Utah Charter School Conversations

Utah Charter School Conversations

We do a little training, speak with charter school leaders, and touch on issues that affect Utah charter schools.

Episodes

September 30, 2026 • 4 mins

This 5 minute Mentoring Program orientation is a high-level overview of the new mentoring program. Meant as a companion to the mentoring handbook, this summary talks about the three Cs of the mentoring program: connect, coach, and cultivate.

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 podca...

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Consultation Access Link Line to Utah Psychiatry (CALL-UP) is a free consultation service available to all Utah public schools. The consult service is designed to:

  1. Optimize primary care providers’ ability and confidence to diagnose and treat mild to moderate mental health issues;
  2. Improve quality of care and health outcomes for patients by affording early interventions;
  3. Promote and improve mental health and physical health in...
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This episode will address how to craft a persuasive project narrative and aligning your budget to your proposal so your organization is grant-ready. Your project narrative isn’t just paperwork. It's your opportunity to show reviewers that your vision is strategic, your goals are measurable, and your plan is realistic.

This episode covers key strategies to make your narrative stand out. We also address the budget narrative and ...

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How do you know if you are ready to apply for the CSP grant? This episode will guide you through identifying the foundational core capabilities that must be in place to be ready to apply. We also cover baseline application elements. We end with a quick discussion of accounting best practices, including time and effort tracking and internal controls that are required in grant reports.

Please download the corresponding handout HERE.

If...

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In this episode, you will learn about the Utah Charter Schools Program, CSP, Grant and help you determine whether applying is the right step for your school. We will answer:

What is the CSP Grant?

Why does this grant exist?

How much funding is available?

Who is eligible to apply?

What can CSP funding be used for and not used for?

We have also created a handout to help you remember all the key points. You can find the handout HERE.

Visit u...

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In this episode, you will learn about the Utah Charter Schools Program, CSP, Grant and share the application process, required documents, review criteria, and what it takes to submit a competitive application. We will cover the following:

Step 1: Eligibility Verification

Step 2: Mandatory Technical Assistance

Step 3: Application Submission

Step 4: Application Format & Required Components

What Happens after you submit?

Post-Award: Wha...

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Join our discussion all about Ascent Academies of Utah and the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM). With 5 campuses (Lehi, Saratoga Springs, West Valley, West Jordan, and Farmington), Ascent Academies provides an education not only geared to a student's learning type but to their expression type of learning through SEM. Developed at the University of Connecticut, Ascent teachers receive deep training in SEM to help children become en...

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UAPCS partners with several companies to offer shared services at better rates and with more options that a school may be able to receive on their own.

Able & Strong, formerly Verapath, offers financial services including retirement investment options including a 401K program. In this podcast, we speak with Greg Misener, Chief Compliance Officer, and Sarah Cox, Director of Business Development and Client Relations. We co...

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Join our conversation with Jared Ferguson, Executive Director, at Athenian eAcademy. Athenian has six campuses in Tremonton, Delta, Ephraim, Nephi, Richfield, and Ballard in addition to a blended program that combines home learning with school supports.
 
Jared believes in the importance of each person at school from students to parents, and support staff to teachers. Athenian strives to provide differentiated learning f...

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Join Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools as we discuss what bills passed, what was discussed, and how much money we'll get for education in the coming year. Please take a look at the summary document on our website HERE. You can also see all the updates during the session on our website at https://www.utahcharters.org/legislative-updates.  Some key bills discussed include the follo...

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Meet the delightful and experienced Lani Rounds, Principal at Bridge Elementary in Roy, UT. A long-time educator, Lani has worked with multiple charter schools in leadership positions, but began in education as a SPED teacher. Designing Bridge Elementary after Special Education principles of personalized learning, her school is active, "sometimes noisy," and full of enthusiastic professionals. Her teachers receive 16 hours/week tow...

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In this double episode (!) we get two interviews-first with Marie Steffenson, Associate Executive Director, State Charter School Board. Marie has extensive experience with Utah's charter schools as a teacher, instructional coach, and school director. Her desire to build relationships and support charter schools comes through. We discuss what an authorizer does, what supportive authorization looks like, and the organization of the S...

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This episode covers items pertinent to public charter schools coming up in the Utah State Legislature session. Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, UAPCS, is right in the center of conversations with lawmakers and let's us know what to watch for. The 45 day session runs from January 16, 2024-March 1, 2024.

We discuss the following items:

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Join the discussion with Brittany Luck, Principal, Uintah River High School, and Ronee Wopsock Pawwinnee, Ute Indian Tribe Education Director to talk about Uintah River High School. This public charter school is located on Ute tribal land in Fort Duchesne, UT.  The school serves 80 students, most with tribal affiliation (506 students refer to federally funded appropriations for American Indian and Alaskan Native students). The...

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We're all on a long road trip together...it helps to stay positive, focus on the same goals, and have mutual respect. Join this conversation with Simon Raubenheimer, Principal, Endeavor Hall, to learn how a South African native, runs a school with nearly a third English language learners. One of the Simon's tools is his positive outlook on life and the ability to build a family-like community around the school.

The Utah Asso...

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This discussion covers all things UCAS (Utah County Academy of Sciences) including its partnership with Utah Valley University, close-knit student group, and leadership in communication that brings together students and staff for great student success. The great majority of UCAS graduates have completed an Associate degree which covers a significant portion of their general college education. Additionally, the senior year experienc...

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Join today's conversation with Angela Fanjul, Director of Dual Immersion Academy in Salt Lake City, UT. We discuss how a variety of Hispanic cultures (teachers and students from many different Spanish-speaking countries) come together to work toward the common goal of excellent education and proficiency in two languages. We talk about their immersion model (different from many district school programs) and supports they offer to he...

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Enjoy the delightful Sheena Alaiasa and Kaniela Kamala with Pacific Heritage Academy as we discuss using cultural heritage to help students understand themselves, value others, and as an approach to learning. For ten years, Pacific Heritage Academy has been serving students in the Rose Park neighborhood of Salt Lake City. Sheena and Kaniela discuss the demographic changes of their students, challenges of covid to learning, and help...

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The Winter Sports School in Park City, UT has a unique mission and school schedule (they attend school April-November). Learn about how very serious student athletes (Olympians even!) can get a world-class education while pursuing world records. Our discussion includes how teachers and students work together to create flexibility with academic rigor. We also learn about how WSS is addressing the demand on student's attention throug...

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The Vista School in Ivins, UT hosts Vex Robotics competitions. Join us at the December 2022 competition and learn all about Vex! Many thanks to the students, parents, and teams from across the region that spoke to me:

  • Vista School Middle School Division Champions and World Competitors
  • Success Academy, Utah Tech
  • Moapa Valley
  • Doral Academy, Las Vegas
  • Bear River 

Vex Robotics is a curriculum, and extra-curricular activity. Vis...

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