2026 Elevated Teaching Summit: Full Schedule

Vision

In Canyons School District, we believe that all stakeholders benefit from purposeful technology integration within the learning process, focusing on student achievement. Educational technology will be used to empower teachers, students, and other stakeholders to gain the knowledge and skills needed to adapt, create, consume, and connect responsibly and ethically with the broader world in preparation for meaningful life opportunities.

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9:30am MDT

Alternative AI Scaffolds with Gemini

OPEN SEATS

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)

10:40am MDT

Digging Deeper: Document-Based Inquiry!

OPEN SEATS

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

3410

Limited Capacity seats available

Transform your social studies classroom into a hub of critical inquiry. This session equips middle and secondary educators with innovative strategies to bridge the gap between primary sources and contemporary real-world issues. Participants will walk away with actionable tools to empower students as lifelong learners and active, informed citizens.

Presenter

Jessica Edwards

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

I have been in education for 16 years with 15 years as a social studies teacher and one whole year as an instructional coach! I love getting to support teachers and see all the amazing things that they are doing in their classrooms! #bestjobever In my "free" time, I attempt to keep... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
3410

Instructional Design & Planning

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Social Studies

12:40pm MDT

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

OPEN SEATS

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

Instructional Priorities

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

1:50pm MDT

Accessible Printmaking using a 3D Intaglio Printroller

OPEN SEATS

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

3410

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn about making an accessible Etching Print roller using 3D printing. This eliminates the cost and space barriers to get into Intaglio printing by making a miniature Print roller perfect for 2x2 inch prints. The small size also allows students to work fast and using 3D printing makes it very cost effective. We will go over free use files, materials needed in addition to 3D filament, and other best practices when using the miniature Print roller.

Presenter

Kristy Dunn

Visual Art Teacheer

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
3410

Instructional Tools & Technology

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

2026 Elevated Teaching Summit

9:30am MDT

Louis Sherman

Chris Lauriano

10:40am MDT

Jessica Edwards

12:40pm MDT

Gretchen Zaitzeff

1:50pm MDT

Kristy Dunn

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