2026 Elevated Teaching Summit

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

2505

Limited Capacity seats available

"Designing for All: UDL in Elementary” is a professional learning session that explores how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) supports inclusive practices in elementary classrooms. Participants learn the three UDL principles—Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression—and how proactive design increases equitable access for students with IEPs while benefiting all learners. Through real-world examples, collaborative activities, and lesson planning practice, educators explore practical strategies such as choice, visuals, assistive technology, and flexible assessments. The session emphasizes that small, intentional design changes can create more inclusive, effective learning environments for every student.

Presenter

Kat Nelson

Teacher Specialist: SPED, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2505

Content Area Special Education
Audience Elementary Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin
Instructional Priority WISR

9:30am MDT

Make it Mario: Low-Tech Ideas to Gamify your Curriculum

FULL

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

2503

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In this fun and fast-paced presentation, teachers of all content areas will be given ideas and actionable steps to support their students in practice and review work while motivating them through competition and creative presentation.

Presenter

Kaylie Sullivan

Secondary English Language Arts Teacher

Katie Schmoldt

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

I love history teaching, integrating technology, and anything outdoors!

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2503

Content Area Math
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin
Ed Tech Tool Google/CSDdocs

9:30am MDT

Alternative AI Scaffolds with Gemini

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

3410

Limited Capacity seats available

Students come to Diamond Ridge High School with a wide variety of aptitudes, skills, and needs. In our mini-term schedule, students earn credit in the classroom at an accelerated rate. The combination of student diversity and rapid pacing emphasizes the need for teacher agility and targeted scaffolds. Drawing from the Diamond Ridge experience, this session will present AI strategies designed to support teaching and learning in secondary classrooms. While many educators are familiar with MagicSchool, we will focus on Google Gemini, NotebookLM, and other district-approved platforms. We will discuss advanced prompting, settings and tools, and AI-assisted coding to create engaging instructional content. Participants will practice using Gemini features like “Canvas” and creating Gems.

Presenter

Louis Sherman

ELA Teacher, Canyons School District

Chris Lauriano

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

I'm currently finishing my 12th year in education, the first eight years I taught mathematics, robotics, and coding. I'm currently the instructional coach for Canyons Virtual Academy and Diamond Ridge. I earned my bachelors and teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach and my... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3410

Instructional Tools & Technology

Content Area Alternative Education
Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin
Ed Tech Tool Artificial Intelligence (AI)

9:30am MDT

Congruence and Your Teaching Practice

Professional Learning & Educator Growth

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

2214

Limited Capacity seats available

During this reflective session, teachers will work to align their values with their teaching practice as one step towards protecting against burnout and demoralization.

Presenter

Bob Violano

instructional coach, Canyons School District

I am an instructional coach at Mount Jordan Middle School with a background in science education and physics teaching. After moving from Connecticut to Utah in 2008, I earned a Master’s in Secondary Education and a Master’s of Science in Physics Teaching from the University of... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2214

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, CTE, PE/Health, Special Education, Arts, Science
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin

9:30am MDT

Mindfulness in the Classroom

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

2416

Limited Capacity seats available

Participate in this session designed to explore effective ways to integrate movement and mindfulness practices into your classroom environment. We will cover a range of topics, including the benefits of yoga, the importance of brain breaks, and strategies for promoting overall wellness for both students and educators. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your teaching toolkit!

Presenter

Danae Gothard

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Danae Gothard has been an Instructional Coach and Education Technology Coach in Canyons School District for 14 years. She has prior classroom experience in the elementary setting and is currently working with students in K-5.

Terilyn Hixson

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Teri was a classroom teacher for 23 years. She taught second and fourth grade. For the last 10 years, she has been an Instructional Coach in Canyons School District. She has a Master's Degree in Education with endorsements in Math, Reading, ESL, Early Childhood,Instructional Coaching... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2416

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors

9:30am MDT

Boost Student Success: Practical Executive Function Strategies for the Classroom

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

3416

Empower students to thrive by intentionally teaching executive function skills. This interactive session shifts the focus from managing behavior to building capacity. Learn actionable "adult moves"—modeling metacognition, creating predictable routines, and using visual tools—that help students plan, prioritize, and sustain attention, bridging the gap between external support and self-regulation.

Presenter

Bethany Baker

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District Special Education Dept

Karen Brown

School Psychologist Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3416

Student Supports (MTSS)

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, CTE, PE/Health, Special Education, Arts, Science
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports, Classroom Management, Executive Function

10:40am MDT

Grading for Growth: Rethinking Grading for Multilingual Learners

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

3414

Are you struggling to grade your Multilingual Learners? Wondering if your grades reflect what students know—or just how well they speak and write in English?
In this interactive session, we’ll tackle one of the most common challenges educators face: how to grade MLs in ways that are both rigorous and equitable. If you’ve ever second-guessed a grade, adjusted expectations on the fly, or felt unsure how language proficiency should factor in—you’re not alone.
You’ll learn how to separate content understanding from language development and make grading decisions that are accurate, consistent, and fair.

Presenter

Leslie Allen

Specialist, Canyons School District

Amy Gutiérrez

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Amy has dedicated the past 26 years to education in various capacities, starting as a middle and high school ESL and Spanish teacher, then serving as a Culture and Equity Coordinator. Currently, she is a Teacher Specialist for Canyons School District in Sandy, Utah. Throughout her... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
3414

Data-Based Decision Making

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin, Instructional Coaches, Specialists

10:40am MDT

Career-Focused, Project-Based Learning: The Canyons Innovation Center and CAPS Approach

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

2509

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights how the Canyons Innovation Center (CIC) and Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) model create meaningful, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for college and career success. Participants will explore how the CAPS model is integrated into existing programs to increase student engagement and relevance. The session will include an explanation of CAPS Pillars and examples of how CTEC teachers are currently implementing CAPS in their classrooms.

Presenter

Hulya Kablan

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2509

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Counselors, Admin

10:40am MDT

Make it Mario: Low-Tech Ideas to Gamify your Curriculum

FULL

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

2503

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Presenter

Kaylie Sullivan

Secondary English Language Arts Teacher

Katie Schmoldt

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

I love history teaching, integrating technology, and anything outdoors!

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2503

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, CTE, PE/Health, Special Education, Arts, Science
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin
Ed Tech Tool Google/CSDdocs
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports, Classroom Management, SALTA, PBIS, Writing Instruction

10:40am MDT

Beyond Labels: Supporting Diverse Special Education Classifications in the Gen Ed Classroom

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

3416

As inclusion becomes the standard, general education classrooms are increasingly diverse, serving students with a wide range of needs. This session provides a practical overview of common special education classifications—including Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Impairment (OHI/ADHD), and Speech/Language Impairments. Moving beyond formal definitions, we will explore how these classifications manifest in daily learning, social interactions, and behavior. Participants will gain teacher-friendly strategies for implementing accommodations and modifications, foster a truly inclusive environment, and learn how to collaborate effectively with specialists to support every learner.

Presenter

Bethany Baker

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District Special Education Dept

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
3416

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin

10:40am MDT

Mindfulness in the Classroom

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

2416

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenter

Danae Gothard

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Terilyn Hixson

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2416

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors

10:40am MDT

Trauma Informed Practices in Schools: Building Resilience

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT

2505

Limited Capacity seats available

Educators will realize the impact of childhood trauma, recognize what childhood trauma looks like and learn how to respond.

Presenter

Chanci Loran

Program Administrator, Canyons School District, Student Wellness Services

BJ Weller

Assistant Director of Student Wellness Services, Canyons School District

BJ Weller, M.Ed, LCSW, is the Assistant Director of Student Wellness Services in Canyons School District. He began his career as a school social worker and counselor in Granite School District, where he helped design their K–12 school counseling model. He later served as an administrator... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2505

Professional Learning & Educator Growth

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin

12:40pm MDT

Building Instructional Capacity Through Principal–Coach Partnerships

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT

2313

Effective collaboration between administrators and instructional coaches is essential for building instructional capacity and achieving school goals. In this panel session, principals and instructional coaches will share real-world experiences and strategies for building strong, productive partnerships grounded in trust, role clarity, and shared purpose. Panelists will highlight how they align around instructional priorities, use coaching to support teacher growth, and create systems that connect coaching to school improvement efforts. Participants will walk away with practical ideas and actionable approaches to strengthen the administrator–coach partnership in their own schools.

Presenter

Andrew Jones

Specialist, Canyons School District

Andrew is the High School Science Specialist for the Instructional Supports Department. He is passionate about the implementation of 3D science in classrooms.

Ken Rowley

Principal

Sandy LeCheminant

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Sandy LeCheminant is an instructional coach and educational leader with over four decades of experience in public education. She specializes in personalized professional learning, data-informed instructional practices, and collaboration to enhance student achievement. Sandy supports... Read More →

Krista Edwards

Instructional Coach

Stacy Kurtzhals

Principal

Susie Baer Young

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tracy Stacy

Principal

Amy Hansen

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2313

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin

12:40pm MDT

Clarity at New Heights: Elevating How We Identify and Support Multilingual Learners Shift the lens. Change the outcome.

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT

3414

Clarity leads to equity. What we notice shapes what we do.
In this session, educators will elevate their lens to determine the difference between language development and potential learning needs through a data-informed approach. Participants will examine student behaviors across domains, engage in collaborative analysis using real scenarios, and strengthen decision-making to ensure Multilingual Learners receive the right support at the right time—with clarity and confidence.

Presenter

Amy Gutiérrez

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Beverly Barringer

Administrator, Federal and State Programs

Amy Buckley

SLP & Itinerant Staff Specialist, Canyons School District

Karen Brown

School Psychologist Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
3414

Student Supports (MTSS)

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Counselors, Admin, Special Ed Teachers, SST, Instructional Coaches, Specialists

12:40pm MDT

Supporting teachers through the Child Find Process