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.

9:30am MDT

Science of Reading- Overview: Stop Guessing, Start Growing

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

2410

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

Bernice Allen

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

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

Instructional Design & Planning

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

UDL: What is it? Why use it?

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

3406

This session will break down the basics of UDL and how you can incorporate it into your class in small chunks or in whole units

Presenter

Sydnie Schoepf

Instructional Coach, Hillcrest High, Canyons District

Sydnie has 17 years in education and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction. She loves to nerd out about all things learning and EdTech. When she's not working, you can catch her playing with her two puppies, reading, or both.

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3406

Instructional Design & Planning

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, CTE, PE/Health, Special Education, Arts, Science
Audience Classroom Teachers, Admin
Ed Tech Tool Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports, STEAM/STEM, Writing, Scaffolding

9:30am MDT

Activate, Engage, Extended: Using Inquiry and Collaboration to Promote Literacy

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

2311

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

Susie Baer Young

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tyson Swasey

ELA Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
2311

Instructional Priorities

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

9:30am MDT

Helping All students Access Challenging Text

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

2412

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

Presenter

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Bernice Allen

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

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

Instructional Priorities

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

9:30am MDT

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

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

2307

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

Instructional Priorities

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, Systematic Vocabulary Instruction

9:30am MDT

The Collaborative Classroom: Using Quality Interactions and Mind Mirrors to Boost Engagement

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

3503

We will be presenting on a QTEL lesson structure we have implemented in the classroom. This strategy includes reading in 4 voices, collaboration, creating a mind mirror of the character you are reading about, and presentation skills.

Presenter

Caitlin Barrus

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

I am currently getting ISTE certified. Additionally, I am an eMINTS affiliate trainer, and have presented on the use of SAMR and TPACK.

Lindsey Hausknecht

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3503

Instructional Priorities

Content Area ELA, Social Studies, Special Education, Science
Audience Classroom Teachers
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports, WISR

9:30am MDT

Curating the Classroom: Engaging Students through Interactive Mini Museums

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

3418

What if your students didn't just summarize their learning, but curated an exhibit? Move beyond an essay or run-of-the-mill Slide Deck and turn your classroom into an interactive gallery.

By stepping into the role of a Museum Curator, students do more than just report facts - they evaluate, prioritize, and defend their choices. Canva’s Mini Museums take the heavy lifting out of design, allowing students to focus on the 'why' behind the 'what'. Join this session for a 3D glow-up that puts learning on a pedestal.

Presenter

Monica Alm

APPEL Coaching Coordinator, Canyons School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
3418

Instructional tools & Technology

Content Area Math, ELA, World Language/DLI, Social Studies, Arts, Science
Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers
Ed Tech Tool Canva

9:30am MDT

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

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

2507

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

Partnerships, Snorkl

Maggie Kenny is a former middle school special education teacher and a member of the Snorkl team. She works with schools and districts across the country to support AI-powered formative assessment and help teachers provide more timely, individualized feedback. Drawing on her classroom... Read More →

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

Instructional Tools & Technology

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, Feedback Cycles

9:30am MDT

Congruence and Your Teaching Practice

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

2214

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

Professional Learning & Educator Growth

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

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

SPED Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District Special Education Dept

Kristin Crain

Teacher Specialsit, 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

Designing Intentional Reading Experiences

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

2216

Stop hunting for the "perfect strategy" and start making your instructional thinking visible. This PD is designed to help you slow down and explore how intentional planning makes the same text more accessible and more rigorous for every student.

Presenter

Anne Clyde

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

Alisha Dimapilis

Healthy Lifestyles Teacher

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

Instructional Design & Planning

Content Area ELA
Audience Classroom Teachers, Admin

10:40am MDT

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

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

2313

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

Katie Schmoldt

Instructional Coach, Canyons School District

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

Kaylie Sullivan

Secondary English Language Arts Teacher

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:40am - 11:40am MDT
2313

Instructional Design & Planning

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

12:40pm MDT

Science of Reading- Let’s Talk: Oral Language

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

2410

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

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Bernice Allen

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Leigh Ann Fisher

teacher specialist, Canyons District

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

Instructional Design & Planning

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

1:50pm MDT

No Time? No Problem! 15-Minute Micro-Challenges using Keva Planks

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

2305

Engineering doesn't always need a three-week unit. Inspired by the success of Maker's Got Talent—a student-created, district-wide Middle School Keva Plank competition—this fully hands-on session focuses on scaling that high-energy excitement down to the classroom level through 10-to-15-minute "Micro-Challenges." Instead of just hearing about these activities, you will actively build and iterate through live mini-challenges while exploring how to design custom prompts that tie directly into your specific content area and curriculum goals. Whether you teach math, science, history, or art, you will learn the thought process behind setting constraints that spark instant teamwork and critical thinking, walking away with a clear blueprint to seamlessly mash up playful engineering with your daily content.

Presenter

Chandra Martz

DTL Specialist, General

Chandra Martz is a Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist for Canyons School District, where she supports DTL and STEAM initiatives. She has been working in educational technology since 2012, helping K–12 educators and students integrate innovative tools and practices that enhance... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm MDT
2305

Instructional Design & Planning

Content Area Arts, CTE, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, World Language/DLI
Audience All, Classroom Teachers, Elementary Teachers, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers
Instructional Priority STEAM/STEM

1:50pm MDT

Science of Reading- Cracking the Code: Phonics

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

2410

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

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Bernice Allen

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Michele Edem

Special Education Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

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

Instructional Design & Planning

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

1:50pm MDT

Universal Design in Elementary School

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

2414

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

Instructional Design & Planning

Content Area ELA
Audience Elementary Teachers, Admin
Instructional Priority Scaffolding

9:10am MDT

Money in the Bank: Content Literacy Made Easy

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am MDT

3406

Literacy in the secondary classroom doesn't have to feel scary! In this session we'll provide easy, supportive techniques for how to build up all student vocabularies that you can build into your routines, regardless of content area. Literacy is everyone's responsibility, so let's help students grow their literacy skills!

Presenter

Sydnie Schoepf

Instructional Coach, Hillcrest High, Canyons District

April Hamm

ELD/Literacy Teacher, Canyons School District

I am a Literacy teacher at Hillcrest High School. I have taught elementary school for many years, and I am very interested in using technology to increase students' reading ability and vocabulary. I have experience teaching small group intervention, ESL, and have worked with all grades... Read More →

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am MDT
3406

Instructional Priorities

Content Area ELA
Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers
Ed Tech Tool Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructional Priority Multilingual Supports

10:20am MDT

Science of Reading- Beyond the Page: Comprehension

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

2410

Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. This session explores how background knowledge and oral language skills synthesize to create deep meaning. Discover how to move beyond basic recall and teach students to engage in high-level discourse that fosters critical thinking.

Presenter

Julie Butler

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Bernice Allen

Teacher Specialist, Canyons School District

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am MDT
2410

Instructional Design & Planning

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

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10:20am MDT

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