What’s New at SEDC?


  • SEDC and Alpine School District Join News Literacy Initiative

    SEDC and Alpine School District Join News Literacy Initiative

    SEDC has joined the News Literacy Project’s prestigious District Fellowship Program. This is a fantastic step forward for education in southwest Utah, as SEDC joins Alpine School District, the state’s largest, in this critical initiative. The goal is clear: ensure all students learn to think critically and engage responsibly with news and information.

    This three-year fellowship supports the implementation of news literacy education districtwide, providing SEDC with a significant $30,000 grant and customized support. As a participant, SEDC will also become part of a new Utah network alongside Alpine School District and fellowship alumnus Canyons School District. This network will serve as a powerful regional hub, allowing multiple Utah districts to collaborate, share best practices, and create resources that support sustained news literacy instruction across the entire state. With this fellowship, SEDC is directly addressing the urgent need to equip students with the necessary skills to navigate an increasingly complicated information landscape.

    Learn more about this exciting new opportunity in the press release below. You can download the press release PDF here. 

    2025-News-Literacy-Project-Fellowship-UT-PDF
  • Online STEM / Transpiration Professional Learning Opportunity

    Online STEM / Transpiration Professional Learning Opportunity

    Grow your STEM teaching skills with a FREE virtual Professional Development opportunity! 🔬🌱

    SEDC is excited to share this incredible training brought to you by the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the NSF Futures Engine! This online session, designed for Utah middle school educators, will focus on the essential science topic of transpiration.

    Join Cara Schaefer, DRI’s STEM Curriculum & Training Specialist, to learn about engaging, hands-on activities perfect for your classroom. Best of all, teachers who attend will get free access to reserve a Transpiration Green Box! These Green Boxes are self-contained teaching kits with multiple weeks of lessons and all the supplies needed for active, critical-thinking projects.

    PD Details:
    What: Online Transpiration Professional Development Training
    When: Thursday, October 21 from 5:30-7:00 pm MST
    Where: Virtual via Zoom
    Register Now: https://forms.gle/DFpfVJsFnFScaDim6
    Sharable Flyer: https://sedck12.org/stem1021flyer

    Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your STEM education program and bring innovative lessons to your students!

    Utah_20Virtual_20PD_20Flyer_20-1.pdf
  • Give Your Child a Strong Start in School with Waterford Upstart

    Give Your Child a Strong Start in School with Waterford Upstart

    Waterford UPSTART logo - A horizontal logo for Waterford Upstart, featuring a stylized colorful floral design on the left, followed by the word "Waterford" in blue and "UPSTART" in red, separated by a thin red vertical line. The background is transparent.

    Southwest Educational Development Center has partnered with Waterford Upstart to provide our PreK children with an on-demand early learning program that gives you tools, coaching, and resources so you can prepare your child for a bright future.

    Program Benefits:

    • Tailored software with fun and engaging lessons in reading, math, and science that are done in just fifteen minutes a day
    • Personalized family coaching and easy-to-use resources that support the work you’re already doing with your child
    • A computer and internet access for those who qualify

    Who Can Participate: Children entering kindergarten in Fall 2026 How to Apply: Visit www.waterford.org/upstart or call 1-888-982-9898

    Want to Learn More? Open/view their flyer here, in both English and en Español. 

  • Fall 2025 Endorsement Opportunities from SEDC

    Fall 2025 Endorsement Opportunities from SEDC

    View, share and/or download the below flyer in Canva. Share this page with sedck12.org/fall25courses

    A flyer titled "BACK TO SCHOOL & BACK TO LEARNING WITH AN ENDORSEMENT FROM SEDC IN FALL 2025," designed to look like a bulletin board with paper clippings. The graphic highlights five endorsement opportunities. The first, **Elementary Math**, advertises the "K-6 EDUC 5520 Algebraic Reasoning for Practitioners" course with an image of a miniature classroom. Next is **Math Specialist**, promoting the "EDUC 5560: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment for Elementary Math Leaders" course, accompanied by an image of a blackboard with math equations. The third opportunity, **Instructional Coaching**, features the "EDUC 5411: Foundations of Instructional Coaching" course and a stylized drawing of a coaching workflow. The fourth section is for **Elementary Science**, highlighting the "EDUC 5701 Nature of Science & Engineering" course and a colorful illustration with science-themed imagery. The final section is for **Educational Technology**, highlighting the "EdTech Endorsement Program (ETEP)" with a badge that says "Utah EdTech endorsement certified." Each endorsement section includes a brief description and a unique URL for more information. The bottom of the flyer provides the main URL `sedck12.org/endorsements`.
  • SEDC Educational Technology Endorsement Courses and Anytime EdTech Learning – Fall ’25

    SEDC Educational Technology Endorsement Courses and Anytime EdTech Learning – Fall ’25

    A promotional graphic for the "Utah Educational Technology Endorsement Through SEDC & UEN." The background is a mix of abstract orange and blue shapes. The image shows a person on the left working at a laptop, a person on the right relaxing and reading a tablet, and the SEDC logo and a UEN logo. In the center is a circular badge that says "UTAH EDTECH" and "endorsement certified" with a mountain and arch illustration inside.

    Join the SEDC Educational Technology Endorsement Program Self-Paced Courses & Cohort anytime!

    Learn more about and enroll in AI and Student Learning or the new AI and the Writing Process self-paced courses from UEN PD.

    We also recommend the new Navigating the Noise: Media Literacy for Educators course to help you and your students be more media savvy. 

  • Southern Utah Media Specialist Conference

    Southern Utah Media Specialist Conference

    What: SUMS Conference

    When: October 22, 2025

    Where: Coral Cliffs Professional Development Center 2060 N. 2100 W, St. George.

    Who: All of our fantastic media specialists, presenters and vendors!

    Please plan to join us for a “Magical Day”! 

    Click here to register for the conference.

    Click here to present a session.

    Click here to register as vendor/partner.

    Contact Chris Haught (chris@sedck12.org) with questions.

    See you in October!

     

  • Fall 2025 Elementary Math Specialist Class (EDUC 5560) with SEDC

    EDUC 5560: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Elementary Mathematics Leaders • SEDC Elementary Math Specialist Endorsement Course for Fall 2025

    What: Fall 2025 Math Specialist Endorsement Class: EDUC 5560: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment for Elementary Math Leaders (first course in a new cohort)

    When: Mondays, weekly from September 8th through December 8th, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

    Who: Teachers with prior Elementary Math Endorsement (Prerequisite).

    How: Virtual class offered via Zoom and Canvas. Synchronous attendance and participation required.

    Fees:

    • SEDC Fee: $210 (covered by USBE STEM Endorsement Incentive Program for eligible teachers)
    • UVU Tuition: $45 (reimbursed by SEDC with USBE funding for eligible teachers)
    • One-time $35 admission fee applies to first-time UVU students (also reimbursed)

    Questions:

    Notes: 

    A promotional flyer for the "Fall '25 Math Specialist Endorsement Course" from SEDC Endorsement Courses. The course is titled "EDUC 5560: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Elementary Mathematics Leaders." Key details are listed: it meets monthly on Mondays, starting September 8th, is provided via Zoom and Canvas, and the course fee and tuition are grant funded. The flyer includes two illustrations: one shows a female teacher at a laptop with a lightbulb above her head, and the other shows a male teacher instructing a group of adult students in a classroom. The text "LEARN MORE AND REGISTER" is in a red box above the URL SEDCK12.ORG/FALL25MATHSPECIALIST. The image also notes that it was "IMAGE GENERATED BY CANVA AI."

    Download the above flyer here (.png) and share with any interested educator!

  • Scrible for Research

    Scrible for Research

    Discover how Scrible empowers students to conduct effective online research and streamline the writing process. Learn how to leverage Scrible’s annotation, citation, and organization tools to foster critical thinking and academic integrity. Learn practical strategies for integrating Scrible into various subject areas and grade levels, helping students develop essential research and writing skills for success. Scrible is provided at no charge as part of Utah’s Online School Library.

    SEDC is hosting two  trainings with Scrible on August 26th, 2025 over Zoom. Please register below, both trainings will be an introduction to Scrible, new features, and a Q and A.

    Please click on this link for details and to register.

    Watch the video below or visit Scrible for more!

    Contact Chris Haught (chris@sedck12.org)

  • Fall 2025 Elementary Math Endorsement Class (EDUC 5520) with SEDC

    EDUC 5520: Teaching K-6 Algebraic Reasoning • SEDC Elementary Math Endorsement Course for Fall 2025

    What: Fall 2025 offering of EDUC 5520 – Mathematics for Teaching K-6 Algebraic Reasoning (3rd of six required courses for the endorsement).
     
    When: The class will be held every other Monday beginning on August 25th via Zoom and online via Canvas.
     
    Who: Open to all elementary teachers interested in the Elementary Math Endorsement.  Course fees will be covered by the USBE STEM Endorsement Incentive Grant for active teachers.
     
    How: Admission/Re-Admission & registration details can be found here (links to a Google Doc). The class will be held via live Zoom. Attendance for the live Zoom sessions is required.
     
    Questions: Please direct any questions regarding this course or any other of SEDC’s Endorsements to Joe B. Wright – Executive Director of SEDC, joeb@sedck12.org, 435.586.2865
     
     
    This image is a flyer for a course titled "Elementary Math Endorsement Through SEDC." The course is "EDUC 5520 - Teaching K-6 Algebraic Reasoning - Summer '25." It's described as "Mathematics for Teaching K-6 Algebraic Reasoning," the third of six required courses for the endorsement. The course meets via Zoom every other Monday, beginning August 25, 2025. It's open to all elementary teachers interested in the endorsement, with course fees covered by the USBE STEM Endorsement Incentive Grant for active teachers. The flyer has a blue background with math-related icons at the top, including a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, and a paintbrush. A photo in the center shows a pencil and small, colorful numbers on a miniature desk. The SEDC logo is visible. More specifics and registration can be found at `sedck12.org/fall25math`.

    View the above flyer on Canva or download it here to share with any interested teachers you may know!

  • Fall 2025 Instructional Coaching Endorsement Class (EDUC 5411) with SEDC

    EDUC 5411: Foundations of Instructional Coaching • SEDC Instructional Coaching Endorsement Course for Fall 2025

    What: Fall 2025 Instructional Coaching Endorsement Class: EDUC 5411: Foundations of Instructional Coaching (first course in cohort, but educators are welcome to join anytime)

    When: Second Tuesday of every month, September 9th through December 9, 2025, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm (synchronous online)

    Who: Open to all teachers interested in Instructional Coaching Endorsement (courses can be taken in any order)

    How: Virtual class offered via Zoom and Canvas. Synchronous attendance and participation required.

    Fees:

    • SEDC Fee: $210.00
    • UVU Tuition: $45 (one-time $35 admission fee for first-time UVU students)

    Questions:

    Notes: 

    Instructional Coaching Endorsement from SEDC. The course is called "Foundations of Instructional Coaching - EDUC 5411". Registration is now open and the course begins September 9th. A stylized laptop screen shows a flowchart with "Goal," "Coaching," and "Development" as key concepts. A lightbulb with a brain inside represents "Knowledge" and a checkmark shows "100%," "Education," "Motivation," and "Support." A group of people are working together to complete a puzzle. The SEDC logo is visible. The URL `sedck12.org/fall25coach` is also displayed.

    View the above flyer on Canva or download it here to share with any interested teachers you may know!