Connect Canyons

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to uncover the extraordinary world of dual language immersion programs? Get set to embark on a fascinating journey with us as we explore Canyons School District's acclaimed 18 dual immersion programs, delivering education in Spanish, French, and Chinese. We sit down with Tracey Stacey, the Principal at Lone Peak Elementary, Kena Sorensen, an administrator in the...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered who the unsung heroes of our educational system are? They're the custodial and grounds staff, the people who keep our schools clean, functional, and in tip-top shape, ensuring that students and teachers have an optimal learning environment. Join me, Jody Guennessy, as I engage in a heart-to-heart conversation with Kevin Kelsen, the custodial grounds coordinator...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how technology is shaping the future of education? Get ready to have your curiosity piqued as we journey into the heart of the Canyon School District's IT department with Scott McCombs, the district's IT director. Scott offers an insider's perspective on the multi-faceted roles his team plays - from troubleshooting classroom tech issues to managing a v...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how you can improve your school's performance and achievement levels? Well, get ready to unravel the mystery of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with our guest, Bob Sanju. As an experienced educator and author, Bob helps us navigate through the complex world of PLCs, highlighting how these powerful tools can transform the teaching landscape. Wit...

Send us Fan Mail A true celebration is in order as we share the remarkable journey of Canyon School District's inaugural graduating class of 2022. From their first 'college-ready' day in kindergarten at Ocala Elementary to standing tall on their high school graduation day, these students have turned every stone on their path to success. Join us and our special guests, Dr. Rick Robbi...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to unearth the power of cultural representation in literature as we chat with Lehua Parker, the brilliant author behind the captivating novel One Boy, No Water. We'll journey through the scenic landscapes of Hawaii while unraveling the intriguing storyline of two brothers, Zedr and Jay. If you've ever grappled with the feeling of being different, listen up, bec...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to revolutionize the way you think about classroom technology? We promise that this episode is going to challenge and broaden your perceptions. With the guidance of educational technology experts, Dr. Camille Cole and Justin Andersen, we explore how strategic use of technology enhances learning experiences, and how it played a pivotal role during the pandemic. We dis...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what it's like to walk a mile in a teacher's shoes? Prepare to be enlightened as we journey into the world of teaching, drawing inspiration from remarkable educators such as Elena Stone, Tiffany McDaniel, Alisa Taysum, Skyler Blumell, and Daniel Wheeler. These aren't your everyday teachers; they are the semifinalists for Teacher of the Year, each havin...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an exhilarating journey into the realm of book-to-screen adaptations with our special guests, the fabulously knowledgeable librarian specialist, Gretchen Zeissef, and the passionately enthusiastic teacher librarian, Maria Jones from Corner Canyon. We dive headlong into the fascinating process of translating beloved narratives from the page to the screen. Uncover the...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to experience an inspiring journey through the extraordinary 49-year career of the fantastic Penny Peterson. Promise me you'll tune in as we trace her steps through Brighton High School's corridors, exploring her impactful roles, from the copy room to the counseling centers, to the sidelines of every athletic event. The joy she brought to the school's comm...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on a captivating trip through the remarkable career of Todd Bird, an education veteran of 35 years who has hung up his hat on a fascinating journey from welder to teacher, coach, and eventually the principal of South Park Academy. Todd's story is bursting with inspiring moments and heartfelt stories, including a 'Rudy' experience with a high school football...

Send us Fan Mail Picture this: a young girl, exceptional yet relatable, navigating anxiety, trauma, and a new school. That’s the protagonist of 'Girl from Nowhere', the captivating creation of our guest for this episode, Tiffany Rosenhan. Not only do we dissect the origins of this resonant storyline, but Tiffany also reveals some exhilarating news about the book venturing onto the silver...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for a warm literary hug this winter? We've got you covered with enchanting winter reads recommended by our special guests, librarian specialist Gretchen Sightsef and teacher librarian Katherine Bates. Get whisked away into the magical world of Mark Barnett's "Extra Yarn", a delightful picture book that resonates with the values of generosity, as recommend...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever looked at a saxophone and wondered what it would be like to coax beautiful sounds from its gleaming body? Follow me on a magical exploration with our special guest, Randall Clark, the Director of Instrumental Music at Corner Canyon High School, who has been mesmerizing audiences with his saxophone since the tender age of nine. His musical journey is nothing short of...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder about the complex and challenging journey of a book before it lands in your child's school library? Prepare for some enlightening knowledge, as we tackle the intriguing issue of book selection in school libraries, a topic that unearths the delicate balance of First Amendment rights and content appropriateness. We're joined by Canyon Superintendent Dr. Rick Ro...

Send us Fan Mail When you enroll in a college or university, you expect that your tuition dollars are being put to good use, and one important measure of quality is whether the institution is accredited. Accreditation is an assurance that the school you’ve chosen meets certain standards — and it applies, not only to colleges, but to high schools. Each of Canyons District’s high schools are fully a...

Send us Fan Mail Busy parents can’t do it all: check the backpack, help with homework, attend school events, and volunteer in the classroom. So, when it comes to getting involved in their child’s education, where should they start? What questions should they be asking? How can they make the most of parent-teacher conferences? What barriers, fears, or misunderstandings get in the way of parents and...

Send us Fan Mail The teenage years are a time of great physical, social, and intellectual growth. But when do the normal ups and downs of teenage life become something to worry about — and seek help for?  We recently posed these questions, and more, to one of Canyons District’s school psychologists, Brandon Segura, Ph. D. As a parent and a professional, he had some great advice and timely insights...

Send us Fan Mail With daily headlines focusing so much on what tears us apart, here at Connect Canyons, we’re kicking off the school year with an episode on what brings us together. We recently interviewed a bunch of students and first-year teachers. We asked how they were feeling about the school year, and about their fears, hopes and aspirations. And guess what? We discovered that there is far m...

Send us Fan Mail For the Class of 2021, the recently held graduation ceremonies were more than a rite of passage marking the end of 12 or more years of schooling. They were moments of triumph for so many reasons. CSD graduates endured more than a year of loss. They adapted to quarantines and distance learning, and braved the uncertainty of not knowing if the hard work they were putting into artist...

Send us Fan Mail The pandemic has forced us to be more creative with our time. We've found ways to make the most of “stay-at-home” orders and working and learning remotely. We're even teaching differently, adopting methods such as the flipped classroom where students do their assigned reading and work at home before coming to class so teachers can devote class time to answering questions...

Send us Fan Mail The origin story of Canyons School District — a school system created in 2007 by a vote of the people — is as familiar, by now, as our track record in prioritizing college- and career-readiness, student achievement, innovation, community engagement, customer service and fiscal accountability. It’s time to start writing the next chapter. In a bid to keep student achievement and inn...

Send us Fan Mail Canyons’ schools are reopening to volunteers. With vaccination rates picking up, and the availability of rapid COVID tests, we are able to safely welcome parents, grandparents, and other volunteers back into our classrooms — and it couldn’t happen at a more opportune time. As schools look to finish the year strong and make the most out of the last few months of instructional time,...

Send us Fan Mail Try imagining life without computers. Impossible, right? Technology has changed how we consume news and entertainment, make travel plans, stay in touch with our friends, shop, and even learn. Yet, a surprising number — 10 to 15 percent — of Canyons District students have no access to a computer or reliable Internet at home. In a pandemic, bridging this digital divide became an imp...

Send us Fan Mail If you live in Utah and are the parent of a high school student, chances are you’ve heard of Test to Play, the bi-monthly rapid COVID testing that athletes and performing arts groups undergo so they can safely continue to practice, perform, and compete. The test-to-play program has helped preserve the spirit-building activities that make high school so memorable. Now, those same t...