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Teacher Leader Projects

In their second year of the fellowship, JSD Fellows design, develop, and lead a project connected to a Utah Teacher Leader Role. Fellows ensure their project positively impacts students, colleagues, the school community, and public education. They also presented their work at a district-wide PD day in an exhibition format.

2024-2026 Teacher Fellows Impact Projects

Flight Path to Progress (Tamara Baggett): An infographic illustrating a data-driven system for third-grade literacy that uses student-friendly goal setting, bi-monthly progress tracking, and weekly teacher data reviews to reach grade-level reading targets Building Thinking Classrooms (Jill Bodine): A graphic depicting a professional learning community for math teachers focused on high-impact Tier 1 practices, such as intentional whiteboard lesson design and student-led note-making
Elevating Collective Efficacy through Meaningful Coaching (Rae Boren): A visual summary of student-centered coaching cycles at Copper Hills High, highlighting over 1,300 team interactions and improved teacher efficacy through data-driven support New Teacher Mentoring (Melissa Brunke): A diagram showing the transformation of teacher mentoring from a single annual meeting into a structured monthly framework providing actionable classroom tools and practical strategies
Changing the Narrative: Elevating Public Education Through Teacher Advocacy (Michael Draut): A layout showcasing the "Teacher Mic" advocacy platform, which uses social media, media interviews, and legislative engagement to spotlight authentic educator perspectives Teacher Professionalism (Amy Geilman): A representation of a relational skills training program for new educators focusing on five core competencies: communication, empathy, conflict resolution, self-regulation, and optimism
PBIS Team-Building (Jessica Hacking): A graphic showing a gamified staff house system integrated with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to reward professional growth and boost school morale Transforming School Culture through Support Systems (Christina Jacobs): A multi-year roadmap for rolling out School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) across 41 elementary schools to align behavioral expectations and supports
Teachers as Leaders (Kyle Jensen): A visual of a site-based leadership program where teachers engage in collaborative book studies and personalized action projects to expand their leadership capacity Multilingual Supports (Lay Kou): An overview of instructional strategies for multilingual students, including the use of engagement tools like microphones and a data-driven ELD task force for teachers
Math Resources for DLI (Xin Luo): A representation of a collaborative online platform containing translated Chinese-language math materials, including lesson plans and practice problems for Dual Language Immersion Vertical Collaboration (Lucia Martin): A diagram of a cross-grade PLC model for Spanish DLI teachers using a Vertical Writing Rubric to improve student composition scores and provide a consistent growth roadmap
Teacher-Driven PD (Holli Mattingly): A graphic illustrating survey-informed professional development at Copper Canyon Elementary, featuring peer observations and practical monthly sessions tailored to staff needs Trauma-Informed Teaching (Haley McCall): An overview of the "Tools for Transformation" program, showcasing Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) strategies used to train faculty in supporting students with trauma
Better Together Literacy Night (Kami Mecham): A visual summary of a school-family partnership event featuring staff-led breakout sessions and individualized literacy progress cards for families Shining a Light on SLPs (Cassen Williams): A graphic representing legislative advocacy for Speech-Language Pathologists, focusing on compensation data, colleague mobilization, and direct lobbying for equitable pay