UCET

This year, we are proud to introduce the UCET Hall of Fame Award.

We created this award to honor those rare individuals whose impact isn't measured in years, but in generations. Our ideal candidates are the visionaries who didn't just use technology; they championed it when it was difficult, built communities when we were isolated, and paved the road that the rest of us are driving on today.

Our last Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductee is Terry Shoemaker. In 2001, Terry served as the Superintendent of Wasatch County School District, a role he held for approximately 15 years. And as superintendent, he led significant modernization efforts, including pioneering districtwide digital learning initiatives that placed laptops directly into students’ hands—positioning Wasatch as a leader in educational technology and innovation.

During his tenure, he was appointed by Governor Huntsman to Utah Valley University: Board of Trustees for 8 years. Terry was named Utah School Superintendent of the Year in 2014 in recognition of his impact.

At the conference when we handed the award to Terry's widow, Emma Moss shared a personal story of how Terry impacted her life when he was her elementary principal and brought computers and possibilities into her life. We are grateful for the lasting impact that Terry has had on every level of the Utah educational landscape.

This year, we are proud to introduce the UCET Hall of Fame Award.

We created this award to honor those rare individuals whose impact isn't measured in years, but in generations. Our ideal candidates are the visionaries who didn't just use technology; they championed it when it was difficult, built communities when we were isolated, and paved the road that the rest of us are driving on today.

Our next Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductee is Guy Durrant. If you’ve enjoyed a UCET conference over the last three decades, you’ve benefitted from Guy Durrant’s vision. He has been there practically from the very beginning of UCET, watching it grow from a one-day conference held in local high schools to a multiple day conference that is now held in the Salt Palace.

Guy served on the UCET board for 25 years, starting in 1993. Whether he was acting as President or physically pulling fiber optic cable through the Daggett School District, Guy’s mission was always the same: pushing the boundaries of what technology can do for students.

From "luggable" laptops in the 90s to a 1:1 district rollout, Guy has seen it all. We are thrilled to welcome this science teacher turned tech visionary into the Hall of Fame! 🎓✨

This year, we are proud to introduce the UCET Hall of Fame Award.

We created this award to honor those rare individuals whose impact isn't measured in years, but in generations. Our ideal candidates are the visionaries who didn't just use technology; they championed it when it was difficult, built communities when we were isolated, and paved the road that the rest of us are driving on today.

Our first Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductee is Kelly Dumont. Kelly dedicated his life to education and was passionate about Apple technology. He cherished friendships with colleagues from Jordan and Canyons school districts, UCET, and the Apple store. Kelly was an Apple Distinguished Educator, as well as a Google Certified Innovator. He was the recipient of the 2017 ISTE Making IT Happen award.

Many of us here remember Kelly from his time on the UCET board, including a term as UCET president during the 2005 conference.

To many Kelly was the OG of Utah Edtech, quick with a tech tip and a smile. Kelly was one of the early leaders of Utah’s edtech movement. Kelly was The Educational Mac and he spent countless hours training on Mac devices across the country. He was a national presenter before anyone in Utah knew that was possible. Kelly was a pioneering figure in Utah's edtech landscape and we are dedicate this award to Kelly's legacy which is still felt today.

Congrats to Justin Brooksby for the UCET Outstanding Leader award this year! We are grateful for all you do to support digital learning across the state!

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UCET 2026 AWARD WINNERS! 🎉
We are thrilled to announce this year’s honorees who are transforming the landscape of digital learning across Utah. From statewide infrastructure to heart-centered classroom coaching, these individuals embody the mission of UCET.

🏆 ISTE Making “IT” Happen Award
Matthew Winters | AI Education Specialist, Utah State Board of Education
Matthew is a visionary who has spent years shaping the future of digital teaching in Utah. A former UCET President and renowned podcaster, he now leads the charge in AI integration for the Utah State Board of Education. His career is defined by a commitment to teacher empowerment and a relentless drive to move Utah’s educational standards forward.

🏆 UCET Outstanding Leader Award
Justin Brooksby | Associate Director of Ed Tech Solutions, UEN
Justin is a powerhouse of statewide collaboration. From overseeing the Canvas ecosystem to leading the AI & School Leadership Collaborative, his vision ensures that Utah’s educators are future-ready. He doesn't just manage programs; he builds communities like CForum, where tech leaders across the state connect and grow together.

🏆 UCET Excellence in Technology Services Award
Eric Taylor | Business Engineer, Canyons School District
Often called the "wizard behind the curtain," Eric manages the complex digital infrastructure for over 33,000 students. As a forward-thinking engineer, he spearheaded the district’s shift to ClassLink and leads the Utah Skyward User Group. His tireless work behind the scenes ensures that technology is a seamless utility that never stands in the way of a student's education.

🏆 UCET Outstanding Coach Award
Mayra Sanchez | Granite School District
Mayra is a "diamond" at Granger Elementary, known for turning "tech-timid" teachers into digital innovators. Using her bilingual skills to bridge gaps for families and students, she ensures technology is a purposeful tool for learning—not just a flashy add-on. Whether it's robotics in kindergarten or AI in professional development, Mayra makes innovation feel achievable for everyone.

✨ That’s a Wrap on UCET 2026! ✨
A huge THANK YOU to every educator, presenter, student, and partner who joined us for ! From exploring the "Elements" of education to the incredible connections made in Salt Lake City, you made this year's conference truly unforgettable.🍎💻

But the journey doesn't stop here...

📅 Save the Date for UCET 2027!
We’re already counting down the days until we gather again. Mark your calendars and get ready to head to Provo!

Dates: March 9 & 10, 2027

Location: Utah Valley Convention Center

Keep that energy going in your classrooms, and we’ll see you next year! 🏔️✨

We are thrilled to officially announce the results of our recent election. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest UCET Board Members!

Re-elected: Kelli Cannon, Jordan
Re-elected: Dave Horan, Alpine
Newly Elected: Gregg Crockett, Nebo

We are so grateful for your willingness to lead, advocate, and innovate as we continue to support Utah’s incredible community of educators. We can't wait to see the impact you’ll make and get to work at our summer retreat!

Don't forget to vote in this year's UCET Board Elections! Check your Sched app for the session titled "UCET Elections" for the link to vote.

Help us pick our next board members! Voting closes tomorrow at lunch. Election results will be shared at 1:00 pm.

And that’s a wrap on the UCET Elements Miniseries! 🎙️🔥 We’ve had an incredible journey through Season 6, featuring insights from our 2026 Keynotes, Bennett Borden and Dr. Molly Hart, alongside amazing guests like Carly Maloney and our host, Kiera Beddes.

Missed an episode? Don't worry! You can catch up on all the wisdom, laughs, and edtech insights in two ways:
1️⃣ Stream the full series here: https://ucet-podcast.simplecast.com/.
2️⃣ Join us at for a special podcast listening sessions where we’ll be featuring these episodes during the conference.

Get ready to hear from the voices leading the way in education. See you at the Salt Palace!

Navigating your way to ? Let’s talk logistics! ✈️🚂🚗

The next "element" of a stress-free conference is knowing how you're getting here. Whether you’re flying, driving, or riding the rails, we want your arrival at the Salt Palace to be as smooth as possible!

🚆 Go Green: Consider using public transit like UTA TRAX or FrontRunner—the stop is literally across the street (north entrance)!
🚗 Driving In? There are several parking garages around the Salt Palace. Just a heads-up: UCET does not offer parking validation, so be sure to check rates ahead of time.

Pro-tip: Carpool with your fellow educators to save on gas and parking costs! 👯‍♀️

Get all the details on transit and parking here: 🔗 https://ucet.org/transportation/

Be sure to check out all of our Alpine Innovative Learning Team sessions at the UCET conference next week!