2026 Elevated Teaching Summit

Tuesday June 2, 2026 TBA

2313

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive session explores how teachers can guide students through a structured reading process that promotes inquiry, collaboration, and deeper understanding of texts. Participants will learn practical strategies to prepare students to engage with a text, facilitate collaborative reading and annotation, and extend learning beyond the text through meaningful discussion and reflection.

Using an Activate – Engage – Extend framework, the session will model strategies that help students build curiosity before reading, collaboratively analyze and annotate during reading, and synthesize their thinking after reading. Educators will experience classroom-ready routines that support student inquiry, structured collaboration, and deeper comprehension across content areas.

Participants will leave with concrete tools to help students:
• Prepare for reading through inquiry-based activation strategies
• Collaboratively read and annotate complex texts
• Extend understanding through discussion, synthesis, and reflection activities

The session emphasizes practical, student-centered strategies that foster meaningful engagement with texts while building critical thinking and collaborative learning skills.

Presenter

Tyson Swasey

ELA Teacher

Susie Young

Tuesday June 2, 2026 TBA
2313

Content Area ELA
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers
Instructional Priority AVID; Multilingual Supports

9:30am MDT

Performance Based Self Assessment and Peer Feedback

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

3412

Limited Capacity seats available

This session equips educators with a framework for integrating self-assessment and peer feedback into their curriculum. By exploring the pedagogical benefits of reflection and highlighting affordable recording technology, this demonstration will center around how to implement structured critique that foster student independence, improve technical skills, and normalize constructive classroom dialogue.

Presenter

Mitchell Atencio

Teacher

Jenni Perkins

Instrumental Music Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3412

Data-Based Decision Making

Content Area Arts
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers
Instructional Priority Formative Assessments

9:30am MDT

Experience Math Task Learning

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

2501

Limited Capacity seats available

Come experience a math task lesson! We will be pulling ideas and strategies from the Building Thinking Classrooms book. We will then go over some of the strategies we have found useful in our 3rd grade classrooms.

Presenter

Kristi Kunzler

Teacher

Natalie Wilkinson

Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2501

Content Area Math
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

9:30am MDT

Learning for All: UDL in Elementary

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

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

Science of Reading- Overview: Stop Guessing, Start Growing

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

2410

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us as we explore the five interconnected pillars of reading—phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Together, we will discover how these essential components work to build skilled readers, all while keeping oral language as the critical foundation that fuels every step of reading development.

Presenter

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2410

Content Area ELA, Special Education
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Admin, SpEd Teachers
Instructional Priority WISR; Science of Reading

9:30am MDT

Things we’ve learned with Amplify

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

2218

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

-In this session, we will touch on some of the things we’ve learned with Amplify such as the following:
-Ways to best utilize manipulatives and how to use them daily
-How we have integrated the BFF kit as part of our number sense routine at the beginning of each lesson.
-Student discourse especially using Amplify routines such as the notice and wonder routine
-Importance of productive struggle
-Student engagement
-The unit story that students love

Presenter

Christina Van Dam

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Lauren Crowe

3rd Grade Teacher, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2218

Content Area Math
Audience Elementary Teachers
Ed Tech Tool Canva

9:30am MDT

AVID Focused Note-Taking from the Elementary Perspective

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

2303

Limited Capacity seats available

AVID Focused Note-Taking from the Elementary Perspective: Jeny Wariner and Kristie Koyle

See AVID Focused Note-Taking in action from the very start of a student’s academic journey. This session highlights developmentally appropriate practices, classroom examples, and implementation insights that support strong instruction, student thinking, and schoolwide alignment from Kindergarten up.

Presenter

Kristie Koyle

Kindergarten Teacher

Jeny Wariner

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

With 30 years of experience in the trenches of education, Jeny Wariner understands the heart of the classroom. Currently an Instructional Coach at Glacier Hills Elementary, she specializes in bridging the gap between curriculum and classroom practice. Her commitment to excellence... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2303

Audience Elementary Teachers

9:30am MDT

Helping All students Access Challenging Text

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

2412

Limited Capacity seats available

Dr. Throndsen will be sharing scaffolding strategies to support teachers as they help all student access challenging text.

Presenter

LaNae Goates

instructional coach, Canyons School District

This is my 23rd year in education. I have taught 2nd-6th grade at the elementary level. I have been an instructional coach for 14 years. I have my Reading, Math, ESL, Coaching, EdTech, and K-12 Literacy Specialist Endorsement. I am also LETRS Certified. I worked for 4 years... Read More →

Dr. Jennifer Throndsen

Educational Consultant, Impactful Learning Designs

With over 20 years of experience in education, Jennifer Throndsen, PhD, has served in various roles across the classroom, school, district, and state levels. Her career includes positions as an elementary and middle school teacher, instructional coach, adjunct faculty, district office... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2412

Content Area ELA
Audience Elementary Teachers
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports; Formative Assessments

9:30am MDT

Reaching Every Learner: Strategies for Differentiating Writing and Math

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

2414

Limited Capacity seats available

This professional development session focuses on practical strategies to support students at different learning levels in both writing and math. In the writing portion, teachers will explore ways to support student thinking and participation through structured class discussions with sentence frames, guided brainstorming, and the use of clear rubrics to support students throughout the writing process. In the math portion, participants will learn how to incorporate engaging, student-friendly activities using Canvas, implement choice boards to provide differentiated practice, and build fluency and motivation through interactive practice. These strategies are designed to help teachers create accessible learning opportunities so every student can participate and grow.

Presenter

Kathleen Grigg

Teacher

Solange Espinoza

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2414

Content Area Math
Audience Elementary Teachers, Classroom Teachers
Ed Tech Tool Nearpod
Instructional Priority Scaffold

9:30am MDT

Student-Talk and Movement Strategies to Support Vocabulary Acquisition and Retention

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

2307

Limited Capacity seats available

In this break-out, two different student-talk / vocabulary strategies will be demonstrated with attendees acting in the student roles. Krista Edwards and Emily Gonzalez will model strategies for Tier 1 Vocabulary Instruction, using lessons that they have used in the past and taught with improved student outcomes and student engagement. Krista will start with demonstrating a lesson pairing visual scaffolds to vocabulary acquisition, and Emily will demonstrate a strategy using physical movement in a World Language classroom to support vocabulary acquisition. Following these two demonstrations, there will be time for a debrief and conversation on how these strategies apply to your classroom and content. Teachers will leave with the confidence that they have actionable strategies they can implement immediately.

Presenter

Krista Edwards

Instructional Coach

Emily Gonzalez

High School Spanish Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2307

Content Area ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, CTE, Special Education, Science
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports

9:30am MDT

Google NotebookLM - Your Teacher Assistant That You Wish You Always Had

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

2212

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover how to transform your existing curriculum into a personalized "second brain" that automates differentiation, creates instant student podcasts, and streamlines your heaviest teacher tasks. This session provides a hands-on roadmap to using NotebookLM as your ultimate teaching partner, turning hours of prep work into seconds of creative output.

Presenter

Nicole Reitz-Larsen

Educator, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2212

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers
Ed Tech Tool Google/CSDdocs, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructional Priority PBIS & Classroom Management

9:30am MDT

High Quality Teaching & Learning: Leveraging AI to improve Feedback Cycles

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

2507

Limited Capacity seats available

This session explores how AI can be used to strengthen feedback cycles and support high-quality teaching and learning. Participants will examine how timely, actionable feedback helps students refine their thinking, deepen understanding, and take ownership of their learning, while also reducing the burden on teachers.

It will introduce teachers to Snorkl, which is a tool for students to record and explain their thinking, and then get immediate and personalized feedback from AI. Students insights are also shared educators so they can better understand how their students think, including their strengths and where they need more support.

Presenter

Maggie Kenny

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2507

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, Special Education, Science
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin Staff, Classroom Teachers, Admin
Ed Tech Tool Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports; Formative Assessments; STEAM/STEM

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

High-Leverage Strategies for Behavioral Success

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

2305

Limited Capacity seats available

Let's talk about high-leverage strategies for behavioral success! During our presentation you will learn proactive strategies to keep your classroom afloat. We will narrow in on three behavioral essentials: classroom structure; expectations, rules, and routines; and acknowledging appropriate behaviors. These strategies will help you create the calm, supportive, classroom students need for success. Come prepared to collaborate with colleagues sharing current strategies and solutions for tricky classroom behavioral issues.

Presenter

Krista Foncault

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Brittany Ashe

Instructional coach, Canyons School District

I have been in education for 14 years, teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels. For the past 8 years, I have served as an instructional coach at the middle school level within the Canyons School District. I am deeply passionate about empowering both teachers and students... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2305

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Classroom Teachers
Instructional Priority Classroom Management

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

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

Managing Student Chromebooks with LanSchool Air

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

2511

Limited Capacity seats available

Introduction to the functionality of LanSchool Air. Setup and classroom uses as well as tips and tricks for monitoring student Chromebooks.

Presenter

Tyler Oliphant

Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2511

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

10:40am MDT

Easy ways to infuse inquiry

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

2214

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation gives AVID aligned strategies for infusing inquiry and collaboration into any lesson to increase student engagement and rigor.

Presenter

Megan Orton

4th grade teacher

Jennifer Reese

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2214

Audience Elementary Teachers, Classroom Teachers

10:40am MDT

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

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

Science of Reading- Phonological and Phonemic Awareness: Why the Ear Leads the Way to the Eye

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

2410

Limited Capacity seats available

Before a child can decode a word, they must be able to hear it. This session explores the speech-to-print connection, demonstrating how robust phonological and phonemic awareness serves as the runway for reading success.

Presenter

Leigh Ann Fisher

teacher specialist, Canyons District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2410

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Admin, SpEd

10:40am MDT

Struggling to have productive struggle? Tips for effective productive struggle in reading and math

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

2412

Limited Capacity seats available

We will give tips on how to implement and strengthen productive struggle in your reading and math classes. Then we will engage in meaningful discourse and practice how to do it in your class next year.

Presenter

Linda Leavitt

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Stacy Packard

Early Literacy Instructional Coach, Canyons School District/USBE

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2412

Audience Elementary Teachers, Classroom Teachers

10:40am MDT

Things we’ve learned with Amplify

FILLING

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

2218

Limited Capacity filling up

Presenter

Christina Van Dam

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Lauren Crowe

3rd Grade Teacher, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2218

Audience Elementary Teachers

10:40am MDT

Writing to Learn Engagement Strategies

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

2305

Limited Capacity seats available

This will focus on strategies for integrating writing as a learning tool into every grade level and content area. It is perfect for any educator who wants to unleash the power of writing to help students access rigorous content and deepen understandings through the frequent use of robust learning through writing strategies.

Presenter

Brittany Ashe

Instructional coach, Canyons School District

Andrea Wells

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Educator for 15+ years. Currently working as a secondary instructional coach. I enjoy collaborating on literacy strategies and working on remodeling projects around the house.

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2305

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

10:40am MDT

Qmlativ for Elementary Teachers

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

2216

This session prepares elementary teachers to confidently begin the school year using Qmlativ Student. Participants will explore essential daily workflows, including taking attendance, creating and managing seating charts, and using the gradebook. The session will also highlight new features and updates that streamline teacher workflows and improve access to data.

Presenter

Camille Cole

Instructional Technology Specialist, Canyons School District

Camille Cole is an Instructional Technology Specialist for Canyons School District, where she supports educators in developing innovative digital teaching and learning practices. In her role, she leads professional learning, instructional design, and technology integration initiatives... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2216

Audience Elementary Teachers

10:40am MDT

Re-Tuning Your Teaching: Preventing Burnout in Music Ed

Professional Learning & Educator Growth

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

2501

Limited Capacity seats available

Calling all Performing Arts Teachers. Come participate in a round table discussion on best strategies to avoid teacher burnout. Hear from veteran teachers on what strategies have best help them stay in the field, and learn some new tips from recent educational books on how to avoid burnout.

Presenter

Jaron Putnam

Choir Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2501

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

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

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

12:40pm MDT

Amplify manipulatives with Amplify

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

2503

The Amplify Math program is designed to build conceptual understanding through problem-based and hands-on learning complimented by student discourse/conjecture. We have piloted the curriculum and have had time to synthesize its impact on our students, ourselves, and as a grade level. In our presentation, we recognize that some teachers may struggle with how to effectively integrate math manipulatives in ways that truly support the program’s instructional design rather than simply adding “extra materials.”

Our session will provide practical strategies for using manipulatives intentionally within Amplify Math lessons to strengthen conceptual understanding, support struggling learners, and increase student engagement. Participants will explore how physical tools such as base-ten blocks, fraction models, number lines, counters, and area models can be used to bridge concrete, representational, and abstract thinking within Amplify’s problem-based framework.

The session will include classroom examples, model lesson segments, and opportunities for teachers to practice selecting and using manipulatives aligned to specific Amplify activities.
Participants will leave with ready-to-implement strategies for helping students make sense of mathematics through hands-on learning while maintaining fidelity to the Amplify program.

Presenter

Ann Fisher

4th grade teacher, Canyons School District

Emily Weigel

Teacher, Canyons District

I’m a creative and engaged educator who loves designing meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students. I also keep my community in mind while balancing classroom work, PBL projects, and STEAM advocacy efforts. At my core, I value curiosity, growth, and helping others find... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2503

Audience Elementary Teachers

12:40pm MDT

Bridging UDL and Accommodations for Inclusive Classrooms

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

3416

Discover how to move from reactive accommodations to proactive, inclusive design. This session explores the intersection of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and legal academic accommodations, demonstrating how UDL principles—multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression—can reduce the need for individual adaptations. Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to design flexible learning environments that proactively meet diverse learner needs, saving time while improving access for everyone.

Presenter

Bethany Baker

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District Special Education Dept

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
3416

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

12:40pm MDT

Movement in the Classroom: New and Review

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

2212

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will help guide the different types of movement you can add throughout your schedule. From burning energy to calming down, this session will help your students get into their best learning mindset.

Presenter

Meredith Dolny

Specialist

Chat with me about all things play and movement! Recess, PE, movement in your classroom--anything!

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2212

Audience Elementary Teachers

12:40pm MDT

Percussion Pedagogy Workshop - Bret Hughes, Park City SD

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

1123

Percussion pedagogy and methods workshop taught by a percussion expert in the area, and sponsored by Summerhays music.

Note - this was requested by Instrumental Music teachers, who said a session of this nature would make them more likely to attend the conference. This would need to take place in the Band room at Brighton High School.

Presenter

Bret Hughes

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
1123

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

12:40pm MDT

Restoring Power to the (Little) People: Elevating Student Choice to Demonstrate and Extend Learning

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

2214

Limited Capacity seats available

Multiple studies confirm that there is incredible power in giving students structured choices in how they access and demonstrate learning. Relinquishing ownership over what learners get out of their time with you can be scary - but it doesn't have to be! This session will explore strategies for increasing student choice in large and small ways, both to demonstrate learning and to extend it utilizing modality personalization and choice differentiation. Come ready to talk about choice boards, randomization, authentic assessment, and other strategies for putting students in the driver seat of their education. Appropriate for all content areas and grade levels.

Presenter

Nathaniel Ricks

Secondary Social Studies Teacher, Canyons School District

I teach 7th Grade Utah Studies at Draper Park Middle School. I've taught a number of the Social Studies subjects at public and charter schools in Utah and Colorado, as well as teaching World and US History survey courses at Pikes Peak Community College and BYU-Idaho. I like reading... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2214

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

12:40pm MDT

Science of Reading- Let’s Talk: Oral Language

FILLING

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

2410

Limited Capacity filling up

Before children decode words, they must understand them. Explore oral language as the foundation for the five pillars of reading. Learn how a talk-rich environment builds the critical expressive vocabulary necessary for long-term literacy success.

Presenter

Leigh Ann Fisher

teacher specialist, Canyons District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2410

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Admin, SpEd

12:40pm MDT

Socratic Seminars: Speaking & Listening by Design

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

2218

Limited Capacity seats available

This professional development session supports educators with a practical system for implementing AVID Socratic seminars at elementary and secondary levels—grounded in WICOR/WISR learning supports and structured around four phases: text selection, preparation, execution, and reflection. Participants will learn how to facilitate rigorous classroom discussions that build academic language, critical thinking, and speaking & listening skills while maintaining high challenge and high support for all learners. The result is a sustainable approach to structured dialogue that increases rigor and deepens student engagement across content areas.

Presenter

Ashley Skillman

Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2218

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

12:40pm MDT

The Book was Better (But Was it Really?): Using Book-to-Media Adaptations in Instruction

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

3410

Limited Capacity seats available

The Book Was Better explores the thrills and pitfalls of middle-grade and young adult book-to-movie adaptations. We will examine how beloved stories are transformed—sometimes faithfully, sometimes frustratingly—when they hit the big screen or streaming platforms. From casting controversies to plotline overhauls, the conversation will dive into what adaptations get right, what they get wildly wrong, and why it matters to tween and teen readers. It will also highlight how these adaptations can be leveraged in the classroom and library to spark engagement, fuel book circulation, and support media literacy conversations. Attendees will leave with programming ideas, booklists, and talking points to help students critically compare page and screen.

Presenter

Gretchen Zaitzeff

District library media specialist, Canyons School District

As co-lead of the Utah Information, News, and Media Literacy Collaborative, Gretchen Zaitzeff brings a strong background in fostering critical media engagement and empowering educators to integrate information, news, and media literacy across the curriculum. She works as the District... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
3410

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Teacher-librarians

12:40pm MDT

Unleashing Creativity: Procreate Drawing App for Every Classroom

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

2501

Limited Capacity seats available

Bring creativity to life in your classroom with a hands-on drawing lesson using Procreate on iPads. This engaging training helps teachers learn simple, practical techniques to guide students in digital art—no prior experience required. You’ll discover how to use Procreate’s intuitive tools, design step-by-step lessons, and inspire student creativity across subjects. Perfect for boosting engagement, integrating technology, and building confidence in both teachers and students.

Presenter

Meghan Schott

Art Teacher

Jean Leonard

Health teacher

I have been teaching art 14 years. I have taught art to every grade. I love my faith, the truth, my family and anything country. I am not a city girl. 😊

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2501

Professional Learning & Educator Growth

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

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

Motivating Students Through Choice, Rewards, and Recognition

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

2307

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will empower participants to motivate their students through relevant examples of STUDENT CHOICE through choice boards in Google Docs/Google Slides, REWARDS through tracker charts in Google Docs, and RECOGNITION through badges and certificates in Canva. Presenters will show several examples and allow attendees to make copies of resources that could be utilized in the elementary classroom. Come away from this session with new ideas and ready-to-use materials!

Presenter

Stephanie Glover

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Stephanie Glover is an Instructional Coach at Altara Elementary. She has been working in the field of education since 2007 in various positions such as an Elementary Ed Tech Coach as well as a 2nd-5th grade teacher. In 2007, Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary... Read More →

Tami Dautel

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2307

Audience Elementary Teachers

12:40pm MDT

The Motivation Barrier

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

2416

Limited Capacity seats available

In the past, extrinsic motivators helped students succeed in school. The challenge today is developing strong intrinsic motivation in students. By focusing on Challenge, Autonomy, and Relationships, teachers may be able to start to tear down motivation barriers.

Presenter

Bradley Moss

ISD Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2416

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

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

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 →

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

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

12:40pm MDT

Stronger Referrals, Better Support: A teacher's guide to SLP qualification criteria

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

2303

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation provides an overview of the role of the school Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and how speech-language services support students in the school setting. It explains the types of communication skills SLPs address—including speech, language, social communication, and fluency—and how these areas can impact academic success and classroom participation. The presentation also outlines the referral process, including common signs that a student may benefit from a speech-language evaluation and how teachers and staff can collaborate with the SLP to support students’ communication needs.

Presenter

Alexis Garzarelli

SLP

Taylor Cracroft

SLP

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2303

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers

12:40pm MDT

Supporting teachers through the Child Find Process

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

2412

Limited Capacity seats available

My title can be changed if you have a more creative one, but my presentation would be about a system I created to help teachers know what interventions are needed and how to track the data as we refer students for special education. I put all of the information into one place for each teacher and we refer back to it throughout the year.

Presenter

Karlie Aardema

Assistant Principal, Canyons School District

Using technology to support instructional priorities in the classroom

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2412

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

12:40pm MDT

Wonders Newcomer Lessons for Language Aquisition

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

2414

Limited Capacity seats available

Feedback Survey

This presentation will share lessons created to supplement the Wonders Newcomers Guide. These lessons support additional practice and monitoring of the target vocabulary. Come learn about how to access and use these lessons and all the supporting components.

*Note: this presentation was shared last year, so please note that it is not new, if you have already attended.

Resources shared are found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XpnMukxJV66CpnKRL0YFmUk_TgMjlKK5

Presenter

Emily Russo

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Emily is an instructional coach at Peruvian Park Elementary. She has been a coach for Canyons School District for 10 years. Before joining Canyons she taught elementary school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Danae Gothard

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm MDT
2414

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Reflect, Respect, Review: The Importance of Self and Peer Evaluations for Every Subject in Every Grade

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2505

Limited Capacity seats available

Self and peer reflection is a powerful instructional strategy that helps students take ownership of their learning, develop critical thinking skills, and improve the quality of their work. This presentation will introduce teachers to simple, practical ways to incorporate self and peer reflections into any subject area at any grade level. Participants will learn how to create clear reflection prompts, establish classroom expectations for constructive feedback, and use rubrics and/or guiding questions to help students evaluate their own work and the works of their peers. By implementing structured reflection activities, teachers can help students build metacognitive skills, strengthen collaboration, and develop a deeper understanding of learning goals.

Presenter

Sarah Mazuran

Visual Arts Teacher

Being a middle school Visual Arts teacher is important to me because it is one of the most rewarding jobs and it has become a deeply meaningful career. I never know what is going to happen that day in class but I do know that it will be dynamic and never boring! Everyday I get to... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2505

Data-Based Decision Making

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

1:50pm MDT

Amplify manipulatives with Amplify

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2503

Presenter

Ann Fisher

4th grade teacher, Canyons School District

Emily Weigel

Teacher, Canyons District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2503

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Movement in the Classroom: New and Review

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2212

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenter

Meredith Dolny

Specialist

Chat with me about all things play and movement! Recess, PE, movement in your classroom--anything!

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2212

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Number Talks & the BFF Kit=A Perfect Match

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2303

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

We will be diving into Number Talks in lower and upper grades while taking a special look at the BFF Kit (required next year in our math block) components and implementing them in your classroom.

Presenter

Paige Martinez

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Cathy Bruner

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2303

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Performance Materials Reading Session

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

1119

Limited Capacity seats available

A reading session of performance materials for performing arts teachers from digital databases such as JWPepper and Drama Notebook (both of whom CSD has district contracts with).

Presenter

J.P. Kentros

Arts Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
1119

Content Area Arts
Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Productive Engagement with Cooperative Learning

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2313

Introduce teachers to a variety of cooperative learning strategies that would allow students to be engaged in the productive struggle of learning all without a device. Strategies can be used in any content area.

Presenter

Amy Hansen

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2313

Audience Elementary Teachers, Classroom Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Science of Reading- Cracking the Code: Phonics

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2410

Limited Capacity seats available

Phonics is the bridge between the sounds of our speech and the symbols on the page. We will dive into systematic approaches for mapping phonemes to graphemes, ensuring students have the tools to translate their spoken vocabulary into reading mastery. Discover how to make decoding feel like a "lightbulb moment" rather than a chore.

Presenter

Michele Edem

Special Education Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2410

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Admin, SpEd

1:50pm MDT

Universal Design in Elementary School

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2414

Limited Capacity seats available

We will introduce Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles with examples of how to integrate them in to the elementary school classroom.

Presenter

Cari O'Neil

Instructional Coach, CSD

I am the Instructional Coach at Oak Hollow Elementary and love it! I have been a middle school Spanish, history and reading teacher, reading specialist and instructional coach. I am passionate about literacy and love seeing students learn to read. In my personal time, I enjoy spending... Read More →

Holly Sorenson

2nd grade teacher, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2414

Audience Elementary Teachers, Admin

1:50pm MDT

Reciprocal Teaching: Integrating Reading Comprehension Skills to Increase Student Engagement

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2218

Limited Capacity seats available

Reciprocal teaching is a way students can take more responsibility for their reading and learning. Through the use of predicting, clarifying, questioning and summarizing, students share the reading comprehension responsibilities, then have an authentic student-driven discussion about the text's content. We will focus on what reciprocal teaching can look like in an elementary classroom.

Presenter

Rachelle Pease

Instructional Coach

Heidi Vincent

Instructional Coach

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2218

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Motivating Students Through Choice, Rewards, and Recognition

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2307

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenter

Stephanie Glover

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tami Dautel

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2307

Audience Elementary Teachers

1:50pm MDT

The Motivation Barrier

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2416

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenter

Bradley Moss

ISD Specialist, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2416

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

1:50pm MDT

High Yield Strategies to Support all Learners

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

2507

Limited Capacity seats available

We will present on two strategies- Co-craft questions and QSSSA. We will also talk about assessments adaptions for ML students. Same rigor- different format.

Presenter

Sara Leonard

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Kaitlin Portzline

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2507

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers

1:50pm MDT

Unlock the potential of inclusive education by mastering the art of mainstreaming

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT

3416

Unlock the potential of inclusive education by mastering the art of mainstreaming. This session provides general and special educators with practical strategies to successfully integrate students with IEPs into the general education setting. Participants will explore collaborative teaching models, methods for differentiating instruction, and ways to foster a welcoming classroom culture that benefits all learners. Join us to learn how to move beyond compliance to create a truly supportive environment where diverse learners can thrive academically and socially.

Presenter

Bethany Baker

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District Special Education Dept

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
3416