UEN Homeroom

This week Dani and Jared interview Payden Littlefield, a Science/Robotics teacher at Syracuse Jr. High in Davis School District.   As part of their conversation they look at the role robotics can play in helping students develop critical thinking skills.  In addition, they cover topics such as:   the biggest impacts for teachers who implement robotics into their classrooms good first steps into us...

Dani and Jared are pleased to welcome Bri DeLeon and Richard Thomas, from Latinos in Action,  into the Homeroom this week. During this powerful episode we discuss topics such as: How do we talk to students about racism?  What does systemic racism look like in the education system? How do we encourage schools to celebrate diversity?  How do we include parents and families into conversations about r...

In this episode of UEN Homeroom we're talking with Dr. Allison Martin and Kody Colvin, both educators/administrators in the Salt Lake School District and members of FAM (Friends, Allies, and Mentors of the LGTBQ+ Community.  During our conversation we focus on topics like: the key issues schools need to address when it comes to addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ students, improving our school culture...

Jared and Dani are talking coaching the week with Robert Proffit, Professional Learning Coordinator from Washington County School District.  As we look into coaching we discuss the following topics: What are the biggest impacts for teachers who participate in a coaching program? How do you encourage teachers who are reluctant to coaching to try a new approach? What is the research surrounding coac...

In this episode of UEN Homeroom, Jared and Dani are pleased to welcome Tim Eernisse, Vice President of the National Education Telecommunications Association (NETA).  As part of our conversation we tackle such topics as:  the role that public media can play in helping people of all ages learn, how local public media stations make a difference in their educational communities, the future of public m...

In another of our Lost Episodes, Jared and Dani meet with Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology for Granite School District and UCET President Elect, to discuss the impact that UCET has on classrooms throughout Utah.  We talk about the different activities that UCET provides educators, the need for professional learning in education, and the future of UCET moving forward.

In one of our Lost Episodes, Jared and Dani connect with Amanda Souza, Manager of Community Partnerships for the Southwest with Girls Who Code.  During our conversation we cover topics including:  the role that Girls Who Code plays in Utah, the need for gender equity in computer programming, the skills that students develop in Girls Who Code, and the need for teachers and schools to get involved i...

UEN Homeroom is excited to welcome the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Syndee Dickson, to be the final guest in our Learn @ Home series.  As part of her role in guiding K-12 schools we talk with Dr. Dickson about the decisions leading up to the soft close of schools and the eventual decision to close in-person instruction for the rest of the school year.  We also cover topics like...

UEN Homeroom is excited to welcome Kip Motta, Principal of Rich Middle School and North Rich Elementary, to discuss the response to COVID 19 in our latest episode in the Learn @ Home series.  We discuss topics such as:  how Rich schools prepared for distance learning in a 1 to 1 computer program for students, helping students by balancing the workload during distance learning, and facilitating tea...

In the next installment of the Learn @ Home series, UEN Homeroom talks with Scott Wihongi, principal of Murray High School.  As the school year nears completion, we talk about topics like:  how to provide the class of 2020 a sense of closure, connecting with students and parents who are struggling during this time, and helping the community stay strong in the face of challenge.  

This week Jared and Dani continue our Learn @ Home series by talking with Zachary Sloan, a special ed teacher at Copper Hills High School in Jordan School District.  During our discussion we cover topics like:  how to help seniors make it to graduation while being socially distant, keeping relationships going with students who need connection, and making the transition to using an LMS on a daily b...

This week Jared and Dani meet with Karen Sterling, Director of Student Advocacy in Canyons School District, as we continue with our Learn@Home series.  We focus this episode on the equity issues brought up through the switch to distance learning.  Our topics this week include: how to maintain relationships with parents and students while separated (including old school mail), how is the digital di...

In this episode of UEN Homeroom, we turn in house to talk with Kelleigh Cole, Sr. Manager of Strategic Initiatives at UETN.  We discuss the need to extend internet to all students throughout Utah,  the educational and social impact of lack of internet, and how to partner schools with local telecom providers to help strengthen connectivity. Utah Communities Connect Wifi Locations Digital Divide Res...

In our latest Learn @ Home episode, Jared Covili and Jared Fawson (Homeroom Super Sub) check in with Joe B. Wright, Executive Director of the Southwest Educational Service Center (SEDC) to learn more about the impact that distance learning is having on the students and faculties of Southern Utah.  In our discussion we cover topics like:  how rural Utah is helping all students receive broadband int...

Jared and Dani are back with another UEN Homeroom.  This time we're joined by Sarah Young, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Utah State Board of Education.  The conversation touches upon fun topics like what your Zoom background looks like to when is the appropriate time each day to get dressed.  Sarah provides information about  how USBE is helping districts deal with addressing student t...

UEN Homeroom welcomes Gabbi Young, an EdTech coach with Washington County School District, to our Learn @ Home series.  As part of the discussion we focus on the need to be on the same team with teachers and students, the impact of the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant in preparing our schools for distance learning, and how to support teachers with their current needs.

Jared and Dani are back with another Learn @ Home episode of UEN Homeroom. This time, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Cade Douglas, Superintendent of Sevier School District. Our conversation covers topics such as: how to work with community partners to share information with parents,  the importance of the school district in keeping families afloat, and strengthening teachers and students during tim...

UEN Homeroom is pleased to welcome John Kelly, principal of Washington Elementary in Salt Lake School District, into our Learn @ Home series.  During this episode we discuss the important role schools play in providing for the needs of the community, how to connect with your faculty and students while distancing, and the importance of communicating with your stakeholders.

Jared and Dani are back with another Learn @ Home episode of UEN Homeroom.  This week we are discussing what distance learning looks like with Cody Spendlove, Edtech Director of Alpine School District.   As part of our conversation we talk about how to provide devices to a district with 80,000 students, how to keep kids safe online while working from home, and the best practices teachers are using...

In our next Learn @ Home episode of UEN Homeroom we are focusing in on Jr. High with Levi Andersen, a History teacher from Mound Fort Jr. High in Ogden School District.  During our conversation we explored topics such as: how Levi is connecting with students who struggle, the role of using Canvas to help with distance teaching, and what kind of babysitter was Jared Covili.

In the next installment of our Learn @ Home series, Jared and Dani connect with Hilary Linton, a 5th grade teacher at Oakwood Elementary, to discuss the impact of moving to an online curriculum.  Hilary shares her insights on the importance of letting students know they are cared for, working with your team to be successful and how to juggle working from home with helping you own family cope with...

As part of our special, Learn @ Home series, UEN Homeroom connects with Dr. Laura Rogers, Assistant Profession in the College of Education at the University of Utah.  During our distance conversation we talk about how she is managing her classes as they transition from in-person to online, the importance of compassion in dealing with this stressful situation and why you need to be prepared with Gi...

As part of our UCET Live series, Jared, Dani, and Fernando participated in the Utah Podcasters Unite panel discussion.  They were joined by the hosts of three Utah education podcasts to chat about all things audio and education. Jake from the Teaching Literacy Podcast , Quin from Edtrex Rewind , and Tracy from Little Things First are all Utah educators who started podcasts to influence classroom l...

As part of the UCET conference, Jared moderated a panel of Utah educators and leaders for a group of international education leaders.  Our panel of Utah educators including Robert Gordon (Box Elder), Justin Brooksby (UEN), Tonya James (Ogden), Dave Horan (Alpine), Pam Turley (Nebo), Rick Gaisford (USBE).  Topics include: Differences between Rural and Urban schools, the role of standardizing curric...

In this episode of Homeroom, we're live at the 2020 UCET Conference with Ditch that Textbook's Matt Miller and UCET President Pam Turley.  We discuss topics such as creating a vision for your classroom, how to be brave when trying something new, and exploring your passions in learning.