Connect Canyons

Canyons School District - Sandy, Utah
  • 5.0 (5)
  • KIDS & FAMILY

Learning is about making connections, and we invite you to learn and connect with us. Connect Canyons is a show about what we teach in Canyons District, how we teach, and why. We get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great: students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. We meet national experts, too. And we spotlight the “connection makers” — personalities, programs and prospects — we find compelling and inspiring. 

  1. Ep 133: The Plot Twist: How Student Choice Is Turning Teens Back Into Readers

    21H AGO

    Ep 133: The Plot Twist: How Student Choice Is Turning Teens Back Into Readers

    Send us Fan Mail There’s a quiet revolution happening at Alta High School—and it starts with 20 minutes of silence. Not the awkward kind. The good kind. The kind where teenagers are flipping pages, lost in books they chose themselves. If that sounds improbable, even a little magical, you’re not alone. “Sometimes I’ll look up and think… wait, they’re all reading?” said English teacher Peggy DeVeny. “And then I don’t say anything because I don’t want to ruin it.” Like many educators across the country, DeVeny was seeing a troubling trend: students disengaging from reading. Assigning whole-class novels—once a staple—wasn’t landing the way it used to. So, a few years ago, she tried something different. Instead of telling every student what to read, she gave them a structured choice. The results were immediate—and surprising.

    29 min
  2. Ep 132: “Hire a Theater Kid” – How Theater is Helping Students Prepare for Success

    APR 15

    Ep 132: “Hire a Theater Kid” – How Theater is Helping Students Prepare for Success

    Send us Fan Mail Experts have found students who participate in theater exhibit higher test scores, improved analytical thinking and communication skills, and are more likely to graduate. Look no further than theater students right here in Canyons District to see the proof. The theater departments at all five of Canyons’ traditional high schools are competing in the state championships this week.  If that’s not proof enough, Alta and Hillcrest have a combined 14 finalist nominations for the 2026 Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards. Winners will be announced Saturday, May 9 at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City.

    35 min
  3. CSD Health Protocols Keep Schools Safe Ahead of Emerging Illnesses

    APR 1

    CSD Health Protocols Keep Schools Safe Ahead of Emerging Illnesses

    Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Canyons School District Nursing Specialist Jen Gerrard to translate the medical jargon around communicable diseases and explain why measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox) trigger a very different level of school response than the common cold. We talk through how these viruses spread, what prevention actually helps, and why staying home with fever still matters. Jen also clears up a point that causes constant confusion: “exposure” vs “outbreak” depends on the specific disease, and measles can be treated as an outbreak with a single confirmed case. You’ll hear how school nurses coordinate with the Salt Lake County Health Department, how risk levels are determined, and what can happen when immunization documentation is missing. Then we get practical. We cover how to find your vaccination records, why older records can be tough to track down, and how Utah’s Docket app (connected to the Utah State Immunization Information System) can help you access and maintain your immunization history. We also discuss titers, re-vaccination options like the MMR series, and why herd immunity is about protecting the people who can’t get vaccinated, including babies, pregnant people, and immunocompromised community members. Finally, we share what to watch for because measles often starts with cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and high fever, while the rash shows up later, after contagious spread may already be happening. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with a friend. Chapters 0:00 Measles Cases And Local Context 2:12 Communicable Vs Infectious Basics 3:22 Prevention That Actually Reduces Spread 6:02 School Nurse Response Protocol 7:14 Exposure Vs Outbreak Defined 9:01 Tracking Immunization Records With Docket 13:22 Titers And Re-Vaccination Options 15:22 Upcoming Student Vaccine Clinic 15:46 Risk Levels And Herd Immunity 19:56 Protecting Vulnerable Students And Families 22:49 What To Do If You’re Unsure 23:37 Early Measles Symptoms And Contagious Window 25:56 Masks Telehealth And Safer Testing 27:16 Listener Outreach And Wrap-Up

    28 min
  4. Ep 130: Getting to Know Canyons Next Superintendent

    MAR 30

    Ep 130: Getting to Know Canyons Next Superintendent

    Send us Fan Mail We sit down with new Superintendent Dr. McKay Robinson and trace the personal moments that pulled him into education and still guide how he leads. We talk about relationships, strong teaching, valued support staff, and why building on a solid foundation beats disruption.  • Dr. Robinson’s journey from student to superintendent  • A third-grade teacher’s impact and why connection matters  • Why elementary school is a powerful foundation for learning  • Balancing leadership demands with family and mental health  • What makes a strong educator: passion, flexibility, high expectations, lifelong learning  • Professional development supports that help teachers grow  • The often unseen work of support staff and why they are essential  • Leading with stability by building on Canyons’ strategic plan and focusing on kids  If there's a topic you'd like to hear discussed on the podcast, send us an email to communications at CanyonsDistrict.org.  Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at Canyons District or on our website, CanyonsDistrict.org.

    22 min
  5. Ep 129: 6,601 Books and Counting: Union Middle Leads District in Book Checkouts, Slays Literacy Goals

    MAR 18

    Ep 129: 6,601 Books and Counting: Union Middle Leads District in Book Checkouts, Slays Literacy Goals

    Send us Fan Mail At Union Middle School, the books are moving. A lot.  So far this school year, Union students have checked out 6,601 books — more than any other secondary school in Canyons District. To put that in perspective, that works out to about 1,200 titles a month, or 7.2 per student.  In an age of constant scrolling, short attention spans, and endless digital distractions, those numbers say something important. At Union Middle, reading is cool. Or, dare we say (using modern vernacular): No cap, at Union Middle, students are leveling up and slaying their literacy goals, because reading is lit. More than a chore or school assignment, reading has become a daily habit sealed in the heart of what it means to be a Bobcat, due in large part, to the work of teacher librarian Elaine Zheng.

    30 min
  6. Ep 128: From Fear To Balance: Teaching Critical Thinking In A Noisy Online World

    MAR 4

    Ep 128: From Fear To Balance: Teaching Critical Thinking In A Noisy Online World

    Send us Fan Mail In an era where “logging on” is as routine as brushing your teeth, it is important to prioritize the mental health and digital safety of students. New data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reveals a striking reality: 80% of Utah students aged 12 to 18 spend at least two hours every day immersed in social media, gaming, or texting. While this connectivity offers unprecedented access to information, it also brings “heavy realities” into the palms of students’ hands, including exposure to graphic world events and misinformation. The impact of that digital tether is discussed in this  episode of the Connect Canyons podcast, where district experts—including Mental Health Specialist Lori Hunt, School Psychologist Brandon Segura, and Social Worker Shad Roundy—discuss the shifting landscape of student wellness.

    29 min
  7. Episode 127: Super Bowl: Lessons Beyond the Huddle CSD resident football experts discuss mentorship, community and The Big Game

    FEB 4

    Episode 127: Super Bowl: Lessons Beyond the Huddle CSD resident football experts discuss mentorship, community and The Big Game

    Send us Fan Mail As Seattle and New England prepare to face off for Super Bowl LX, Canyons District’s resident gridiron experts sound off on The Big Game. In Connect Canyons' third-annual Super Bowl predictions episode, Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins is joined by Corner Canyon's Casey Sutera, Jordan High's Marc Albertson and Peruvian Park Elementary teacher and former University of Utah football standout Cal Beck for the yearly conversation about the expected action between the two teams in the world championship game. Also joining the conversation was Sealver Siliga, a former NFL star from Utah who played for both Seattle and the Patriots. “I know for me personally with my own family, my own son, just how important football is,” Robins says. “It has really done so much for my life on a personal and professional level as it has for my family. And I know that's impacted all of you, and I think about just the great coaches and mentors and people that have been in our lives and what it means to the school and to the cultures that, that you all impact.” The discussion also highlighted parallels between coaching and teaching. Panelists noted that preparation, repetition and review — whether in practice or the classroom — help students build confidence and resilience. Learning to accept feedback and recover from setbacks, they said, is a skill that extends well beyond athletics. As Super Bowl week unfolds, the group also discussed the game itself, pointing to defensive match-ups, coaching strategies and attention to detail as factors that often determine outcomes on the sport’s biggest stage. While predictions varied, the panel agreed that preparation and trust — developed well before kickoff — remain central to success at every level of football. But the conversation also underscored a broader message: while wins and losses matter, the lasting impact of football is often found in the lessons learned, the relationships built, and the confidence students carry with them long after the final whistle. "I know our young people are going through a lot,” Robins says, “Everything that's happening in our world and all the pressures and mental health issues and things that our students are dealing with, hope that they listen to you and listen to our podcast today and can just gain a little bit of hope.”

    35 min
  8. Ep 126 : Regroup, Refresh, Reconnect: How to Get Back in the Back to School Groove

    JAN 8

    Ep 126 : Regroup, Refresh, Reconnect: How to Get Back in the Back to School Groove

    Send us Fan Mail Believe it or not, we're nearly halfway through the 2025-26 school year. Students are transitioning from playing games with their families over winter break to turning their alarms back on and getting back in the habit of classes and homework.   At the beginning of the year, we discussed how to get in that back to school groove. Now, on the latest episode of Connect Canyons, we’re hearing from two of our AVID experts about how now getting in a refresher on some of those methodologies would be helpful for teachers, students, and parents alike as we start out 2026.  “It’s important to review the basics with your students,” says Jenny Warner, Instructional Coach at Glacier Hills Elementary. “You almost have to pretend like you’re starting the year again, reviewing the routines and the rules with the students. One thing too, I think is really important, is to let the students have a voice in that. They have such powerful voices and listening to what they think is really important and maybe changing it and making it work for your whole classroom community.”

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Learning is about making connections, and we invite you to learn and connect with us. Connect Canyons is a show about what we teach in Canyons District, how we teach, and why. We get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great: students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. We meet national experts, too. And we spotlight the “connection makers” — personalities, programs and prospects — we find compelling and inspiring. 

Information

  • Creator
    Canyons School District - Sandy, Utah
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Connect Canyons
  • Show Website
    Connect Canyons

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