help students use supplies correctly and responsibly, saving money and reducing waste. Whether you’re art-loving or art-avoidant, you’ll leave with ready-to-use strategies that make creative activities smoother, more efficient, more successful and more engaging.Perfect for any teachers who want big creative impact with basic supplies!

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

Liz Brown

BTS Arts Integration Coach, NUES - Northeastern Utah Educational Services

Thursday July 16, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm MDT
GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306 152 South 300 West, Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 2 hour In-Depth exploration workshop
Grade Level PK - 2, Elementary - grades K - 6, 5-6, 3-4
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists, Counselors or School-based Mental / Behavioral Health Professionals, Instructional Coaches, Curriculum Specialists
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts

3:10pm MDT

Statewide Online Education Program: Essential Insights for Administrators & Counselors

Thursday July 16, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT

SC 129 - Science Center, Room 129

Are you maximizing the potential of the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP)? This session is designed for administrators and counselors looking to use the SOEP as a strategic lever. We will discuss how to use SOEP enrollment data to guide master scheduling and staffing decisions, allowing your LEA to offer high-demand courses.Key topics include an in-depth look at the funding model, Small Schools grant opportunities, and essential operational "need-to-knows." We will specifically address how LEAs can protect their budgets by mastering the acceptance and rejection windows in SEATS—including how to navigate over-enrollment and credit caps. Additionally, we will cover the critical management of "No Grade" and "Incomplete" grades as they relate to UHSAA eligibility and fiscal responsibility. By leveraging SOEP data, administrators can turn the program into a roadmap for increasing student seat time and expanding academic pathways, providing access to niche electives and advanced coursework that might otherwise be unavailable in smaller or rural settings

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

Meagan Johnston

SOEP Program Manager, USBE - Utah State Board of Education

Meagan Johnston is the Program Manager for the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) and a dedicated advocate for student choice and equitable access to education. With 21 years of experience in the public education system, Meagan has taught in both the traditional and online... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT
SC 129 - Science Center, Room 129 370 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720

3:10pm MDT

Virtual Field Trips at the Springville Museum of Art

Thursday July 16, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT

SC 127 - Science Center, Room 127

Visit an art museum from your classroom! The Springville Museum of Art offers FREE virtual tours to K-12 teachers across the state. Whether led by a Museum Educator or self-guided, these interactive virtual tours mimic coming to the Museum in person through 360/VR experiences. Art is a powerful learning tool, providing differentiation and creativity when approaching the Utah Core Standards incorporated into every tour. Meet 4th grade social studies standard requirements by exploring Grand Ambitions, an exhibition celebrating the monumental works and aspirations of Utah artists from Pre-Expansion to the present day. A guided tour through In Sight, Out of Mind brings 6th grade science standards to the classroom through paintings, photographs, and 3D objects that invite us to consider what is easily overlooked in the natural world, including the impact of human activity. Participants of this session will leave with information and resources regarding this incredible USBE funded (through the Utah State Legislature) program, as well as an opportunity to sign up for a virtual tour right then and there.

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; iPad / iPhone; Android Tablet / Smartphone; Windows Tablet / Smartphone

Speakers

Peyton Richards

Outreach Educator & Virtual Field Trip Coordinator, Springville Museum of Art

Peyton Richards is the Virtual Field Trip Coordinator and an Outreach Educator at the Springville Museum of Art. Peyton obtained her B.A. in Art History and Curatorial Studies from Brigham Young University before interning and subsequently getting hired at the SMA. In her first year... Read More →

Cheynie Wray

Outreach Educator & Teen Programs Specialist, Springville Museum of Art

Cheynie Wray is the Teen Programs Specialist and an Outreach Educator at the Springville Museum of Art (SMA). Cheynie graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in Art History and Curatorial Studies in 2024. Before working at the SMA, Cheynie was a Student Educator at the... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 3:10pm - 4:10pm MDT
SC 127 - Science Center, Room 127 370 West 200 South, Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Performing Arts / Visual Arts

11:10am MDT

Partnership Power: Expanding Classroom Horizons with Division of Arts & Museums

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

GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109

The Utah Division of Arts & Museums is your state agency dedicated to advancing Utahns’ quality of life through arts and museum experiences and cultural opportunities.

We offer a wide array of programs and resources to support schools and educators across the state. We can help provide arts learning opportunities that align with learning objectives and standards, support multilingual learners, integrate with STEM subjects and other courses across the curriculum, and contribute to growth and professional development for learners of all ages with unique opportunities for educators and school administrators.

Join us to learn more about opportunities like our Living Folk Arts Education Series which can bring hands-on art experiences from working artists directly to your students at no cost. Or our Teaching Artist Rosters which can connect you with skilled artists from almost any discipline that can work with your school to design exciting learning opportunities. Our Teacher-Initiated Projects program offers one-on-one arts training directly to teachers who just want to learn a new skill. And that’s just to name a few.

We are here to introduce these programs and help you find ways to put them to work in schools and communities like yours.

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: Not Applicable

Speakers

Reilly Jensen

Arts Education Program Manager, Utah Division of Arts and Museums

Justin Ivie

Arts Education Coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
GC 109 - General Classroom Building, Room 109 152 South 300 West, Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience All of the above
Subject Area Language Arts, Performing Arts / Visual Arts, Music, ESL, Social Studies, World Languages, STEM / STEAM, Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Adult Education, Health and Physical Education

11:10am MDT

Beyond the Read Aloud: Bringing Stories to Life

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

CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level)

What if stories did more than get read aloud? What if they moved, sang, and invited every learner into the experience? In this hands-on session led by an elementary school librarian, participants will experience how picture books, music, movement, puppetry, and visual storytelling can be used to help K-5 students explore big ideas such as identity, diversity, courage, and belonging. Educators will step into the role of students as they participate in immersive storytelling experiences designed to build empathy, deepen thinking, and amplify student voices. This workshop begins with action and teaches through experience. Participants will leave with practical strategies that help classrooms and libraries become places where stories spark joy, deepen understanding, and bring students together through shared experiences.

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

Sally Baird

Elementary School Librarian, Midway Elementary

Sally Baird is the elementary school librarian at Midway Elementary in Wasatch County, Utah. A certified teacher with a master’s degree in education, she is passionate about creating a joyful culture of reading where curiosity, imagination, and belonging thrive.Through immersive... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
CC Whiting Room - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room Room (200 Level) 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Utah Core Curriculum, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required. | School-based Mental & Behavioral Health, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.