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.

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

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

10:20am MDT

The AI Frontier: What's New, What's Next, and What It Means for Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am MDT

2406

This session is designed to bring you to the cutting edge, showcasing the most exciting and education-relevant innovations. We'll explore transformative breakthroughs, AI-driven scientific research in fields like medicine and data analysis. We'll also dive into deep learning models and AI-generated simulations that are redefining what's possible. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started, this session will ground you in what’s real, what’s on the horizon, and how you can strategically engage with the next frontier of AI innovation.

Presenter

Emma Moss

Digital Teaching & Learning Specialist, Canyons School District

Emma Moss is a Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist and AI Project Co-Lead in Canyons School District, as well as the Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Program Director in Utah. She founded the Utah AI Collaborative and leads monthly meet-ups on AI and innovation in education... Read More →

Jonathan Stewart

DTL Specialist, General

Jonathan Stewart has been an educator for over 20 years. He is a facilitator and trainer for the AI in K12 project for the Utah State Board of Education. He is also the co-lead of the AI team in Canyons School District in Sandy, UT, in addition to other projects related to education... Read More →

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am MDT
2406

Audience Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Admin, Counselors, Related Service Providers, Teacher-librarians
Ed Tech Tool Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2026 Elevated Teaching Summit

12:40pm MDT

Gretchen Zaitzeff

10:20am MDT

Emma Moss

Jonathan Stewart

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