Jump Start 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

11:00am MDT

Little Lights to Lifelong Learners: 4 Practices to Engage Humans (5–105)

Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive, heart-centered training equips educators and leaders with four practical, research-informed strategies to engage any audience (students, families, staff, or stakeholders). Grounded in emotional intelligence, the session helps participants create inclusive spaces, build strong relationships, and spark lasting engagement across ages and roles. Participants will reflect and connect while gaining tools they can use immediately to increase participation, strengthen communication, and lead with intention no matter who’s in the room.

Speakers

Julia Gabor

co-founder, kid-grit

Julia, an esteemed educator and national speaker, proudly serves as the co-founder of kid-grit, championing students from PK-12 with innovative curriculum and workshops. Committed to empowering educators, she provides evidence-based professional development and coaching. In 2022... Read More →

Michelle Pina

Director of Partnerships, kid-grit

Michelle Pina’s career launched as a middle school teacher and quickly evolved into leadership roles. Experiences include professional development coordinator, federal grant director, and out-of-school time director for school districts. She has over 15 years of experience in leading... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Youth Development, Child/Youth Growth and Development

STRAND Youth Development
Program Serving Grades Admin & Leadership
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Child/Youth Growth and Development
NAA Core Knowledge Skills & Co... Family School and Community Relationships

1:30pm MDT

Content Creator Bootcamp: Digital Tools for Creative Communication

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Explore digital design to cultivate student agency and self-expression. In this interactive session, we'll examine what creativity looks like in an AI-driven era through active digital content production.

Participants will gain hands-on experience using professional platforms like Adobe Express, learning to guide students in defining target audiences, building brand identities, and mastering graphic design fundamentals. By bridging the gap between students' digital passions and professional aspirations, this workshop provides practical insights into the creator economy, equipping educators to confidently guide students toward relevant 21st-century career pathways.

Speakers

Lindsey Prociw

Project Coordinator, Product Development, PCS Edventures!

Lindsey Prociw is the Project Coordinator for the Product Development team at PCS Edventures. Bringing over a decade of experience in STEM education, she has managed summer camp programs, led teacher professional development, coordinated school field trips and developed curriculum... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ballroom 1

STEM, Professional Development and Leadership

Program Serving Grades 6-8, 9-12 | TEENS
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Professional Development and Leadership
NAA Core Knowledge Skills & Co... Program Planning and Development

2:45pm MDT

Beyond Behavior: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health in After-School Programs

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

After-school professionals are often the first to notice when a child is struggling, yet many receive little training in recognizing and responding to youth mental health concerns. This interactive session will help participants understand common mental health challenges, distinguish typical behavior from signs of concern, and view behavior through a trauma-informed lens. Attendees will learn practical strategies to prevent and respond to dysregulation, support emotional well-being, and know when additional support may be needed. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools, activities, and resources they can immediately implement in their programs.

Speakers

Alyson Funn

Chief Clinical Officer, Utah School Mental Health Collaborative/Mountain West School Mental Health Foundation

Alyson Funn, PhD, is the Chief Clinical Officer for the Mountain West School Mental Health Foundation, where she leads clinical services while maintaining an active practice conducting school-based psychological evaluations, consultation, and behavioral health services for children... Read More →

Susan Smaellie

Parent Community LiaisonnnHopeful Beginnings School-Based Therapist (Canyons School District), Utah School Mental Health Collaborative/Mountain West School Mental Health FoundationnnCanyons School District

Susan Smaellie supports students and families with compassion and clinical expertise as a School-Based Therapist in two Utah Title I elementary schools. As the Parent Community Liaison with the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, she provides education for parents, caregivers... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Prevention, Safety and Wellness

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Safety and Wellness
NAA Core Knowledge Skills & Co... Child/Youth Growth and Development

4:00pm MDT

Little Actions, 10X Outcomes: Helping Youth Think Big, Build Confidence, and Take Action

LIMITED

Friday October 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

What could happen if young people learned to Think Big, Believe Big, Act Big, Invest Big, and Live Big? Designed for afterschool professionals, teachers, site leaders, and mentors serving youth ages 5–18, this interactive session brings the 10X Kids University mindset to life. Participants will explore engaging strategies that build confidence, goal-setting, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and influence. Through practical activities, attendees will learn how to help youth identify their potential, use money as a tool, turn ideas into action, and increase their positive impact. Leave ready to create little moments that prepare the next generation for lifelong success.

Speakers

Kimberly Jacobsen

CEO, Total Impact Hub

Kimberly Jacobsen is an educator, author, entrepreneur, and Certified 10X Business Coach with more than 15 years of classroom and youth-development experience. As founder of Total Impact Hub, she creates practical programs that help youth and adults build confidence, strengthen skills... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Emerging Leaders, Learning Environments and Curriculum

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Learning Environments and Curriculum

11:00am MDT

Basecamp to Summit: A Facilitated Path to Building Leaders

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Leadership isn't a solo climb; it's bringing your team with you. In this facilitated session, Felix Bobo, an after-school administrator, walks program directors, site coordinators, and future leaders through The Climb: casting a clear vision for where the organization/team is headed (the Summit), taking honest stock of the foundation already in place (Basecamp), and recognizing that what got the team here may not get them where they're going. Participants identify, in their own words, the real obstacles standing in their way (Challenges), and explore why even strong leaders need the support of others to bring a vision to life (Support).

Speakers

Felix Bobo

CEO, Unlimited University

Felix Bobo is a keynote speaker, former school counselor, and expanded learning leader with more than 20 years of experience helping students, educators, and communities thrive. As the founder of Unlimited University, he partners with schools and youth-serving organizations to strengthen... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Emerging Leaders, Professional Development and Leadership

Program Serving Grades Admin & Leadership
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Professional Development and Leadership

1:30pm MDT

Is This Really Happening? From Tube Tops to the Tooth Fairy, Maintaining Joy in Your Educator Journey

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Being an educator feels a bit like signing up for a marathon and discovering it’s an ultra-marathon...with hurdles… in hot sand… with no shoes. From managing wardrobes of students (tube tops) to debating the existence of the Tooth Fairy, the surprises never end. The journey of an educator is often filled with unexpected challenges, changes, and an emotional grind that make us all pause and wonder at some point, “Is this really happening?” This session explores the strategies used by two educators navigating the demanding yet rewarding path of education and how they got lost and found their way back.

Speakers

Travis Moss

Principal Mapleton Jr. High School, Nebo School District

Travis Moss is the Principal at Mapleton Jr. High School and a husband to the most patient woman in the world and the father of five amazing kids that keep him busy and laughing. Travis started out as a Spanish teacher and has always enjoyed languages and the challenge and joy of... Read More →

Brittany Lundell

Assistant Principal Springville Jr. High School, Nebo School District

Raised on a farm, Brittany learned early the value of hard work, patience, and a good sense of humor. She spent eight years teaching special education before moving into school administration, dedicating her career to students and families in the Nebo School District. She holds degrees... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Developing High Quality Programs, Program Planning and Development

Program Serving Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 Leadership and Admin
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Professional Development and Leadership

2:45pm MDT

Accessible Programming without Overwhelm

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

This training is meant to help afterschool professionals identify blind spots in their program development in a way that feels tangible. Oftentimes, creating programs can be overwhelming because you have so many people to think about, on an individual level. This training will help bring a collectivist mindset in our planning to help decrease feelings of anxiety when planning for various people from a wide range of backgrounds. Come and be a part of the discussion and create an intersectional framework that works for you.

Speakers

Encircle

Encircle LGBTQ+ Youth and Family Resource Center - Salt Lake

Encircle is a resource center that offers drop in hours, peer support programs, and creative programming for LGBTQ+ folks ages 12+, as well as education and support for their families and loved ones. Each location offers unique programming specific to their area. We also offer therapy... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Developing High Quality Programs, Family School and Community Relationships

Program Serving Grades 6-8, 9-12 6-8, 9-12 | TEENS
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Family School and Community Relationships
NAA Core Knowledge Skills & Co... Program Planning and Development

4:00pm MDT

How Pop Culture, Video Games, and Pixie Dust Helped Me Banish The Final Boss of Learning: Boredom

LIMITED

Saturday October 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

Ballroom 1

Limited Capacity seats available

Afterschool educators are invited to discover practical strategies to transform your everyday activities into experiences kids can't wait to join. This interactive panel explores how gamification, "subverting reality" by adding playful twists to familiar activities, and pop-culture-inspired themes can help level up your classes and make learning fun and memorable. You'll leave with ready-to-use ideas and adaptive curriculum frameworks to beat boredom--the final boss of learning.

Speakers

Jess Ung

Senior Community Programs Manager, SLC Division of Youth & Family YouthCity

Jess Ung is the Senior Community Programs Manager at YouthCity at Liberty Park, part of Salt Lake City’s Division of Youth & Family. After starting her career in video games and entertainment art, Jess made the move into out-of-school time youth care and quickly discovered that... Read More →

Saturday October 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Ballroom 1

Developing High Quality Programs, Learning Environments and Curriculum

Program Serving Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8
NAA Core Knowledge Skills and.... Learning Environments and Curriculum

11:00am MDT

1:30pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

4:00pm MDT

11:00am MDT

1:30pm MDT

2:45pm MDT

4:00pm MDT

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