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School board highlights arts integration across five schools in Utah Tech region
Summary
At the meeting, the school board heard a presentation from Shanda Stenger on arts integration in the Utah Tech University region, describing five teachers’ programs that blended arts with language arts, social studies and STEM; presenters noted a successful community project that resulted in all animals being adopted.
The school board heard a presentation from Shanda Stenger, arts and wellness coordinator, showcasing five examples of arts integration across the Utah Tech University region that teachers used to reinforce learning in language arts, social studies and civic understanding.
Stenger told board members the examples came from five different schools and described specific classroom integrations: Uriah Hernelstein at Coral Canyon used rhythm to interpret narrative patterns and explore storytelling through sound; Chris Sewell at Crimson View led a schoolwide visual-arts exploration of community tied to social-studies standards and partnered with Best Friends Animal Shelter on an adoption-related project; Ali Koehler at Vista used drama to move student writing from page to stage; Alicia Burton at Bloomington Hills guided students to recreate portions of the Constitution using calligraphy and quills; and Stacy Bowden used musical performance to reinforce civic symbols and U.S. history.
Stenger said the Crimson View partnership included a real-world adoption event and that all the animals were adopted. “Her work partnered with Best Friends Bridal Shelter to address the real world issue of animal adoption and that event, all the animals were adopted,” Stenger said. (Note: transcript uses the phrase “Best Friends Bridal Shelter” and it was spoken in the presentation; the article records the name as given in the meeting.)
Board member Brenton praised the teachers and described personal connections to two of the educators. “I know these — there was okay. So there was an echo there. Anyway, so I'm so excited to see some Washington County teachers that I know personally and others in my district doing wonderful… I'm so glad to see them being recognized,” Brenton said.
The board displayed student artwork during the meeting; presenters and members described the pieces as examples of how arts integration can reinforce academic standards and civic understanding. No formal actions or votes were taken on this presentation.
