Education

SJSD announces “What Matters Most” community meetings

We need to talk. Recent changes in State Administrative Rule (R277-407) regarding School fees went into effect January 1, 2020. These changes are intended to provide more transparency to students and parents regarding school fees. The Utah State Board of Education website states that beginning...

Christmas Tree decor goes from Whitehorse to the White House

A total of 24 handmade ornaments made their way from Montezuma Creek to the White House this winter as part of the America Celebrates display, as first reported by Kate Groetzinger of KUER. The display includes the towering National Christmas Tree and 56 smaller trees representing every U.S....

Utah has one of the top college savings plans

Did you know Utah has one of the top education savings plans in the U.S.? Morningstar Analyst Ratings for college savings plans were released in October. Utah’s educational savings plan, my529, was awarded with a gold rating and named valedictorian. Morningstar writes, “Virginia’s Invest529,...

Monticello Elementary students ring in the holidays at Zions Bank

More than 250 children from Monticello Elementary School rang in the holidays at Zions Bank, joining teachers, parents, and bank employees in the branch’s lobby for the annual “Lights On” ceremony. On Wednesday, December 4, kindergarten through sixth-grade students from Monticello Elementary hung...

San Juan School District embraces heritage of all students in the district

The San Juan School District (SJSD) embraces the heritage of all students in the district. In November, SJSD schools share the culture and language of students of American Indian descent, which are Navajo, Ute, and other tribes represented in our schools. Some events and activities that have...

Duke University graduate returns home to inspire future generations

The further Shandiin Herrera got away from her home in Monument Valley, UT, the more she realized how important it would be to use her education and leadership to benefit her people. Herrera, a 2019 graduate of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, could be headed to Washington, D...

The changing classroom in Utah: Why digital teaching matters to students

David Long, Superintendent of Beaver County School District, remembers clearly the moment he realized just how powerful a tool technology could be for student learning. “I was working at Logan County School District as the Director of Education and Technical Service, and it was the first day we...

Enrollment up in schools

The number of students in the San Juan School District grew by 15 students over the past year, the first increase in five years. The modest increase was driven by 21 more students in the schools in Monument Valley, 12 more students in the Blanding schools. Enrollment dropped in the three smallest...

Utah State University School of Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education is divided and growing

In an effort to better serve students in the largest department in Utah State University’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS), and to advance career and technical education programs, particularly in southeastern Utah, CAAS Dean Ken White and USU President Noelle Cockett announced...

Safety and behavior challenges are focus of school board meeting

Safety and behavior in local schools was a focus at the October 9 meeting of the San Juan School Board. After a threat against his school was made by a student on social media on October 1, San Juan High School Principal Bob Peterson said he “did not do one thing that was educationally-based all...