Meeting Overview

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This document provides a detailed overview of the Uintah School District’s State of the District event held on February 25th at 8:00am at the Uintah Conference Center. Some sections feature musical performances, which have been interpreted based on context and announcements. The meeting covered:

Opening preliminaries
Recognition of the Uintah Schools Foundation and Teacher Excellence Awards
Student presentations and performances
Sterling Scholars recognition
State of the District presentation by district leadership
Closing remarks and final performances

Key highlights included celebrating student and teacher achievements, showcasing the district’s strategic initiatives, and presenting data on academic progress. Timestamps (MM:SS) mark significant discussions, awards, student speeches, performances, and educational updates. No notable debates or unresolved issues were evident in the transcription.

1. Opening and Preliminaries (00:00 - 04:32)

Welcome and Introduction (00:32 - 00:56)
- The host welcomed attendees to the 2025 State of the District event, organized by the Uintah Schools Foundation, aimed at celebrating student success and updating the community on district developments.
- Thanks were extended to the Uintah High School band, Pandemonium, for providing prelude music.
National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance (01:04 - 03:54)
- The national anthem was performed by the Uintah High School Felicity Choir, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Uintah High School student government representatives Raquel Zinfeld, Emily Woods, and Paisley Bell.
Recognition of Officials (04:06 - 04:32)
- Local officials and school board members were acknowledged, including Mayor Doug Hammond and board members Dave Shivers, Denise Maynard, Robin McClellan, and Todd Massey, with appreciation for their presence.

2. Uintah Schools Foundation and Teacher Excellence Awards (04:32 - 12:33)

Foundation Overview (05:32 - 06:17)
- Established in 1982, the Uintah
- Schools Foundation supports schools through fundraising efforts like concerts, having donated over $68,000 since 2020 for classroom resources such as maps, photography supplies, and a 3D printer for a functional violin.
Teacher Excellence Awards Presentation (07:08 - 12:33)
- Shannon Deans presented awards to two teachers, each receiving a $500 cash prize from the Showalter family endowment:
  - Christy Watkins: Praised for 23 years of teaching, her dedication to student growth, resource-sharing, and fostering a positive environment, with testimonials highlighting her impact on student confidence and achievement.
  - Sammy [Last Name Not Provided]: Recognized for creating a “magical” classroom, her unmatched dedication, and ability to connect with students, inspiring academic excellence through intentional teaching.

3. Student Presentations and Performances (12:51 - 26:01)

Student Government Speeches (13:02 - 23:01)
- Ethan Pierce (Uintah High School) (13:32 - 15:47):
  - As student body president, he shared the theme “100 Never Looked So Good” for the school’s 100th anniversary, detailing events like a car show raising $5,400 for a Chicago leadership trip, homecoming week, and a fundraiser of nearly $8,000 for teacher Mrs. Bingham.
- Julia Bueller and Avaya Batty (Vernal Middle School) (16:02 - 20:05):
  - They discussed “Mustang Pride” (Personal responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Engagement), rewarded with prize cards, and highlighted supportive teachers and staff, fostering a family-like community.
- Jack Dimmock (Uintah Middle School) (20:10 - 23:01):
  - The eighth-grade student council president outlined initiatives like a 9/11 memorial, gratitude challenge, veteran recognition, and student support efforts (e.g., birthday cards, food pantry), emphasizing teamwork and academic focus.
Choir Performance (23:01 - 26:01)
- The Uintah High School choir, Polyphony, directed by Aaron Barryweather, performed “The Kitten” by Team Ju, noted for its excellence.

4. Recognition of Sterling Scholars (26:01 - 27:50)

Sterling Scholars Presentation (26:21 - 27:50)
- Ten Uintah High School Sterling Scholars were honored with $100 cash awards each, sponsored by the Showalter family, for excellence in categories like computer technology (Tommy Cruz), mathematics (David Anderson), and visual arts (Lily Carlson). They were encouraged for upcoming regional competitions.

5. Musical Interlude (27:57 - 31:30)

Band Performance (27:57 - 31:30)
- The Uintah High School band, Pandemonium, directed by Brian Gibson, performed “Shell Hawk,” appreciated for its engaging presentation.

6. State of the District Presentation (31:30 - 01:01:43)

Introduction and Acknowledgments (31:44 - 35:07)
- Superintendent Dr. Ritterman Woodford thanked the foundation, student performers, and staff, introducing directors Brian Vaughn (Student Services), Troy Timothy (Business Administrator), Mindy Merrill (Support Services), Jaime Leva (Elementary Curriculum), Christy Bird (Secondary Curriculum), and Dr. Mistalin (Human Resources).
Strategic Plan and Continuous Improvement (35:27 - 41:02)
- Dr. Woodford outlined the district’s four-year-old strategic plan, aiming for a positive learning environment and student potential realization, guided by the “Four Disciplines of Execution”:
  - Focus on student proficiency above state averages by 2025.
  - Act on lead measures like instructional coaching and data use.
  - Maintain scoreboards tracking teacher practices (e.g., 63% using learning intentions, targeting 80%).
  - Ensure accountability via observations (e.g., 238 at high school) and 844 school visits.
Instructional Framework and Teacher Development (41:37 - 52:58)
- Christy Bird presented a six-component framework to grow teachers:
  - Guaranteeing a viable curriculum.
  - Review/preview of lessons.
  - Clear expectations.
  - Engagement strategies.
  - Checks for understanding.
  - Positive corrective ratios.
- Emphasis was on observable, actionable growth over evaluation, supported by ongoing feedback.
Teacher Evaluation and Support (53:00 - 58:12)
- Dr. Mistalin detailed the TREE system (Teach, Reflect, Evaluate, Extend), aiming to:
  - Provide clear expectations.
  - Offer timely, actionable feedback (unlike past one-off evaluations).
  - Grow all teachers, eliminating “teacher roulette” for consistent quality.
Student Achievement Data (58:12 - 01:01:02)
- Dr. Woodford shared progress:
  - Grades 3-8 proficiency gap reduced from 115% below state average (2018-2019) to 56% (2023-2024).
  - High school gap narrowed from 9.7% (2021) to 5.1% (2024), with 37% of teams at or above state averages (up from 22% in 2022).
Closing Remarks (01:01:02 - 01:01:43)
- Dr. Woodford expressed optimism for future gains, thanking staff, parents, and the community.

7. Closing Remarks and Performances (01:01:43 - End)

Recognition and Announcements (01:01:43 - 01:04:05)
- Principals and student government members were recognized for their leadership. Attendees were encouraged to take books/bookmarks with a QR code linking to the foundation’s website, promoting a March 19-20 storytelling festival.
Final Performances (01:04:24 - End)
- A combined choir from Maeser and Discovery Elementary Schools, directed by Charlotte Campbell, performed “I Won’t Grow Up” from Peter Pan, Jr. and “Glorious” by Stephanie Maybe.
- Postlude music was provided by the Uintah High School band, Pandemonium, with refreshments offered.

8. Notable Highlights and Takeaways

Celebration of Excellence: The event spotlighted student leadership, teacher dedication, and academic achievements through awards and performances.
Strategic Alignment: The district’s focus on aligning systems (strategic plan, instructional framework, evaluations) aims to boost student learning, with measurable progress shown in data.
Community Engagement: Appreciation for parents, staff, and the foundation underscored the collaborative effort driving improvements.
No Unresolved Issues: The transcription revealed no significant debates, focusing instead on positive updates and celebrations.

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State of the District 2025