Utah Charter School Conversations

If your school is looking for a fun, active, easy-to-start, and affordable after school team/activity for students, consider a Jump Rope Team. One of the unique performances at Charter Day on the Hill at the Utah State Capitol was watching this enthusiastic, choreographed group of jump ropers performing rump jumps, synchronized swings, and crossies! Hear about the program...and you may find yourself wanting to take the leap!

Canyon Rim Academy has a 20+ year tradition of having a Jump Rope Team. In this interview, I speak with founding parent of Canyon Rim (and the Jump Rope Team), Shana Heyn, about starting the Jump Rope Team. We talk to team members Mark (6th grade), Goldie (5th grade), and Beatrice (4th grade) about being serious jumpers and the joy (and pain) of jump rope performing. We wrap up with a discussion with the coaches (AND former Jump Rope Team members AND current teachers at Canyon Rim Academy) Paige Pectol, Serena Knaphus, Hanna Broome, and Calli Hodson. I was  interested to know how their passion for team jump roping informs how they coach and encourage this next generation of jumpers.

Pictures from the Jump Rope Team performance at Charter Day on the Hill and at their after school practices can be found at https://www.utahcharters.org/podcasts.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Scott Mastroianni, Director of Canyon Rim Academy, shares his experience of finding Canyon Rim after teaching all over the world and all over the education spectrum. He is building on the 15 year of community support of Canyon Rim to continue their clear and encouraging core values of Learning, Respect, Safety, Love, Peace,
and Joy.

We discuss the joy of "saying yes" to innovative ideas (and what that looks like in practical terms). We also talk facilities, and the challenges of housing academics, arts, and a myriad of programs in an older building.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

In our new series of Ten-Minute Trainings, listen to our Director of Training, Shannon Greer, concisely let you know the basics of OPMA (Open and Public Meetings Act) in Utah. This can be used in board meetings with the accompanying worksheet to help your board comply to this vital law.

***Updated and shortened from the other OPMA training.***

Grab the WORKSHEET! (print or view pdf online)
Turn on the podcast!
Be in compliance!

Here is what we cover:

• Noticing a meeting (even if it's an emergency!)
• Board meeting agenda (everyone needs one...and a good one)
• Electronic meetings (do you have a policy so you can even have one?)
• Board meeting minutes (let 'em know what happened in a timely manner)
• Common violations-what to watch out for! 

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Chris Barnum, Principal at Vista School in Ivins, Utah discusses the triple focus of academics, arts, and technology. The school offers a variety of options so students can focus on what interests them the most....but not without giving them plenty of exposure to a variety of fun curriculum! Chris discusses going from teacher to administrator and how to help teacher (and his own) burnout.

This episode, recorded December 3rd, discusses the newly opened expansion of Vista School. The new 500 seat theater was dedicated January 7, 2023. The theater will showcase student productions with professional sound and lighting, including an orchestra pit. If you're around, make sure to attend one of their many productions!  

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Our conversation this week is with Christy Hall, Director of St. George Academy in Washington, Utah. Christy has over 20 years experience in charter schools in southern Utah. We discuss the focus of St. George Academy, building and inclusive school culture with student input, and much more! Christy has a great story about transitioning from a performance-based charter school to an academic-focused school-let's just say you teach math a little differently. This story shows that as an educator, Christy is determined to serve students in a meaningful and individualized way.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Listen in to my conversation with Nathan Marshall, Executive Director at Providence Hall Charter School. He watches over 2000 students, K-12, in Herriman, UT.
Recently discussed in a BYU Daily Universe article, Providence Hall has taken steps to eliminate cell phone use in the classroom. We talk the impact of this on student engagement and chasing lizards (no, really!) so take a few minutes and get to know Providence Hall and Mr. Marshall.

NOTE: There were a couple recording errors, so the full explanation of the cell phone program was not recorded. You will understand the gist of the program which is that cell phones are put away in during each class. The students are allowed phones at schools between periods and during lunch.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Join in this conversation with Eulogio Alejandre, Principal of Esperanza Elementary. Esperanza Elementary educates its student to be biliterate in Spanish and English. In our conversation we cover the need for biliterate education especially in our local Latin population and best methods to provide that learning. We discuss the four registers of language and how that impacts language learning. You will see the intentionality of Esperanza's design and how passionate Mr. Alejandre is about educating "his" children.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

This week's conversation is with April Thompson, 9th grade science teacher at Lakeview Academy. April participated in the Pathmaker Bridge program at the University of Utah where she conducted cancer research over the summer. In this conversation, we learn about the program and April's research project to encourage other charter school teacher to participate. We also learn about April's path to becoming a teacher. Side note: April also works for UAPCS as the APPEL Program Coordinator. 

Reach April at [email protected].

Mentions in the podcast:

• Genetics Science Learning Center part of University of Utah Health Sciences: https://teach.genetics.utah.edu/
• Utah State Science Standards (Science with Engineering Education-SEEd): https://www.schools.utah.gov/file/e5d886e2-19c3-45a5-8364-5bcb48a63097
• Pathmaker Bridge (teachers): https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/huntsman/education-training/pathmaker/bridge
• Pathmaker Scholar (high school juniors and seniors): https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/huntsman/education-training/pathmaker/scholars

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

This week my conversation is with Katina Santamaria, Principal, Guadalupe School in Salt Lake City. Ms. Santamaria and I discuss the literacy focus of Guadalupe, the close culture of the school community, and swimming in the ocean (wear a bright pink cap)!

To learn more about Guadalupe School visit https://guadschool.org/ or call (801) 531-6100.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.

Itineris graduate, Mitchell Sandborn, takes a few minutes to discuss the impact the Itineris had on his career. Hint: A lot! He works as an IT contractor at Itineris! Hear about his educational journey and what his time at Itineris meant to him.

To learn more about Itineris, visit https://www.iechs.org/.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS) is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, training, and technical support to promote excellence in education across Utah. Visit www.utahcharters.org for more information.

The Utah Association of Public Charter Schools is a non-profit organization that promotes excellence in Utah's public charter schools through advocacy, training, and technical support. Our podcast is produced, hosted, and edited by Gina James. Original music was composed by James Valentine.

Please subscribe to this podcast and visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Find student stories and training videos on our YouTube channel.