The Utah Coalition for Educational Technology (UCET) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational technology in Utah's schools. Our mission is to empower educators and students by promoting innovative practices and providing resources that enhance teaching and learning. UCET brings together educators, administrators, and technology leaders to collaborate, share insights, and drive positive change in education. Through our annual conference, workshops, and community initiatives, we aim to inspire and support the integration of technology in education, ensuring that all students have access to high-quality, future-ready learning experiences. Join us in shaping the future of education in Utah!
External link for UCET
Provo, Utah 84601, US
UCET reposted this
What an exciting UCET this year! UEN had a blast chatting with teachers and school leaders, as well as making boondoggles for you all!❤️ Thank you UCET for having us again and we look forward to another amazing conference next year.📆
UCET reposted this
Utah State Board of Education Superintendent Molly Hart, Ed.D embodies what authentic leadership looks and sounds like. I'd never heard her speak before UCET 2026, but her actions and words show why Utah is a leading state in AI and education innovation. Dr. Hart's keynote closed with a powerful analogy: Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, so humanity should be the most abundant element in our education universe, especially in the age of AI. I literally was moved to applaud, even if no one else did at that time. 🫣 Dr. Hart talked about standards, professionalism, ownership, navigation, competence, and humanity as the foundation of everything we do in education. This aligned perfectly with the mission of The Rithm Project, the work that brought me out to UCET in the first place. But what happened after the keynote stayed with me... An educator approached her. Dr. Hart was standing at a podium on a raised stage, but she immediately stepped down, got eye to eye with that teacher, and listened. When I came over, she did the same: got eye to eye with me, sat down on the stage, and started sharing all the work she's trying to accomplish across Utah. She's a former principal, former teacher, and has served on local school boards. Now she leads an entire state, but she hasn't lost what made her great in the classroom: she stays present, makes eye contact, and listens. Utah is one of only three states requiring every district to have an AI policy by summer 2026. They're leading on data privacy, student safety, and educator voice. They just announced a major partnership with Google for AI professional development across the state. That doesn't happen by accident. That happens because of leaders like Dr. Molly Hart and those she empowers and supports like Matthew Winters. I'm leaving Utah knowing that keeping humanity at the center isn't just something she says but how she leads. Dr. Hart, thank you for the reminder that great leadership starts by getting down to eye level. Thank you to the incredible educators and leaders who made this such a special first time in Utah, I can't wait for UCET 2027 to see what comes next! Kiera Beddes Michelle Jensen Kelli Cannon Emma Moss Jared Covili Stacey King Rick Gaisford David Bowman Naomi Watkins, Ph.D. Kelly Tucker Jeppson Bennett B. Borden Jonathan Stewart Alan Rhees Joshua Varela Dan L. Anurupa Ganguly Chris Agnew Jeremy Bhatia Michele C. #UCET2026 #EducationLeadership #AIinEducation #Utah #HumanityFirst #LeadershipMatters
UCET reposted this
🚨 Registration is OPEN! 🚨 Join us at the 2026 UEN Tech Summit on June 10–11 at Brighton High School for two days of sessions, networking with peers, and insights from industry experts .💻✨ 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gBivjTVz 📣 Call for Presenters! We’re still accepting proposals! 👉 Submit here: https://lnkd.in/g2vvyJTT Share the summit and spread the word! Questions? techsummitinfo@lists.uen.org See you in June! ☀️
UCET reposted this
Event people are insane. For those who don’t know, I was invited to join the UCET board (Utah’s biggest education technology group), and I got to help run a conference I’ve been attending for years. Respect to those that sign up to run these kind of events and know what they’re getting into.
UCET reposted this
I spent Day 2 of UCET in rooms where people were trying to figure out what comes next. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I found a thread. It started with Rick Gaisford standing at the front of a room full of educators who were unpacking the unexpected elimination of the Digital Teaching and Learning Program — ten years of infrastructure, relationships, and data. Nobody saw that coming. Rick didn’t editorialize much. But he said something that I am still pondering two days later: “You can remove programs. But you can’t take away the community of people who are trying to improve education.” He’s right. Because here’s the thing. Utah has invested millions of dollars in literacy over the last decade. Software. Training. Coaches. Programs. And half of our third graders still cannot read on grade level. The investments weren’t nothing. But they weren’t enough. And I think we’ve been looking in the wrong direction for the answer. A few hours later, Emma Moss and Scott Christensen from Canyons School District were talking about how they communicate with families about technology — what’s allowed, what isn’t, where the guardrails are. It was a good conversation. Important, even. But somewhere in the middle of it, sitting next to two people I’d just met, I found myself asking a different question out loud: What if instead of telling families what we won’t allow — we told them what we’re unlocking in their child? The session continued. More content was presented. But I kept thinking about what that could look like. And I still am. Because the thread I kept pulling on wasn’t really about legislation or programs or tools. It was about who we have been leaving out of the literacy conversation for too long. The most critical window for building the brain architecture that reading requires opens long before kindergarten. And the person holding that window open — every single day, in the car, at dinner, at bedtime — is the parent. We have invested millions in systems. We have almost never invested in the people who are already there, already present, every single day, from birth. Not because parents don’t care. Because we have never fully treated them as part of the equation. We don’t put them at the center of the learning ecosystem. We ask them to operate from the periphery. Rick said the community is the real asset. I believe that. And I’d extend it further — the community includes the parents we have not yet handed the map to. That’s the investment that’s missing. That’s the gap I’m building toward. More soon. #EarlyLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #UCET2026 #ParentEngagement #PreK #LabSchool
UCET reposted this
Congratulations to Justin Brooksby for winning Outstanding Leader at this year's UCET conference! 🎉 Justin Brooksby leads professional development at UEN, driving innovation in instructional design, technology integration, and digital learning across Utah. He oversees key initiatives such as Canvas LMS and statewide leadership programs, including C-Forum, while building strong partnerships that support educators and improve student learning.🧑💻 We are thankful that we get to work with amazing people like Justin. Thank you, Justin, for all your hard work and dedication!🙌❤️
UCET reposted this
Just got back from UCET 2026 representing Skill Struck! I had a blast chatting with educators about their successes and new ideas for implementing computer science and AI curriculum into their classrooms. #UCET2026
Announcing the UCET 2026 Award Winners We are proud to recognize four outstanding professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to the Utah educational technology community. Congratulations to our 2026 honorees: Outstanding Leader Award: Justin Brooksby (Utah Education Network) A transformative leader whose work with ETEP, CForum, and the AI & School Leadership Collaborative has strengthened instructional capacity across the entire state. Outstanding Coach Award: Mayra Sanchez (Granite School District) A bilingual champion for equity and innovation. Mayra’s coaching cycles grounded in student data have transformed how her school community views and uses technology. Excellence in Tech Services Award: Eric Taylor (Canyons School District) The "wizard" ensuring our systems are student-centered. His proactive leadership in the ClassLink rollout and Skyward User Group serves as a model for technical excellence. ISTE Making “IT” Happen Award: Matthew Winters (Utah State Board of Education) A true visionary in AI education and a former UCET President. Matthew continues to inspire the state through his advocacy, insight, and leadership at USBE. These individuals don't just use technology—they use it to empower students, support teachers, and build a more connected Utah. Please join us in the comments to congratulate these well-deserved winners! 👏 #uted #UCETawards #UCET26 #UCETelements #UCET2026 #UtahCoalitionforEducationalTechnology
UCET reposted this
We are excited to recognize USBE's AI Education Specialist Matt Winters for winning Utah’s 2026 Making IT Happen Award! This award, given by the Utah Coalition for Education Technology as part of the International Society for Technology in Education, honors people who help improve education in creative and meaningful ways. Matt Winters has helped schools use technology safely and wisely as he works hard to support students and teachers across Utah. He shared that this award is not just about him, but about the amazing community of educators who have helped him grow. Join us in saying congratulations to Matt for this well-deserved honor!
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every educator, administrator, and industry partner who joined us for the UCET 2026 Conference. Special thanks to our Platinum partners this year: Google, IXL Learning, Ward's MediaTech, Scrible, and Penspring. Your dedication to evolving the "Elements" of education is what makes the #uted community so exceptional. The energy and innovation we witnessed in Salt Lake City were truly inspiring. As we return to our classrooms and districts, let’s carry that momentum forward! Looking Ahead: Save the Date for 2027 📅 We are excited to announce that we will be heading to Provo next year! Dates: March 9 & 10, 2027 Location: Utah Valley Convention Center Thank you for being part of the UCET journey. We look forward to seeing the impact of your work throughout the coming year!