Connect Canyons

Send us a text Quarterback-to-Quarterback: CCHS grad and NY Giants QB Jaxson Dart speaks to Superintendent Robins about his time as a Charger, the lessons he’s learned through playing football, and what it’s like to hit the NFL field against the world’s very best.  The former Corner Canyon High gunslinger now in his rookie year as a New York Giant says the Chargers’ selection to vie for a national football title will raise the profile of all powerhouse prep programs in the Beehive State. “What an opportunity to represent ­— obviously the school district, but also the whole state of Utah,” says Jaxson Dart, the 25thoverall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, during this week’s episode of Connect Canyons.  “I feel like this state is very unappreciated when it comes to a national landscape of talent.” As one of Canyons District’s most high-profile graduates, Dart took a few moments out of his packed schedule as Big Blue’s starting quarterback to complete a quarterback-to-quarterback conversation with Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins, whose play at Southern Utah University earned him a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame. In the episode, Dart, who also is the nephew of Corner Canyon High Assistant Principal Katie Campbell, reflected with Dr. Robins on Dart’s prep and college careers, the influence that CCHS Eric Kjar’s had on his life, and what it’s like to compete against the world’s best at MetLife Stadium. 

For most people, if you need a pencil or a binder, it's a quick trip to the store or an even faster click of a button. But what if you need hundreds of pencils or electronic devices for a classroom? That's where Canyon School District's Purchasing Department comes into play.  “Our department handles anything a school could need,” says Canyons Purchasing Director Nancy Webb. “Whether it’s student furniture, food or pencils, contracts, special education counselors, or even medical insurance.” Webb says CSD’s purchasing agents are there to help schools and teachers with everything from basic needs to helping to navigate larger purchases. As classrooms update and evolve, some items are upgraded or no longer needed, and the department has come up with a way to ensure they don’t go unused.

One of the storylines swirling Friday’s 6A semifinal battle between perennial powerhouse Corner Canyon and the on-the-rise Mountain Ridge is a good-natured question of allegiances: Which team will Canyons Superintendent Dr. Rick Robins be cheering for during the 11 a.m. battle at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium.  Will Dr. Robins, a Hall of Fame quarterback for Southern Utah University, be cheering for the Chargers in the playoffs?  Or will he be donning the colors of the Sentinels, the team coached by his son, Nick? 

According to a recent Forbes article – Research has found students who participate in theater programs exhibit higher scores on standardized critical thinking tests than those who do not – Not to mention it’s just fun to step into the shoes of different characters and worlds. As all of Canyons School District’s five traditional high schools prepare for their fall musicals, on the latest episode of Connect Canyons we sit down with Alta High Theater Director Linze Struiksma, and two senior thespians, Kaylee Cannon and Taylor Fairbourn, as they prepare for the Hawk’s production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition”.

To say we live in a digital age has become a bit of a cliché – but it’s true. From how we schedule appointments or make a reservation – to how our vehicles operate – to devices on our wrists and in our pockets – Technology has become a major part of our day-to-day lives.  The same can be said for children – According to a 2025 study by the Pew Research Center – Nine-in-10 parents of children ages 12 and younger – say their child watches TV – 68-percent say their children use a tablet and 61-percent use a smartphone – And that’s just 12 and under. Pew Research also found 96 -percent of teens across the country say they use the internet every day, if not “almost constantly”. 

Here in the Beehive state, we are no strangers to volunteering. Utah consistently tops the nation when it comes to donating time to help others. In the Canyon School District, our community goes above and beyond to volunteer in our schools in a variety of ways.  In this latest episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from two members of the Canyons community who have dedicated countless hours to schools throughout the District – Jessica Davies, and Teneil Hansen. Davies began volunteering to be near her children and has since spent more than a decade in various positions from volunteer, to currently serving as the Central Elementary PTA Council President. Davies was also the 2024 Canyons Apex Volunteer of the Year. Hansen is no stranger to helping out in the classroom, volunteering for more than 15 years, and now service as a member of the Alta High School PTSA, as well as Secondary Council PTA Secretary.

Here in the Beehive state, we are no strangers to volunteering. Utah consistently tops the nation when it comes to donating time to help others. In the Canyon School District, our community goes above and beyond to volunteer in our schools in a variety of ways.  In this latest episode of Connect Canyons, we hear from two members of the Canyons community who have dedicated countless hours to schools throughout the District – Jessica Davies, and Teneil Hansen. Davies began volunteering to be near her children and has since spent more than a decade in various positions from volunteer, to currently serving as the Central Elementary PTA Council President. Davies was also the 2024 Canyons Apex Volunteer of the Year. Hansen is no stranger to helping out in the classroom, volunteering for more than 15 years, and now service as a member of the Alta High School PTSA, as well as Secondary Council PTA Secretary.

Have you noticed your child has a penchant for asking deep questions or noticing patterns and connecting ideas their peers don’t see? Perhaps your child is a fast-finisher who gets frustrated at having to wait for next steps.  All of these signs could point to your child being a candidate for Canyons’ gifted and talented magnet program, SALTA.  “Some of us, when we learn to play an instrument, we learn one instrument at a time,” says Halley Kirk, Canyons SALTA Coordinator. “Gifted students are just wired differently. We hear one part of a song but they’re hearing the whole orchestra, what’s missing, what could be added, what can be adjusted.”  On this latest episode of Connect Canyons, we sit down with Kirk who talks about the benefits of CSD’s Supporting Advanced Learners Toward Achievement program for students as well as their families. Kirk also explains what families can expect with the testing process and how simply having your child take the test can be beneficial.

It was a job at the Canyons School District that first brought Dr. Molly Hart to Utah from Georgia’s education system. Good thing. After a month-long search, the Utah State Board of Education recently named Hart, former principal of Mount Jordan and Albion middle schools, the state’s new state superintendent of public instruction. She’s been on the job since July 1.   I would not be here if it weren't for my experience in Canyons,” Hart said in a recent interview with Connect Canyons about her new appointment. Education in every state is “very, very different,” she said.   Hart, a recent guest on the CSD podcast, says her Canyons colleagues certainly influenced the trajectory of her career.

Canyons students are back in the classroom, and those first few weeks of school can be a little jarring. Whether it's remembering to set that alarm clock or getting acquainted with a new class schedule, it can take a while to get back into the learning groove. So, we’re devoting the first Connect Canyons episode for the 2025-2026 school year to helping students and parents alike find that rhythm again. Joining us for this episode are Canyons Instructional Coach Susan Young and Canyons AVID Specialist Jay Rudel who share their insights into things parents can do at home as well as tips for students to stay organized. “For me, I love the start of school,” says Rudel. “Everything is new, and everyone gets a fresh start. And if you attack Day One like Day 180 and say, ‘this is what we’re going to do each day,’ you’ll have some success with that. It takes time. It’s hard work. It’s not easy. But we have to teach ourselves to do hard things and it’s OK to do hard things and fail sometimes. You get up on the horse again and try a different strategy.”

This year, more than 2,750 seniors will don their caps and gowns and step up to receive their hard-earned diplomas. They head out into an ever-changing world at a time of economic uncertainty and rapid technological advances.  But they carry with them a confidence earned from having already faced and surmounted challenges — while notching a few wins along the way. The personal achievements of Canyons District’s Class of 2025 are exponential, from Sterling Scholar awards to National Merit Scholarship honors, not to mention 10 team state championships. This year’s seniors have been rewarded roughly $50 million in scholarships and will be attending more than 50 schools, from Harvard, Julliard, Boston University, and West Point to Stanford, Berkley, the University of Utah, and the Air Force Academy — just to name a few. Canyons has graduates joining every branch of the military, including some from Jordan High’s inaugural Naval Cadet Program who are now advancing to the Naval Academy.  In the last Connect Canyons episode for the year, we sat down with a few graduates who told us how they’re feeling about graduation. They’re full of that nervous excitement, ready to take on their next challenge. They shared some of their favorite memories from school and talk about the people who supported them along the way. They share their hopes and dreams after high school and the advice they would give themselves as incoming freshmen. Congratulations to the Class of 2025, may all your dreams come true! You can see a list of available live streams for Canyons graduations here.

For 15 years, students of all ages across Canyons School District have competed in the annual CSDtv Film Festival. Each festival entry is directed, acted, and produced by a student or teacher, from documentaries and shorts to podcasts and stop-motion creations. One winner comes out on top in each age bracket and category. This year was the first year students at Entrada High School chose to compete in the film festival, which drew 242 entries from 610 contestants. Not only did they excel, they won the category of High School Documentary.  “I didn’t think we were going to win. It’s so cool that we won, especially with the whole process we went through,” says Michelle Nolaca, one of the student directors of, “Students of Entrada – Voices of Tomorrow.”  Production for the film began long before students even picked up a camera and shouted, “action!” At the beginning of the school year, Entrada teacher Baylee Riley applied for an Innovation Grant through the Canyons Education Foundation. 

Behind every successful school stands an army of dedicated volunteers—parents who give their time selflessly to enrich student experiences and support faculty. Every day thousands of volunteers are lending a helping hand all across Canyon School District. Whether they're spending time in the classroom, cutting out shapes for a kindergarten project, or helping on a field trip, they're the relatively unknown force behind our educators. This week is Public School Volunteer Week, so we sat down with two volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours to their children’s school. Sandy Elementary PTA President Mallory Boggs say she started volunteering to be closer to her own children and now she feels like she is the fun aunt of more than 500 students.   "I met this community of people that I didn't really know I needed," she says, “but I did and I love it. They’re such valued members of my life now.”  Boggs grew up watching her mom who was PTA President at Sprucewood Elementary and knew she wanted to be a part of that community when she had children of her own. Now, Boggs is leaving her impact not just on the Sharks community, but the entire state as she has been named the 2025 PTA Outstanding Volunteer Award for the state of Utah.  Boggs says she has seen the impact of parent volunteers, whether helping at one event, cutting out shapes for a class, even seeing parents start out small and jump into the deep end of PTA and volunteering – like Sandy’s PTA president-elect for next year, Kara Olson.  “I just got hooked by these crazy ladies and I love being in the school,” says Olson. “I love getting to know the kids. I love getting to know the teachers.”  Boggs and Olson say they are lucky to be able to spend as much time volunteering at Sandy Elementary as they do, but they understand not all parents or guardians can give the same amount of time, but they’ve seen even an hour of volunteering pay off.   “Your teacher always wants your help,” says Olson. “Whether it's cutting out shapes, coming in and doing a bulletin board, reading, volunteering, correcting, spelling tests, anything, just reach out to your teachers.”   Episode Chapters   2:42 The Role of PTA at Sandy Elementary Our volunteers talk about the roles they play at Sandy Elementary, how they help teachers, faculty and staff, and most importantly, the students.    7:37 Why They Choose to Volunteer Boggs and Olson share why they decided to volunteer and what keeps them going back to help their Shark community.   11:22 Making a Difference with Limited Time While some parents like Boggs and Olson can have given thousands of hours to their school, many parents and guardians don’t have a lot of free time. Our volunteers explain how every little bit helps and no amount of volunteer time is too small.    17:34 Final Thoughts on School Volunteering Boggs and Olson share their biggest takeaways from their time helping students, how it’s impacted their own lives, and the friendships they’ve made along the way.

Each spring, while students count down the days to summer break, Canyons District’s Human Resources team kicks into high gear. That’s because it’s hiring season, and the task of recruiting the best and brightest teachers for a school district the size and caliber of Canyons is nothing short of Herculean. In the latest episode of Connect Canyons, we explore how school systems like ours manage to hire hundreds of educators each year while balancing student needs, budget realities, and the ever-changing job market. You’ll hear from CSD’s two crack recruiters, Lori Reynolds and Kelly Tauteoli, both former school principals. And we’ll talk to Canyons Human Resources Director Steve Dimond about all the data-crunching and detail-sweating that goes into calculating how many teachers are needed to staff each one of our 47 schools and programs each year.   “Our goal is to always hire the very best candidates that we can, because that's truly where the rubber hits the road is. If our students are going to make growth and be proficient, it starts with the teacher in the classroom,” Dimond said. “All of us have a teacher who made a difference in their life, and we want make certain that we find those teachers for all of our students.”  1:54 — The Scale of Teacher Hiring The hiring volume at CSD fluctuates significantly from year-to-year—from 300 teachers three years ago to about 100 projected for this year. The recruiting season begins in February with "crunch time" in March when schools receive their teacher allocations 5:35 — Hiring Challenges and Market Shifts There are signs that the nationwide teacher shortage has abated. Special education, dual language immersion, math, science, and CTE positions remain the most challenging teaching jobs to fill. But local colleges and universities are starting to train more teacher candidates. CSD also has “grow your own” programs to prime the teacher pipeline.  9:25 — Why Teachers Choose Canyons Canyons has a reputation for supporting teachers with training and adequate resources. The District’s access to the great outdoors and proximity to the urban perks of Salt Lake City are also big draws. In addition, Canyons has invested heavily in growing teacher salaries; the starting teacher salary is currently $61,610.   14:59 — Forecasting Staffing Needs Forecasting hiring needs from year-to-year is no small feat. It starts with demographic data and enrollment projections, while taking into consideration the unique programmatic needs of each school. Class size targets vary by grade level: K (22.15), grades 1-3 (22.3), grades 4-8 (26.3), and grades 9-12 (27). 

When Canyons was created in 2009, the school district inherited a portfolio of aging buildings, some of which hadn't seen major upgrades in decades. In 16 years, the District has made huge strides rebuilding or significantly remodeling 27 schools.  These modernized buildings are safer, more efficient, and designed with today's learners in mind. But the work isn't done. With 49 buildings — ranging in age from 72 to two years of age — and 6.2 million square feet to maintain, Canyons is constantly juggling the day-to-day demands of upkeep while also planning for future improvements.   For a behind-the-scenes look at how the District prioritizes facility needs, Connect Canyons sat down with some of the brains behind the bricks: CSD’s Associate Director of Facilities Ryan Jakeman and Jordan High Principal Dr. Bruce Eschler. No matter the size of the project — from replacing galvanized pipes and failing HVAC systems to installing new roofs and carpet — the goal is to create safe learning environments that make our communities proud.  A well-kept school promotes student achievement, raises property values and contributes to local economies, said Jakeman. “Our schools build community pride and send the message to students that, ‘we believe in you’ and ‘what you are doing here is important.’” Of course, just like with our homes, things are going to break and wear out from time to time, which is why Canyons employs professional custodians, electricians, journeymen, locksmiths, fire suppression experts — a whole quiver of jump-and-run experts to keep schools in tip-top shape.   “We have such amazing Facilities staff who go above and beyond to ensure our schools are safe and our students are learning,” said Dr. Eschler. “A big shout out to them for all they do.” 1:44 – 1:52 We discuss major upgrades currently in the works and explain how we prioritize facility needs. Dr. Eschler talks about why “little things” like furniture and electrical outlets matter and how buildings must evolve as education evolves.  3:52 – 4:24 When Canyons was performed, the District performed an audit of the buildings we inherited, which identified more than $650 million in deferred maintenance. How did the District prioritize rebuild and upgrades, taking into account the age of chillers, boilers, and electrical systems as well as seismic safety and the functionality of classrooms? What’s a Facilities Condition Index? 10:21 – 10:56 How does the District determine when a building would cost more to repair than rebuild from scratch? 11:50 – 12:31 How does the District balance ongoing maintenance needs with larger, longer-term improvement projects and how do we finance improvements? The District has ongoing capital facilities funding that is reserved solely for that purpose. For upgrades larger in scope, such as the rebuild of schools, the Canyons Board of Education has asked voters to approve general obligation bonds. CSD voters have approved two general obligation bonds in 16 years. Lease revenue bonds are another financing mechanism. The District also works to manage its money responsibly, often refinancing bonds to repay them earlier, saving taxpayers millions in interest payments.  13:53 -14:14 Seeing the rising cost of construction, Canyons wisely invested early in rebuilding its largest buildings, including high schools. Among some of the ongoing projects are upgrades at Jordan High, Hillcrest High, Corner Canyon High, and Eastmont Middle School. Another priority for the District is equitably distributing resources to ensure all students have access to high-quality programs. 16:13 – 16:36 School safety is another priority. Canyons began investing in security vestibules well before they became required under Utah law. Security vestibules steer visitors into the Main Office to check in before they ca

In education, collaboration is key. No one person can do it all, and that’s where paraeducators come in, playing an indispensable role in the success of our students. On National Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day, we recognize the contributions of these dedicated professionals. To better understand their impact, we spoke with Nate Edvalson, the Director of Special Education for Canyons School District, and Stacey Nofsinger, Principal of Jordan Valley, who both witness the powerful influence of paraeducators on a daily basis. “As paraeducators, they often bring their own personal experiences and connections into the classroom,” says Edvalson. “Many enter the field because they’ve had a meaningful interaction with a student or a personal connection to the work.” With nearly 300 paraeducators across the district, they provide support in numerous ways: offering behavioral assistance, aiding with health needs, and ensuring access to education through specialized instruction. Nofsinger highlights the deep connections paraeducators build with students. “Our paraeducators create an environment that feels both welcoming and safe. When a student arrives at school and sees their paraeducator, you can see the positive shift—students are more at ease and their personalities shine,” she says. “It’s all because our paraeducators know them so well and help them feel truly seen.” 0:00 Introduction to Connect Canyons 1:08 What is a Paraeducator? 3:27 Jordan Valley School's Mission 4:57 Day in a Paraeducator's Life 8:04 Benefits of Team Teaching 11:44 Becoming a Paraeducator 18:45 The Human Heart of Education

The pencil was invented in 1795. The first documented use of the chalkboard in the United States was in 1801, and the ballpoint pen came into popular use in the 1940s.  We’ve been using these tools in education for decades, and now we're sprinting into a new era with new tools. How are Canyons District schools using such modern tools as Chromebooks and artificial intelligence? In what ways do these tools enhance learning, and what are schools doing to help students use them responsibly? Connect Canyons posed these questions to the District’s Digital Teaching and Learning Specialists Katie Gebhardt and Dr. Camille Cole. After the pandemic, some may assume Chromebooks and other devices are the center of learning. Others have suggested AI will one day replace teachers altogether. But the truth, says Cole, is that technology is being put to use carefully and strategically.  “An easy misconception is that kids are on their Chromebooks from start to finish of the school day, and it’s really not like that,” says Cole. “Any time a student is using the technology, it should be high quality learning opportunities — whether it’s active where they’re physically working, or passive learning, where they’re reading or just consuming information.” Technology can give teachers immediate feedback on which concepts individual students are struggling to master. AI can make learning more accessible to students with disabilities.  The litmus test in determining when and how to use a given technology is whether it advances learning, Cole says.   Conversely, teachers are teaching students to use technology, not as consumers, but as creators. “Digital citizenship is really just using technology and our resources that we have today for good,” Gebhardt says. Canyons District breaks up digital citizenship into five competency areas — Inclusive, informed, engaged, balanced, and alert. Students learn to check sources, use their technology to solve problems, balance their time on and offline, and make sure they are keeping safety in mind.  1:06 Understanding Digital Citizenship Our experts explain what digital citizenship means and how teachers work practicing good digital citizenship into their lessons.    5:52 Technology Integration in the Classroom We learn how teachers and students alike are using technology as a tool to enhance the learning experience.   9:53 Screen Time Quality vs. Quantity Our experts share just how much time students are using devices and how those technological tools are being used.   17:21 Advice for Families at Home We discuss how families can practice good digital citizenship at home and set examples for their children.

We all know reading is fundamental to learning. But did you know it also reduces stress?  Or that it can help you sleep better, keep your mind sharp, and improve your relationships? Imagine, then, the benefits of an entire school community reading together, from every student and teacher to the custodians, Main Office staff, and principals — even the parents.   “I’ve never had such an immersive experience,” said Daniel Nayeri whose Newbery Honor-winning novel, “The Many Assassinations of Samir, Seller of Dreams” was the subject of an all-community read experiment at Albion Middle School. “To have the opportunity to speak with the students personally and work with them…I’m really thankful for that.” Albion’s schoolwide book club was the brainchild of English teachers Stephanie Nasser and Stephanie Kourianos. They encountered Nayeri at a summer conference, and after listening to him talk about his tale of a young monk’s journey along the Silk Road, they knew they had found the right author and book to see their vision through. 

All across Canyon School District, students are working through real time scenarios with local businesses, and gaining hands-on experience through Career and Technical Education, or CTE classes and programs. For the last week of CTE Month, we sat down with Canyons CTE Director Janet Goble and Alta High’s CTE Coordinator Stephanie Morgan to take a deeper dive into the opportunities available to students across the District.  “The mission of Canyons School District is to ensure every student will graduate college-and career-ready,” says Goble. “Not only are they getting the academic side of things, but they will also be able to qualify for a job. We’re lucky that our students get to have a whole range of experience.” From internships to job shadows, to networking and student-run programs and competitions, Canyons teachers are working to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed, no matter what path they choose after college.  Episode Chapters 00:48 Overview of CTE Programs Our experts explain CTE and the many opportunities in place for Canyons students, regardless of their end goal after high school.   02:47 Hands-On Learning Experiences We hear how CTE goes beyond the foundations of learning, providing the hands-on learning experience that will help students later in life.    06:05 Job Placements and Internships Goble and Morgan tell us about the partnerships the District has with local businesses and how they work to provide job placement and internships for students.   14:21 Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) We discuss the student-run programs and other opportunities for students to participate in, including a shoutout to the 47 DECA students who placed top 3 in the state competition.   19:13 The Impact of CTE on Students Our experts share their favorite success stories of students who have taken CTE courses or participated in the many programs available across the District.  

Imagine if schools prepared students for college and the world of work. Imagine if students graduated from high school with more than a diploma but also college credit and the credentials needed to immediately land high-paying high-tech jobs.   You might be imagining what’s known as Career and Technical Education (CTE), an educational model already firmly embraced in Canyons. From specialty programs like the Canyons Technical Education Center, to classes taught in CSD’s high schools in partnership with local businesses, CTE is an increasingly popular learning emphasis for students — and employers love it too.  “CTE is basically where you’re taking all of the learning from your other core subjects and applying it to a real world context,” says Mark Mataya, Administrator at Entrada Adult High School. “we’re providing a seed for that student to say, ‘I can grow this into whatever I want.’ The bounds are endless.”  February is National CTE Month and in this episode of Connect Canyons, Mataya lays out the ways CTE courses can help students, whether they aspire to study at one of the world’s leading universities or are looking to inherit the family business.   Every student should take at least one CTE class, Mataya says, noting these courses can open doors to unexpected futures.   One student, he recalls, attended a lecture by a chef in a culinary class and took the initiative to talk with the chef after, securing an internship. Now that student is the head chef at one of the top restaurants in Utah. “You can take your alpha type student, your Sterling Scholars, you put them into one of these trades and they would dominate, maybe learn to start their own business,” says Mataya, “I think most parents would be happy to have a child start their own business.”  Mataya also talks about his excitement for the possibilities at the newly purchased eBay building which the District is transforming into an innovation center to house and build upon many of the District’s existing CTE learning pathways.  “One of the pillars of the District is innovation,” says Mataya, “There’s something about when you take a learning environment and make it as real as it can be. It brings gravitas to it. When a student walks into those situations, they know something is different. We’re here trying to make it relatable to students and provide skills for them to go out there and have success.” Episode Chapters 01:12 Business Collaborations and Programs Our expert, Mark Mataya shares how Canyons School District works with a number of local businesses to provide real world experience for students while opening doors for internships and jobs directly out of high school.  04:47 Real-World Experience through CTE Mataya expands on how that real world experience can help students to make the transition from the classroom to the workforce. He shares his excitement for the newly purchased eBay building which will become the District’s new innovation center.    07:41 Entrepreneurial Spirit in CTE Some may think CTE classes are just for someone who wants to join the family business or learn a trade. Our expert explains how CTE classes can help everyone from someone who is looking to learn a specific skillset to a sterling scholar with their eyes on beginning their own business.   10:32 Inspiring Student Success Stories Mataya shares one success story on how attending a single class led a Canyons student to a be the chef at one of the top restaurants in the state, and encourages other students to consider even one CTE class to help them on the journey to achieving their dreams after high school.