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

9:45am MDT

Printable Potential: Using 3D Printing in the Classroom

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

GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201

💻 Format Alert: This is an extended, 2-hour hands-on session—please bring your own laptop or tablet to fully participate!

This 2-hour session will focus on basic 3D modeling and how to incorporate 3D printing in the classroom. Attendees will walk away with curated lists of 3D prints that align to standards, plug-and-play Canvas modules developed by University of Utah students, and a brand new 3D printer!

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: Mac Laptop; Windows Laptop; Chromebook

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: None

Speakers

Becca Robison

Innovation Hub Manager, Utah STEM Action Center

Becca Robison is a dedicated educator and leader passionate about cultivating the next generation of innovators through high-quality, maker-focused STEM education. Becca currently serves as the Innovation Hub Manager a the Utah STEM Action Center developing best practices for maker... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
GC 201 - General Classroom Building, Room 201 152 South 300 West, Cedar City, UT 84720

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

Session Format 2 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, Library Media Specialists
Subject Area STEM / STEAM, Career and Technical Education

9:45am MDT

zSpace

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

AU - Auditorium Foyer

🛝 Format Alert: This is a fluid, 2-hour "drop-in" playground where you can stop by anytime to explore small-group activities at your own pace.

CUES recently received a grant to purchase zSpace machines to add to our teacher checkout inventory. Stop by to play and explore with these amazing tools. zSpace is an interactive learning tool that transforms education by allowing students to interact with virtual environments for deeper, real-world learning. The tool allows students to see, manipulate, and understand concepts in-depth by manipulating objects "off" the screen with the stylus.

Speakers

Brandon Harrison

Art, Media, & Innovation Specialist, CUES - Central Utah Educational Services

Brandon is the Media, Innovation, and Technology Integration Specialist at CUES in Richfield. He has been involved in education for 25+ years. Before CUES, he spent 3 years as an Education Mentor for the Cache County and Logan City School Districts' YIC program. He then taught junior... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
AU - Auditorium Foyer 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 2 hour Playground - hands on activities and discussions with various small groups during a 2-hour window
Grade Level High School - grades 9 - 12
Audience Teachers
Subject Area Computer Science, STEM / STEAM

9:45am MDT

Patterns & Partnerships

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

BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103

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

Come engage with hands-on, phenomenon-based, 3D investigations and lesson plans that explore Utah’s mountain ecosystems. Covering all Sixth Grade life science SEEd standards 6.4.1-6.4.5, this bin includes customizable curriculum, over 100 specimens, drone footage, scientific tools, and more! The bins are reusable resources located at districts and service centers statewide and are available at no cost to Utah public schools (district and charter).

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 →

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:45am - 12:10pm MDT
BC 103 - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center, Room 103 351 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 5-6, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8
Audience Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Science, STEM / STEAM

11:10am MDT

AI on the Ground: Research Meets Rural Realities

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

ED 202 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 202

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how educators plan, teach, and learn - but what does that look like in practice, especially in rural contexts? In this interactive workshop, the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) will facilitate a collaborative learning experience where research insights and educator expertise come together to help make sense of AI's rapidly evolving role in education and in their schools and classrooms. Drawing on recent UEPC research, participants will explore the opportunities, functions, and guardrails for responsible human-AI collaboration, including how AI can serve as a feedback partner, instructional support tool, and collaborative coach, alongside key considerations for ethics, transparency, and teacher agency. The UEPC will share findings from ongoing survey research with Utah educators about their AI use, including which tools they're using, how it's changing their practice, and what concerns and questions remain. These insights set the stage for the session's central activity: a structured, collaborative exchange in which participants share their AI experiences, strategies, cautions, and questions with peers across diverse rural school contexts. Participants will leave with:Key research insights on AI's roles in professional learning and instructionA snapshot of where Utah educators currently stand with AI integrationPractical strategies and ideas from fellow educators to support responsible human-AI collaboration Whether you're an AI enthusiast, skeptical adopter, or hopeful bystander, this session is designed to meet you where you are. Bring your experiences, your questions, and your willingness to learn alongside your peers about how AI is shaping our educational landscapes.

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

Kody Colvin

Lead School & District Improvement Specialist, Utah Education Policy Center

Kody Colvin is a Lead School and District Improvement Specialist with the Utah Education Policy Center, where he partners with schools and systems to strengthen instructional leadership, professional learning, and continuous improvement efforts. With over 15 years of experience in... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 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. | Professional Learning Communities (PLCs & PLNs), 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
Subject Area STEM / STEAM, Leadership

11:10am MDT

We can help your students learn more about engineering.

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

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

Come learn about the resources we can provide you to help your students learn more about engineering. We have hands on activities, summer research internships, summer camps, discover engineering traveling exhibit and engineering day. We also have lesson plans and teacher checkout materials. https://www.price.utah.edu/k12https://www.price.utah.edu/discover-engineeringhttps://www.price.utah.edu/k12/lesson-plans

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

Morgan Boyack

Outreach Manager, Price College of Engineering at the University of Utah

Has been doing outreach for the last 13 years for the Price College of Engineering at the UofU. Passionate about helping rural areas learn more about engineering.

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm 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. | Utah Core Curriculum, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level 3-4, 5-6, Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12, Elementary - grades K - 6
Audience Teachers, Curriculum Specialists
Subject Area STEM / STEAM

11:52am MDT

Igniting STEAM

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:52am - 12:10pm 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.

Check out elementary leveled websites that provide project-based learning ideas that engage students to connect Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Teachers are often overwhelmed by the numerous responsibilities they face these days. These websites provide access to platforms and resources, such as SORA, MissionIO, USBE, PhET, PBS, and other resources. Connecting these resources with the curriculum to ignite STEAM and cross-curricular activities.

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

Kathleen Riebe

Digital Teaching and Learning Coach, NUES - Northeastern Utah Educational Services

Kathleen Riebe is a Digital Teaching and Learning coach with NUES, Northeastern Utah Education Service Center. Prior to NUES, Kathleen worked as an Educational Technology Specialist with Granite School. She received her Master's from USU and is attending SUU. In her free time, she... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:52am - 12:10pm 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., Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required. | Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required., Intermediate - basic core competency; some prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 20 minute focus on specific solutions or tools (Over The Shoulder)
Grade Level Elementary - grades K - 6
Audience Teachers, EdTech Coach/Digital Teaching & Learning Specialists, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Mathematics, Science, STEM / STEAM

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

9:50am MDT

Thinking on our Feet: A Building Thinking Classrooms Experience

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

This session will be a Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) lesson (related to the book by Dr. Peter Liljedahl). Participants will participate in a BTC lesson start to finish, including launch, a thin sliced task, all the different types of consolidation (Gallery walk, teacher scribe, Check Your Understanding, Notes to my future forgetful self). The session will include the newest updates to BTC research. For the second half of the workshop, participants will create their own lesson (launch, task, consolidation) using existing curriculum and standards for their grade level. Note: It may be useful to have a device and access to your curriculum for the second half of the workshop. I will have paper you can use if you don't have one :)

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

Wendy Moss-Doong

Secondary Math Teacher, Silver Summit Academy

I have been a teacher for over a decade, and I have taught every grade level from 4th through 12th. I have been teaching math for the past five years at multiple levels, though I currently teach only 7th, 9th, 11th, and AP Calculus. I am working on a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 9:50am - 12:10pm MDT
GC 306 - General Classroom Building, Room 306 152 South 300 West, 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 2 hour BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Hands-On-Activities
Grade Level All Grade Levels
Audience Teachers, Instructional Coaches
Subject Area Mathematics, STEM / STEAM

11:10am MDT

Mammoth Plans and Jazz Hands: Building an Innovation Lab for Students

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

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

This session details the launch and operation of the Jordan Innovation Lab, a 4−6 grade district Makerspace. We will share specifics on working with community partners, acquiring high-end equipment and integration of classroom content. We will also share hosting district-wide field trips and "Teacher Tinker 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

Jared Covili

Administrator, Digital Teaching and Learning, Jordan School District

Jared Covili is the Administrator for Digital Teaching and Learning in the Jordan School District. Jared's background is in secondary education where he was a Language Arts teacher at the secondary level. Jared received his Bachelor's degree in English and his Master's degree in... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
CC Yankee Meadows - R. Haze Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows 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. | Leadership, 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 Computer Science, STEM / STEAM

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

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 →

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

Mixing through Meiosis - Variation in Gametes (3 lesson unit)

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

ED 102 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 102

Participants will discover how events during meiosis lead to unique gamete formation. Specifically, the events of independent assortment and crossover are demonstrated through engaging hands-on activities that allow participants to visualize how unique gametes are formed. This 3 lesson units helps students make sense of meiosis and the mechanisms leading to unique gametes.

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

Julie Castellon

Biology Educator, San Juan High School

Julie Castellon is a lifelong educator who has been in the classroom for over 25 years. She has been lucky enough to teach at Box Elder Middle School, South Ogden Jr. High, Whitehorse High School, Utah Virtual Academy, Albert R Lyman Middle School and is currently teaching at her... Read More →

Valorie Draper

Manila Jr/Sr High School Teacher/Coach

Jami Slack

Science Teacher, Canyon View High School

Jami Slack is a Biology and Earth and Space Science teacher at Canyon View High School in Cedar City. Passionate about education and science, she enjoys molding teenagers into science nerds and critical thinkers. In her free time, Jami enjoys reading, cooking/baking, and spending... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 11:10am - 12:10pm MDT
ED 102 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 102 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

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