West Jordan Journal | March 2024

WEST JORDAN WOMAN’S BOOK TACKLES

THE CHALLENGES OF RAISING A CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME

By Peri Kinder |

Wendy Hooton’s baby was just hours old when she learned he had Down syndrome. She was devastated. It was 1990 and Hooton didn’t know what to expect for her child, Matthew. Within 24 hours, the young mother was asked if she wanted to give Matt up for adoption.

“I was like, wait a minute. I just had a baby and now you want to take him from me?” she said. “I was having a hard time with the diagnosis, but it didn’t mean I wanted to give him away. So that was when I said it’s me and him against the world.”

Over the last three decades, Hooton has learned valuable lessons when it comes to raising a child, and now an adult, with Down syndrome. In October, she published her book, “Big People Don’t Pee in the Park: A Mother and Son’s Journey with Down Syndrome.” She hopes her story will inspire other parents to create a wonderful, inclusive life for their children with the condition.

In her book, Hooton talks about the times she felt like giving up, the times she felt like celebrating and everything in between. She wants parents to know any emotion they’re dealing with is valid, and that they are not alone.

“I had been journaling stories of situations that he’d put me in over the last 33 years. We’ve had some of the most hilarious and not-so-hilarious situations,” Hooton said. “So I decided to put humor in my book. I use humor to help these parents who might be struggling, like I did, and give them hope. In fact, my tagline has been healing, hope and humor. I want to give them hope and to give them a glimpse into their future.”

Hooton said Matt, who is now 33, has been her biggest challenge and her biggest blessing. She wishes people would focus on living

Wendy Hooton and her son Matt show off her best-selling book “Big People Don’t Pee in the Park: A Mother and Son’s Journey with Down Syndrome.” Hooton wants the book to help families who are raising children with the condition. (Photo courtesy of Wendy Hooton)

The following is based on real events. The names have been changed to protect identities.

Travis was a mechanic; and a good one at that. Travis’ skills were in demand in the small Utah town where he lived. He picked up small jobs here and there, but mostly, he worked for a local repairs shop spending 40 hours each week with a wrench in hand. One day while Travis was working under an RV, the RV fell on top of him. By the time the RV was raised again, Travis was dead.

Somehow the jacks used to lift the RV disengaged – whether they failed or someone bumped the release lever is unclear. Regardless of how it happened, Travis’ tragic death was a serious blow to his wife and three young kids –emotionally and financially.

Because Travis had died as a result of a work accident, Amanda, his wife, thought his employers’ worker’s compensation insurance would at least help with funeral expenses. To add insult to injury, Amanda learned that her husband’s employer did not carry worker’s compensation coverage, something almost all Utah employers are required to carry by law. Her last resort was to file a claim with the Utah Uninsured Employers’ Fund, a special fund to help injured workers and their families when their employers don’t have worker’s compensation coverage.

To Amanda’s surprise, the Uninsured Employers’ Fund denied her claim saying that based on information from the repair shop, Travis was not an employee but an independent contractor they paid to help out with extra work when they

needed him. Amanda couldn’t believe it. She knew how much time Travis had spent working at the shop and that the shop had not been honest in describing his work. Angry and upset, Amanda called Davis & Sanchez looking for answers – and help.

Following the hearing, Amanda and her children were awarded outstanding medical expenses, funeral expenses, and years of compensation for the loss of his income.

Davis & Sanchez filed a lawsuit against the repair shop and the Uninsured Employers’ Fund for worker’s compensation benefits for Amanda and her kids. At a hearing in front of a Judge at the Utah Labor Commission, testimony and exhibits showed that Travis worked at least forty hours per week for his employer, used the employer's vehicle, used the employer's tools, used the employer's shop, and only did work on jobs that the shop gave him to do. Travis did not own a repair shop, had no business license, and did not take payment from customers, unless it was an on-site job, in which event he turned

the money over to his employer. Travis had no financial interest, other than his hourly wage, in his employer's business.

Following the hearing, Amanda and her children were awarded outstanding medical expenses, funeral expenses, and years of compensation for the loss of his income. The employer appealed the case, but the Judge's original opinion was upheld. The employer was also fined for not carrying worker’s compensation insurance, as required by law.

This situation is all too common. An employer simply calling an employee an "independent contractor" does not make it so. Many factors, such as those mentioned above, must be considered to determine whether or not an employer has substantial control over an employee and his work.

Whether a case involves a death or a smashed finger, Davis & Sanchez believes in helping injured workers get the benefits they deserve. If you or a loved one have questions or concerns about a worker’s compensation case, call the professionals at 801-746-0290 or visit their website at www.justworkcomplaw.com

High-quality, innovative health care with a heavy dose of compassion

With a focus on health care excellence, community service and faith – the doctors, nurses and care teams at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West are committed to compassionate and high-quality care for their neighbors.

It has been nearly a year since CommonSpirit Health took over five Wasatch Front hospitals that now bear the name Holy Cross, a reference to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who brought Catholic, faith-based health care to the people of Utah nearly 150 years ago. Today, the hospitals are reinvigorating the Sisters’ vision while caring for all with open arms.

“Our care is focused on neighbors helping neighbors, whether they be in West Jordan, West Valley City, or our surrounding communities,” said Christine McSweeney, CEO of Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Interim CEO at its sister hospital in West Valley City. “Our care providers live in these communities, and we are committed to playing an active role in improving the health of those around us – inside and outside of our hospital walls.”

Besides innovative health care in services that include orthopedics, bariatric programs, a cancer center, heart care, stroke accreditation and a Trauma III ER, the hospital’s teams are actively involved in helping to make the communities better, from leading food drives at local schools to partnering with the American Heart Association to educate our communities on heart health.

Through its Hello Humankindness program, CommonSpirit is actively promoting the health benefits

of kindness and recognizing employees who go above and beyond the call of their jobs to help those in need.

“We believe that simple acts of kindness have a profound impact on the lives of our patients and communities, in addition to the medical expertise that our doctors and nurses provide,” McSweeney said.

The community-focused work also involves close partnerships with local first responders, including fire departments and EMS agencies, who understand the advanced medical care that CommonSpirit provides at its Holy Cross hospitals when patients need an ambulance.

“They know we have some of the most advanced stroke care in our communities and some of the most advanced heart care,” McSweeney added.

CommonSpirit’s mission includes advancing social justice for all, and last fall, it bestowed eight grants from its Health Equity & Advancement Fund to local nonprofits that are working every day to improve lives in ways that include health screenings for Spanishspeaking neighbors and mental health treatment for children and families.

With a long legacy of service and healing, CommonSpirit is just getting started in extending health care excellence for all Utahns at the Holy Cross hospitals.

“Our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity,” McSweeney said.

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Christine McSweeney, CEO

Mardi Gras Gala returned to connect community

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

The County Library had a Mardi Gras party in 2020 just before everything shut down, and it was a big hit. The library decided to bring it back this year, and it was a sold out success.

The Mardi Gras Gala was a great free Adult Night Out at the Viridian Event Center on March 10. There were colorful costumes, gumbo, chicken and waffles, beignets, mock cocktails and parades. Attendees danced to traditional New Orleans jazz played by Flamingo, a local band. Costumes were bright and glittering with an array of stunning masks. “The Gala experience connects the community and creates opportunity to learn about cultural traditions in a fun and memorable way,” Rosa Bandeirinha said, public relations coordinator.

Events like the Mardi Gras Gala are a great way for the community to connect and have a great night out with loved ones and meet new friends. “Salt Lake County loved our Mardi Gras Event in 2020. Due to the overwhelming response, we were thrilled to offer it again this year for free with activities, entertainment, opportunities to dance and to create joyful memories,” Taylor Allen said, Viridian assistant manager.

The whole goal and mission of the gala is to bring the community together at the library. The library wanted to bring the community together to create a gala type of event that is free and open to the public for those who don’t have access to go to expensive events. “It is a chance to dress up and go to an event and come together as a community and experience a different cultural event that we don’t have in Utah,” said Cali Holcombe Event Coordinator.

In France they celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, It marks the close of the pre-Lenten sea-

son. The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent. This is in preparation for fasting and abstinence.

In the United States there is a carnival celebration in New Orleans. The carnival opens up on Twelfth Night which is also called Epiphany. This is celebrated on Jan. 6. Then it goes into Mardi Gras celebration with all the festivities just 10 days before Shrove Tuesday. The celebration has parades, revelry going on day and night. Then everything builds up to the Rex parade. The Rex parade has spanned generations. Rex is a Carnival Krewe which has one of the city’s most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for King and Rex reigns as “The King

of the Carnival.”

The Mardi Gras Gala is a unique Adult Night Out celebration that Salt Lake County Library puts on. This festivity is for fun, and people in Utah can learn more about Mardi Gras and why it is celebrated. It brings the community together and adults can attend for free. l

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Travis

Mieka

Jason

Ryan

Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

Left to right: Flamingo Band (Linda Steele/City Journals); Mardi Gras Gala (Linda Steele/City Journals); Fortune Telling (Linda Steele/City Journals); Mardi Gras Butterfly Costume (Linda Steele/ City Journals)

Local author writes book about female pioneer entrepreneur

Melissa Tyler, a local West Jordan author wrote a book about Patty Bartlett Sessions, midwife pioneer born 220 years ago. She crossed the wild frontier and delivered 4,000 babies. The picture on the front of Tyler’s book is a drawing of Sessions with a rattlesnake. She killed a rattlesnake on the wild frontier. Not only was Sessions a midwife, she was a general practitioner taking care of everybody who was sick. “In the story people would come to her to heal their horses. People would say, ‘if you know how to heal people you know how to heal animals,’” Tyler said. Patty Bartlett Sessions’ journals are published through the Utah State Press by Donna Toland Smart.

Sessions’ story is full of incredible adventure and history. “Patty was an entrepreneur, and I want my girls and other girls as well to glean who she was, that hard working entrepreneurial woman. The book is for adults as well,” Tyler said.

Sessions is Tyler’s fourth Great Grandmother. Tyler was interested in becoming a midwife, however she didn’t end up doing that. Tyler wants to learn all she can about Sessions because it’s important to her that her daughters be inspired to reach their goals and not be afraid to have a career. “Patty was within the Mormon culture where the ideal is to be a stay-at-home Mom and you don’t have a career, but what Patty showed was, she did everything,” Tyler said.

Sessions was a business woman. She was one of the first ZCMI stock holders. She had about $16,000 invested in ZCMI stock back then, which would be roughly $326,000 today. She was the largest contributor to the Logan temple. She had a lot of real estate, and contributed to the Salt Lake City temple. She lived where the Gateway Mall is now. Her son Perrigrine Sessions settled Bountiful in 1847. Sessions opened a school. People would go to her for loans. She had a nursery where people would get trees from her, and she operated a bed and breakfast for people coming in and out of Utah. She came from Maine. She had a loom and would weave customers wool so they could make material to make their clothes. “She was industrious and had an entrepreneurial spirit and she was a prominent member of society,” Tyler said. Sessions would work with other midwives and doctors to share ideas of what was working and who was sick and how they could combat illnesses.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has original archives, and Sessions is noted in history on footnotes. People reference Sessions and use her journal because it is so significant.

“A lot of Utahns go to church and have lessons from men’s personal history and stories. It is so refreshing to read a woman’s journey in Patty’s journal, her perspective and her story. I have this dream that I would

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

highlight all the major women in Utah pioneer history. But, “Woman of the Wild Frontier” took six years to write. It was a long labor of love. It took two years of research such as reading her journal, reading sources, and trying to understand where she fit into history,” Tyler said.

Tyler found an illustrator and started working with her and created a whole script. She wrote what she wanted the pictures to look like, what she wanted the footnotes to say, and communicating back and forth with graphic details took a lot of time.

Her illustrator Luciana Maruca lives in Bueno Aires, Argentina. She has been drawing her whole life. She started drawing professionally 16 years ago. Maruca was able to take what Tyler said and put it together. Tyler feels very lucky that Luciana saw her vision and was able to tap right into it.

Maruca’s first memory of when she started drawing was when she was 3 years old she drew an eclectic drawing on her mom’s sofa. Her mom wasn’t happy about it. She was a shy kid, and what she couldn’t say ended up on paper. She loved illustrated books and animated films, that is what she wanted to do when she grew up. Her dad and uncle were artists. Her uncle was a great artist and she loved spending time with him and drawing. Her first steady professional work was on comic books coloring on her husband’s pages. Maruca started illustrating books professionally 16 years ago. She met Tyler after she had just finished a graphic novel, and was looking for work. She found an online platform called Guru. Tyler had the script of her story all written down and needed somebody to illustrate it. Maruca saw Tyler’s book and

they wrote to each other. At first Maruca never thought she could get the details of how Tyler wanted the illustrations. Tyler replied to Maruca and thanked her for being so honest and was interested in what her process was. Maruca ended up drawing all the pictures in “Midwife of the Wild Frontier.”

Maruca has a passion for drawing. She always felt like she was good at it, and she enjoyed it. “Sometimes it’s hard and challenging, but when you are focused all of sudden things start appearing on the page, they weren’t there before and now they are. It’s kind of magical and you feel like everything else disappears, the world around you disappears. Time goes at a different speed. You look up, the sun is shining, then it’s night, and I didn’t notice the time going by. I just love it,” Maruca said.

Tyler wanted to write this book because there are things in Utah pioneer history that many want to justify. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a great historian that wrote “A Midwife’s Tale.” Ulrich’s book helped Tyler understand how Sessions fit into a lot of historical contexts. “But when we read women’s journals we have to sit with the uncomfortableness of the truth and maybe recognize where we were wrong. In reading Patty’s journal it is heavy because you are feeling their feelings,” Tyler said. Sessions writes what it was like to live in polygamy. When Tyler wrote the story

she likes to write with humor, some frivolity and some sarcasm. “I don’t try to explain away the history or justify it, it’s just presented as is. Sometimes we just have to sit with that, and it’s okay. I want to give the book its true authenticity,” Tyler said.

“Midwife of the Wild Frontier” is available on Amazon, Kindle, The King’s English book shop, Benchmark Books and Marissa’s Bookshop.

Tyler’s email is missytyler@gmail.com

Top: “Midwife Of The Wild Frontier” (Courtesy Luciana Maruca); Right: Melissa Tyler (Courtesy Jonathon Tyler); Bottom: Luciana Maruca’s Illustrations (Courtesy Luciana Maruca)

It has been four years this month since Jordan District schools announced they would temporarily shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years that followed, the pandemic significantly impacted students’ academics, their habits, and how, where and when they attended classes.

Four years later, the majority of students are back to attending in-person classes and extracurricular activities without limits or requirements for social distancing, masking or quarantines. On the surface, schools look much like they did preCOVID. However, there are some impacts of the pandemic that are still lingering, and some that have changed education permanently.

“The pandemic exaggerated the good and the bad,” Jordan Board of Education Member Darrell Robinson said. “It made the bad really bad, and made the good really good, but there's never been a better time to be in public education. There’s fantastic things that came out of that horrible experience.”

Increased Innovation

Robinson, who had pushed for virtual learning options for years, saw them get approved when the pandemic made it necessary. Suddenly, every teacher was learning to use virtual platforms and experimenting with digital tools to enhance their lessons.

Carolyn Gough, who was the principal of Riverton High School in 2020, said the pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning tools.

“We were already moving in a good direction toward 1:1 with computers, but the pandemic expedited our progress,” she said. “Since then, digital teaching and learning has taken off and we are offering more and more to teachers in terms of programs, software and strategies they can use to assist students with technology.”

After every student experienced online learning during 2020, some realized it was a better fit for them. To meet the demand for online options, Jordan District provided a virtual option for students for the 2020-21 school year and the following year opened the Jordan Virtual Learning Academy, with a fully developed virtual elementary, middle and high school.

“We had taught virtual classes for years,” Jordan District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said. “But the difference is that we were able to accelerate that effort in ways that would not have been possible without the pandemic, so that we now have options in every grade, at every grade level.”

In addition to providing personalized learning for students, virtual curriculum created an unexpectedly reasonable solu-

How the pandemic changed education

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

tion to sick days and snow days.

The wide-spread availability of virtual platforms such as Zoom also changed how parents participated in school meetings. Five years ago, virtual meetings were not an option, but now schools offer virtual parent teacher conference appointments, virtual career and college preparation meetings and even virtual kindergarten orientation.

Stacee Worthen, a secondary counselor consultant for Jordan District, said providing the option for virtual PCCRs increased parent participation.

“It's just allowed us some ways to think outside the box and say, ‘We've always done this, but we don't always have to do it this way,’” she said. “COVID has given us the opportunity to say, ‘Maybe there's a different way to do this and that different way is just as good, if not better.’”

District Counseling Specialist Hillary Emmer said this year most parents are opting for in-person meetings.

“Most of the time if people can connect in real life, they're choosing that, but it still is a nice option for those that can't come or if it is just more convenient,” she said.

The push for live-streamed board of education meetings never got momentum until during the pandemic when community participation increased and social distancing limited in-person attendance. Meetings continue to be live-streamed and accessible on YouTube.

Robinson is optimistic that advances in innovation will continue to improve education.

“I think what you're starting to see with our district, now that COVID's gone away and we're moving back to being proactive again, you're going to see some cool things again,” Robinson said. “We're not

done.”

Mental Health

A major impact the pandemic had on education was that it brought mental health to the forefront.

Jordan District Health and Wellness Program Administrator Dr. McKinley Withers said the pandemic didn’t necessarily cause new mental health issues, but it forced people to confront the problems they had been ignoring.

“I think the pandemic just really brought to the surface a lot of the underlying issues in our culture and amplified some of that isolation and loneliness,” he said.

Withers said the pandemic had a positive effect by normalizing discussions about mental health and reducing the stigma of asking for help, which has helped people who are struggling get the resources they need.

In 2018, Withers was the only district employee responsible for addressing the health and wellness of students and employees. Now, in 2024, he works with a team of six full-time district employees and 24 school-based support personnel who promote wellness and provide mental health resources to teachers, students and families.

“Before the pandemic, our work was in getting buy-in for mental health,” Withers said. “Post-pandemic, people are bought in. So, it's just a matter of getting the right kinds of resources matched to the support that students and staff need.”

Since 2020, JSD has prioritized mental health support. Now every school has full-time assistant principals, full-time counselors and more campus monitors. Many schools also have a Wellness Room as a resource for both students and staff

members.

Emmer said because everyone experienced the pandemic differently, the effects on different people and groups varied in length and severity.

“Some kids are really having a hard time, and some are just thriving and resilient and as successful as ever,” she said.

Middle school counselor Alyson Law said among her students, the mental and social effects from the isolation during the pandemic are ongoing.

“One of the biggest problems we've seen, especially in the mental health side, is the loneliness that kids are feeling, the separation and the loneliness,” she said. “We didn't have a good way to deal with that, and we were all in this trauma response—parents included. There was this fear of survival for quite a while. And so the loneliness was very hard, especially for kids who were so used to social situations, to be so separated from one another.”

At Fort Herriman Middle, where Law works, the school year’s theme “You Belong” was chosen to address those lingering effects.

Many schools have addressed mental and social interruptions to their students with themes and activities to encourage students to resume making social connections and to access tools for dealing with the side effects of the pandemic.

Beginning in February 2021, Jordan District has set aside an annual Health and Wellness Day to encourage employees and students to prioritize their mental and physical wellness.

Academic Impact

Mental health can have a direct correlation to academic performance, however academic gaps are another major effect of the pandemic and the COVID-related disruptions to educational instruction.

When instructional hours were interrupted during the last few months of the 2019-20 school year with a sudden closure of schools, and then by frequent quarantine requirements during the 2020-21 school year, it caused gaps in the academic, social and behavioral development of children that continue to impact students’ academic performance.

Godfrey said there were expected academic gaps during the pandemic because teachers had to focus on the essentials. He remains optimistic that students are progressing and closing those gaps.

“We have to be thoughtful about making sure that we don't fall into a deficit mentality and focus on the negatives,” Godfrey said. “We really do need to focus on being able to move forward. At the same time, we have to be realistic about the lasting impact of the pandemic. And what hap-

Masking, which was required for the 2020-21 school year when this photo was taken, is now a decision that is left up to the individual who is sick. (Photo courtesy of Doug Flagler)

pened is we lost academic time, and we lost time for students to make social progress.”

Catherine Crosby, a middle school reading teacher, sees evidence of the interruption at particular developmental stages which affects students’ learning, even four years later.

“This year, I'm seeing kids that really struggle with making connections [in reading],” she said. “The kids I have now would have been in fifth grade when the pandemic started. What were they learning in fifth grade that they missed? Because this is where their struggle is this year and I've not ever seen that—usually that's one of the easier strategies for students but that’s been really hard for these kids this year.”

Literacy specialist Tara Pearce was not surprised when there was a big dip in elementary students’ reading scores because of so many interruptions to their learning. The deficits have resulted in more students arriving in middle school lacking foundational reading skills.

Pearce said this year’s seventh graders were in fourth grade in March 2020, which is the year that reading skills transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’

“If they struggled with any of those fundamentals before COVID, it’s really hard to get caught up unless they’re getting really explicit instruction,” Pearce said. “After COVID, we had a lot more students coming to us that had a hard time decoding or reading the words, so we realized we needed to step up what we're doing here. We didn't have any specific reading teachers in seventh grade before, but now every seventh grader right now has a reading class based on their reading level.”

Pearce said the biggest difference between pre-COVID and post-COVID was among the low-performing students.

“The numbers aren’t necessarily dif-

ferent, but how low they are is,” Pearce said. “So, we’ve had to adapt and learn to teach those lower level skills.”

Ben Jameson, director of JSD’s Evaluation, Research and Accountability Department, said the pandemic emphasized the inequity among certain groups of students.

“We noticed right off the bat that there were certain demographic groups that were more impacted in a negative way from the switch to online learning—demographics like students with disabilities and students that are learning English as a second language,” Jameson said. “So I think one of the positive outcomes is, we were paying attention to those student groups before, but we're certainly paying lots more attention to them now to make sure that we're closing those gaps in the moment that they need it and getting them back on track.”

Jameson said the constraints on in-person interactions during 2020-21 impacted students’ ability to learn using the normal techniques, such as teachers modeling how to move their mouth to make specific letter sounds.

“In 2021, kindergarten and first grade students are learning those early sounds— how to make them, what letters make what sounds, diagraphs, blends and all of that stuff—it was modeled through a mask because everybody had to wear a mask at the time,” he said. “So that's an example of how they would have been impacted. We actually saw in our early literacy assessment data that the kindergarteners especially lag behind in some of those early skills.”

The good news is that K-3 reading proficiency test scores are showing that students are bouncing back from the deficits. In 2018-19, 69.1% of K-3 students were at or above benchmark for early reading skills. That dropped to 63.1% in 2021, but was up to 70% in 2023.

“That's an assessment where there's an example that things have largely recovered back to pre-pandemic levels, and even starting to show an increase,” Jameson said. “In fact, that 70% in the spring of 2023 is the highest percentage of students at or above benchmark that we've had in the history of this assessment.”

Attendance

To reclaim academic gains, teachers and administrators are stressing to students and parents the importance of regular school attendance. However, the current and troubling attitudes toward attendance are another result of the pandemic, Godfrey said.

“For all of us, I think, during and after the pandemic, we started to evaluate whether we were going to show up in person for something, even though our whole lives we had assumed we had to,” Godfrey said. “School suddenly became a question. Are we going to be virtual today? Are we not virtual today? Church, for many people, went virtual. Family gatherings—there were virtual conversations with family. So, I think we got used to not always showing up, and it's taken some time to rebuild that.”

In December, Godfrey reported to the board of education that the number of students who are considered chronically absent, with 18 or more days of missed classes in one school year, has increased.

Crosby said she has students in her class that have no consistent academic records because of chronic absenteeism over the past few years. They continue to miss class for weeks at a time.

“We still are seeing things I think that are a result of COVID, just habits, and kids that we've just never gotten back,” Crosby said.

The average attendance rate for JSD

students has decreased. In 2018, the average attendance rate was 90.9%. In 2020, when three months of the year were virtual, the rate was 93%. That fell to 91.7% in 2021, 88.9% in 2022 and 87.6% in 2023.

Jameson said the low attendance rates could be impacted by other variables, such as the availability of being able to complete classwork virtually.

“I think in people's minds, it's easier for them to make up assignments because it's right there on Canvas, and so it's actually a little bit easier to be absent,” he said. “But they sometimes don't take into account the fact that it doesn't compensate for the kind of instruction that they would receive in person in the classroom.”

Robinson suggests that the increase in absences could be a reflection of more students staying home when they are sick, which has become a more acceptable norm in the wake of the pandemic.

While attendance has not yet recovered from pandemic thinking, Godfrey remains optimistic.

“Our focus is on moving forward, helping students be at their best, and having a wide range of meaningful educational opportunities every day they come to school,” Godfrey said.

Innovation, mental health, academics and attendance are the main areas the pandemic has impacted education, but Emmer believes there could still be unknown repercussions.

“There probably are still impacts that we just don't even know and won't really know for quite a while, and what we're figuring out is that we won't really know until we’re there,” she said. “I think it's just hard to say, ‘This is exactly because of COVID or this isn't because of COVID’ because I just think, in general, education isn't what it was before COVID. But it is more like it was.” l

Educators try something new for Health and Wellness Day

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Jordan District employees spent Health and Wellness Day, held Feb. 9, playing cornhole, bowling, meditating, painting, playing pickleball and learning to make pasta and sourdough bread.

“We wanted Wellness Day to be a unique opportunity to get experiences with trying new things that promote long-term wellness,” Jordan District Health and Wellness Program Administrator Dr. McKinley Withers said. “Because having that little extra time and space in your life to do something maybe a little bit different can set you up for regular ritual or routine over time that will really benefit your wellness. Wellness is not a one-day event.”

This year’s offerings encouraged employees to try new things, like making homemade pasta and sourdough bread or learning self-defense techniques.

Elk Ridge Middle School Registrar Corinna Magleby tried out the meditative sound bath experience.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was delightful and incredibly relaxing,” she said. “It contributed to my wellness that day and also opened my eyes to an experience that I will choose to participate in again.”

Magleby also attended a watercolor painting class, as did 249 other JSD employees, to be instructed by world-renowned artist Al Rounds.

Rounds normally doesn’t do big events but he made an exception.

“I agreed to do it because they’re teachers and because I love teachers,” Rounds said, who credits his high school English teacher for believing in him and pushing him to pursue art as a career.

Alishia Huefner, a middle school counselor, attended the painting class to explore it as a possible new hobby. As a beginner, initially she was caught up in trying to get her painting to look right, but then she began to relax and just enjoy being with her colleagues.

“This was more of art therapy and just enjoying the process,” she said. “It was so fun and just great to be able to get out of our building and experience things and have the opportunities to feed our souls.”

She said the experience of trying something new gives her empathy for students.

“We challenge students to do new things all the time and as an adult I don’t feel like I do that,” Huefner said.

Jordan District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said Health and Wellness Day is a reminder to take time to focus on personal wellness.

“It’s a demanding profession, and there really isn’t as much time as we need to do the job,” he said. “So when you’re short on time, sometimes the shortcut you take is in taking

care of yourself. This is a chance to stop and focus on ourselves, and for families to focus on themselves, and be able to be at our best for each other.”

This was the third annual Health and Wellness Day which was organized in response to mental health concerns exacerbated by the pandemic and to promote suicide prevention awareness. This year’s Wellness Day also included a health fair and health screenings. JSD employees participated in a wellness challenge to win prizes for integrating wellness practices into their daily routines. Students were provided with wellness activity ideas for themselves and for their families.

“Our goal is to promote health and wellness with families and employees in a way that will be sustainable throughout the year,” Godfrey said. “We’ve sent out ideas for increasing and maintaining health and wellness throughout the year. So this is a day to raise awareness. It’s a day to recharge. It’s a day to connect with each other. But it’s also a day to remind us of how important it is to continually work on our health and wellness.”

Godfrey, who participated in the cornhole tournament sponsored by Scheels, said there were more activities and discounts provided for this year’s event, thanks to the hard work of the health and wellness team and support from local businesses, including Swig, Holi-

day Oil, Ahhhsome Relaxation Spa, A Great Escape, Orangetheory Fitness, Delton Lanes, Club Pickleball USA, The Pickler, Jazzercise, HITFIT Gym, Get Away Today, Burn Boot Camp, F45 South Valley, Sköl Crossfit, Kayfabe Cards, Pure Spirit Healing, Beehive Meals, Khorasan Mills, Blomquist Hale and Scheels.

Local artist Al Rounds helps educators learn watercolor techniques as part of Health and Wellness Day 2024. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.”

l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

Copper Hills girls bring home state wrestling championship

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Last season, the Copper Hills girls wrestling team was the runner-up in the Class 6A state tournament. This time around, the Grizzlies did one better.

Copper Hills captured the state crown.

The Grizzlies won first place at the tournament, held Feb. 14–15 at Utah Valley University. Copper Hills compiled 195.5 points to beat out second-place Mountain Ridge, which had 172 points. Impressively, Copper Hills had 22 girls qualify for state, 13 of whom earned points for the team.

Individually, Brooklyn Pace capped an

undefeated season with a state championship in the 125-pound class.

Pace, a senior, went 32-0 in the regular season and won all three of her matches at state. Not only that, but Pace was dominant, coming up victorious by fall all three times. After a first-round bye, she pinned her opponents in 1:02 and 2:20 in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Then, in the championship against Brooke Deeter of Fremont, Pace, pinned her talented opponent in 3:59.

Kimberly Fowers, at 140 pounds, also added hardware to the Grizzlies’ state run.

The senior, who went 29-5 in the regular season, worked her way through the bracket as the No. 2 seed in Division B. She won by fall in round one in just 43 seconds, followed by a 17-2 technical fall win in the quarterfinals. Fowers won 12-4 in the semifinals, getting her to the championship match against Hailey Harvie of Herriman. Fowers prevailed by fall in 3:05.

Several other Grizzlies made noise at state, placing and getting points to help the team capture a championship.

At 235 pounds, Vala Netane placed third at state. She won in the first round by fall in 2:43 before suffering a loss in the quarterfinals. However, she then reeled off four wins in a row to earn third, culminating in a win by fall in 1:52 in the third-place match. She finished the season with a 26-14 record. Meanwhile, in the 170-pound class, Sophia Peck placed sixth.

Fa’aoso Tone, a 155-pound competitor got to the semifinals by winning by fall in 2:49 and then claiming a 17-4 victory. She missed out on a chance to wrestle for the state title by losing in the semifinals by fall in 2:36. But Tone then won by fall in 3:03 of the consolation round to get to the third-place match. There, she lost by fall in 1:47 to Mountain Ridge’s Hailey Curtis.

Senior Elizabeth Lemon, a senior who went 23-9 during the regular season also placed third. She did so in the 135-pound class after winning by fall in 1:58 in the thirdplace match over Hailey Tibbs of Herriman. Lemon won her first match easily, prevailing by fall in only 23 seconds in round one. She then won by fall in 3:19 in the quarterfinals but lost in the semifinals 16-6.

Kara Noyce, a senior 130-pounder, was the fifth-place winner in her class. She also got to the semifinals but lost there before advancing in the consolation bracket. In the fifth-place match, she won 4-3 in a tough match with Westlake’s Ameris Jensen. In the 115-pound class Copper Hills’ Eliza Brunner placed fourth. She lost by fall in 1:41 in the third-place match after having reached the semifinals with wins by fall in 1:16 and by decision, 8-1.

Another third-place finisher for the Grizzlies was junior Myah French. She won the third-place match in the 110-pound group over Layton’s Brooke Fuller by fall in 5:24. She won by fall in the first round in 3:10 and by fall in the quarterfinals in 4:52 before losing in the semifinals by a 6-1 decision. Meanwhile, junior Irma Archila-Menendez, came in fifth in the 105-pound class with a win by fall in 5:27 in the fifth-sixth match. l

Excellence in the Community concert series aims to showcase Utah talent

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

Since 2005 Excellence in the Community has produced over 1,200 concerts at 36 venue locations throughout Utah. Musicians perform in 40 different musical styles. Next year Excellence is planning on 140 or more concerts. All of this is made possible by generous donations from their sponsors. The mission of Excellence in the Community is to “Enhance Utah’s quality of life.”

Utah’s free concerts feature both live concerts and livestream concerts. Generous sponsors make it possible for anyone to attend these performances, free of charge. Those who would like to make a financial contribution to the effort can purchase a season membership through Joy Nation.

The 501c3 nonprofit has won City Weekly Best of Utah, SLC Chamber Achievement Award and Sandy Chamber Best Nonprofit of the Year Award.

Recently there have been 36 - 62 million viewers on Live-Stream Concerts. There are media followers of 18,000 and 3,000 weekly newsletter subscribers. There are 1,000 plus people attending the concerts.

Excellence Concert Series are performed in different venues throughout Utah. In West Jordan concerts are held the first Friday of every month at the Viridian Event Center (8030 S. 1825 West). Gallivan Center

in Salt Lake City features many bands and dance series. The Egyptian Theater in Ogden has performances once a month, all ages are welcome. There is also a venue in Provo. Concerts are held every Wednesday night, live or livestreamed on Facebook.

“People sometimes ask, how does this all work? It works because of sponsors. We want to thank people and institutions who make these concerts possible,” Managing Director Jeff Whiteley said. Daynes Music donates a $150,000 grand piano to the concerts, and it is delivered in pieces. Then the piano is removed in pieces and delivered back to Daynes Music, then it will be donated again.

“The piano is kind of a symbol of everything we do. People want the musicians downtown to sound good in a nice place like the Gallivan Center,” Whiteley said. The aim is to “increase the quality of life in Utah for you, for your children, for Utah artists and travelers, everybody wins. If you like what we are doing then come and bring your friends. We want people to listen to Utah talent. We want people to come together and harmonize instead of shouting. Instead of putting up divisions in our society, music invites everyone to share the same experience. Music illustrates the best part of human nature.”

Music can bring people together. Excel-

lence in the Community is a great place to enjoy relaxing with Utah’s best musicians.

Go to excellenceconcerts.org for more information. l

Why A Locally Owned, Family Operated Mortuary Really Matters

Larkin Mortuary is the most respected funeral home in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885 and today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a quali ed and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside in uences. Larkin can meet any need by providing all varieties of funeral and graveside services, cremation facilities, cemeteries, indoor and outdoor mausoleums, cremation niche and scattering gardens, personalized life memorials and legacy keepsakes.

One of the most important aspects of being locally owned and operated is our rsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 139 years of excellence and innovation in providing quality memorial products and compassionate service, Larkin Mortuary provides a full spectrum of end of life services.

Being a quali ed resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier oral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. This full range of services o ers individuals and families the exibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual sta honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and e cient transfers to other countries.

We are community minded and donate either monetarily or with our time to many worthwhile causes in the local area. Being community-minded is who we are. It de nes our character and provides a solid foundation with the people we serve.

Memorial preplanning services are o ered by quali ed and compassionate Larkin counselors who will help determine nal wishes. Advanced funeral arrangements can provide peace of mind knowing that end of life plans are complete and will be carried out exactly as speci ed. Preplanning reduces the details and decisions loved ones must confront during a time of grief.

The family and sta at Larkin Mortuary understand that arranging a funeral or memorial service is a deeply personal experience. Realizing the sacred nature of the profession, Larkin is honored to serve the community by providing genuine care at this sensitive time of life.

Our memorial services are available in any of our beautiful buildings amongst our four locations along the Wasatch Front or in a building of your choice.

For more information, please visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

Harry Lee and the Back Alley Blues Band as part of the Excellence in the Community concert series. (Courtesy Michael Evans)

Serving Families Since 1885

LARKIN MORTUARY HONORS FAMILY PIONEER HERITAGE

Larkin Mortuary is one of the most respected funeral homes in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885. Today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, four mortuaries, cremation facilities and two cemeteries, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Larkin’s vertically integrated services also provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, along with beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures.

Larkin Mortuary - Downtown 260 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-5781

Larkin Sunset Gardens

1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S) Sandy, UT 84092 (801) 571-2771

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Larkin Mortuary - Riverton

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Continued from front page

more like Matt by being compassionate, forgiving, kind and showing unconditional love.

Hooton also wants to bring awareness to World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, when people across the globe celebrate their loved ones and help end stereotypes around the condition.

“They picked 3/21 as World Down Syndrome Day because the triplication of the chromosome happens in the 21st set,” she said. “It’s a day to focus on inclusion. A lot of people wear crazy socks. That was how the day initially started. If you’re wearing crazy socks and somebody sees it, that gives you an opportunity to speak about it.”

“Big People Don’t Pee in the Park: A Mother and Son’s Journey with Down Syndrome” reached best-seller status within the first 24 hours of publication and became an international best-seller within 72 hours.

Hooton will be at Barnes & Noble in Jordan Landing (7157 Plaza Center Drive) on Saturday, March 16, signing her book between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. She also offers a list of tips and resources on her website at wendylhooton.com

“If you’ve got anyone in your life who is living the same journey, we all seem to feel the same way once it gets going. We wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said. “Not to sound cliche, but that’s what I wanted to show them is that they’re in for an amazing journey. I wanted to be relatable to them. I wanted them to know that I understood where they were.” l

AI provides real-life experiences in the classroom

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham

Editor’s note: this is part of a series of articles about artificial intelligence in schools.

AItools in the classroom immerse students in historical context, help them realize real-world applications for math skills and provide them the freedom to demonstrate what they’ve learned in creative ways that develop their skills and interests.

Jordan School District teachers are encouraged to utilize AI tools such as Canva, Adobe Suite and SchoolAI.

“It’s been exciting to see so many teachers jump on board, learn more and start to use AI for themselves and to help their students,” Jordan School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Godfrey said.

Godfrey experienced for himself an AI-augmented history lesson created by a JSD teacher. In a choose-your-own adventure activity, he experienced being a soldier in the Revolutionary War and then an explorer on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“I had to make decisions about whether to camp for the night, where to travel next, how to avoid dangers, and as a result, it really pulled me into that experience in a way that no other tool could have,” he said. “The interactive nature of it, the immersive nature of that learning is something that we’ve only

begun to explore.”

JSD Digital Learning Specialist Kasey Chambers helps teachers find and utilize digital tools to enhance their lessons and engage students. One popular activity called ‘chat with a historical figure’ brings people like Abraham Lincoln or Rosa Parks to life through an AI-generated interaction which responds realistically to students’ questions and comments. Some teachers use this activ-

ity as part of the research process.

“Students research a historical figure, plan questions to ask and then chat with the historical figure,” Chambers said.

Another AI interaction teachers are using to help students understand a historical event is to have the student and the AI both write an essay with opposing perspectives of an event. Then the students compare and contrast the points in both essays.

AI activities are also being used in math classes to bring the equations off the page and into the real-world.

An interactive AI activity gamified math skills practice for a sixth-grade class. Students were motivated to calculate the ratios for ingredients to formulate a potion to save a wizard.

One instructor reached out to district math specialist Amy Kinder to collaborate on an engaging exercise to allow students to practice on-the-job math skills in a medical assisting class.

“We decided to use AI to help us plan so that we could make a strong lesson,” Kinder said. “It was quick and easy to set up.”

Instead of converting fractions to decimals and ounces into milliliters on a worksheet, the students worked through real-world scenarios, such as calculating medication dosages for a specific patient. The AI responded to the students’ actions, adjusting follow-up scenarios based on the student’s responses, providing more examples if the student had calculated inaccurately or increasing the complexity of the tasks if they demonstrated understanding.

The exercise took just 15 minutes of class time; however the majority of the students accessed the activity again on their own time.

“About 70% of them went home and practiced more,” Kinder said. “They chose to practice on their own when they didn’t have to so that they were prepared for the assess-

An example of an AI interactive classroom activity. (SchoolAI screenshot courtesy of Kasey Chambers)

ment. I think they really liked the instantaneous feedback that they were getting.”

The JSD math department team is still figuring out how AI can best be applied in the math curriculum. Kinder said as math instruction moves to rich problem-solving and real-word applications, AI can provide engaging math skills practice.

“We want to make sure that we’re doing real-world math that makes sense to kids, and not just teaching them steps,” Kinder said.

One area of education in which AI shines is in allowing students more ways to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and mastery of skills. Instead of answering comprehension questions from a story they read, students can use image creation tools to produce a digital visualization of the characters, setting and plot points to demonstrate they understood what they read.

Chambers said AI can add a fun twist to a common critical thinking exercise teachers use called Think-Pair-Share, in which students think about what they’ve learned, discuss it with a partner and then share their ideas with the class. Adding a step for students to bounce their ideas off a chatbot helps them develop their ideas further, Chambers said.

West Jordan Middle School teacher Dan Clark believes AI will be part of future jobs and that by learning to use AI tools in school for creative problem solving and collaboration, students will become more employable.

“It’s more about interacting with people, creative creation and skill building,” he said. “I think ultimately what we want them to do is to be able to interface with those models, but then create something beyond that.”

He said having AI tools available to him

and his students has changed the way he assesses his students.

“Instead of a multiple-choice vocab quiz, what I’m asking them to do is to create something, like an infographic, that shows their knowledge rather than just test them on memorization skills,” he said. “A student might want to show their knowledge in several different ways, so if you can be clear to students what you expect, and then allow them to show their knowledge in any way, they can pick through Adobe Suite or Canva or create a video or podcast. They’re learning skills that are not going to be replaced by AI.”

Jordan District’s Digital Learning Department regularly shares tips and tricks for teachers on social media to get them excited about the technology tools available to them. They also provide large group and customized small group trainings on using AI tools.

“The majority of teachers that come to our trainings, that see how it works and have those demonstrations, they are so excited,” Chambers said. “The response we’ve had is just full positivity, full excitement.”

Chambers said it doesn’t take long for teachers to learn to create and implement AI activities based on their teaching goals while ensuring students have accountability for their own learning. She emphasizes that AI is a tool, not a replacement for a good lesson plan.

“One thing I have been doing is trying to help teachers understand that AI is a tool within the learning process, not the entire process,” she said. l

Students can have an interactive chat with historical figures in SchoolAI. (SchoolAI screenshot courtesy of Kasey Chambers)

Virtual learning, what it looks like four years after COVID shutdown

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Four years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to switch to virtual instruction, teachers were left scrambling to adapt. In the wake of that experience, Jordan School District’s Administrator of Digital Teaching & Learning Ross Menlove helped piece together an online curriculum for the 2020-21 school year. What he and his colleagues learned from that experience, they applied to the development of the Jordan Virtual Learning Academy which opened for the 2021-22 school year.

“There was a lot of debate of whether or not [online learning] was good for kids and good for learning,” Menlove said. “And so one of my driving forces was, if we’re going to create an online program, let’s do something that’s good for kids and then we can prove it’s good for kids and produces good results. It was based on research and experience and just good teaching practices.”

Menlove felt strongly that the school model should include both customizable virtual instruction and interactive in-person learning opportunities.

“We came up with our own model based on the idea of providing students with some more activities that are hands-on,” Menlove said, who became the principal of the virtual academy’s elementary school, Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary. “My goal as a principal is to make sure that kids have just as many as or more experiences with the different types of learning as they would in person.”

Rocky Peak Virtual Academy now has 260 K-6 students. The school day includes fun morning announcements with Principal Menlove, a daily minimum of four hours of live instruction with a teacher and classmates, and optional twice a week in-person sessions called Peak Time. Students attend Peak Time sessions at one of two locations, one at the north end of the district and one at the south end.

The purpose of Peak Time is to provide hands-on learning opportunities through art, movement and STEM activities. Students have access to a makerspace with a 3D printer, laser cutter, sewing machines and a wide array of art and crafting tools and supplies. They explore various art mediums and participate in games and physical activities. Students can also compete in STEM challenges, program robots or learn to sew.

“It’s really fun,” Menlove said. “And there’s no grades, there’s no homework, it’s just come and learn at your level.”

Peak Time also includes monthly field trips. This year, students have visited Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural Curiosity, This is the Place Heritage Park, Natural History Museum of

Utah and Hogle Zoo.

Menlove sometimes drives the bus for field trips, which provides more flexibility with time and budget. All grades are invited on every field trip, so students can go on up to seven field trips in one year.

West Jordan resident Jen Brown said Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary was her choice for her son Ryker over other online school options because of the in-person opportunities.

“I really like the fact that it’s more like a hybrid, so I can keep him home and then I can also send him to the school to do those extracurricular activity classes,” Brown said. “Peak Time offers a lot of fun and opportunities for the kids to be together and to socialize to do those activities.”

Ryker, a fourth grader, enjoys the Peak Time P.E. and art classes.

Cohen Barker, a second grader, likes that he gets to eat lunch with his classmates on Peak Time days. He also loves the hands-on activities.

“We made slime one time for science,” Cohen said.

Cohen’s mom, Kinsale Barker, a Herriman resident, said she loves the flexibility of the asynchronous option which allows her to do family activities during the day and to balance her daughter Chloe’s ballet class schedule with schoolwork. She said virtual school has been a better fit for her and her children than in-person school was.

“I love everything about it, I don’t think I’d ever go back,” Barker said. “The staff is incredible. I feel like the teachers and the staff all care so much about your kid and making sure that they’re where they should be and getting better at everything.”

Menlove said the school offers research-based curriculum, utilizes engaging activities and taps into the latest technology trends, but it’s the teachers that make it such an effective learning experience.

“Technology is great, but it’s the teachers who have the expertise, it’s the teachers who are the magic in the classroom,” Menlove said. “We wanted to highlight that as we built a program and so the curriculum teachers use, the way they deliver it, it’s designed and created by the teachers. We don’t buy anything pre-made. Ours is completely created and delivered by the teachers. It’s delivered live, so the teachers are the ones who can adjust as they go along. There’s a lot of creativity and innovation on the teachers’ part, and I believe that’s what makes a difference, is our teachers.”

Menlove said the smaller class sizes, the customizable content, the hybrid options and the technology are all what makes Rocky Peak Elementary a good fit for students with disabilities, anxiety, health concerns, for those who just need a different

environment or who need a flexible schedule because of extracurricular activities or frequent travel.

“We know this school isn’t for everybody,” Menlove said. “But we do know that

there are certain kids who this is what they need, and they love it, and they thrive on it, and parents love it, and this is the best learning environment for them.” l

Peak Time Specialist Ame Jensen provides students and teachers with a hands-on experience with a large snake. (Photo courtesy of Ellery Goudy/Rocky Peak Elementary)

Rocky Peak Elementary School students do creative hands-on arts and movement activities twice a week at Peak Time. (Photo courtesy of Ellery Goudy/Rocky Peak Elementary)

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This is the first in a series of articles where I will answer specific constituent questions about the issues facing Salt Lake County. A few weeks ago, I invited followers on social media to submit questions, and multiple people asked about homelessness and what the county is doing to address it.

Homelessness is an extremely complex issue without a one-size-fits-all solution. Given that its cause stems from an array of contributing factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, job loss, lack of affordable housing, disabilities, and many more, identifying solutions to meet the needs of Utahns experiencing homelessness is a monumental task.

According to the State’s Annual Report on Homelessness, Utah’s 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) metric for counting homelessness saw an increase in the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. In 2022, of the 7,619 people who enrolled in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or a permanent housing project, 53% of them were experiencing homelessness for the very first time in their lives.

Salt Lake County is part of a growing coalition of elected officials, city and state government agencies, business owners, and community organizations working to find lasting solutions and implement the best practices to end homelessness. The result is a robust homeless service system that unites communities

Homelessness

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

and service providers in profoundly new ways. Our shared vision is “to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring so that all people experiencing homelessness can thrive to their fullest potential and that our communities are stable and safe for everyone.”

As a collective effort, Salt Lake County helped establish the plan to provide overflow shelter and resources this winter to add 695 beds for Utahns experiencing homelessness.

Under a 2023 state law, Salt Lake County implemented Code Blue Alerts. The alerts are issued when temperatures are expected to drop to dangerous levels of 15 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill for 2 hours or more during a 24-hour period.

Once an alert is issued, designated shelters across the county expand their services, increase capacity, and expedite intake processes. Additionally, outreach teams increase efforts to transport individuals to resource facilities. This valuable program provides 235 beds in Salt

Lake County.

While the government is responding to the homeless situation by enforcing “no camping” ordinances, there are other things needed upstream to prevent homelessness. Affordable housing is key. The county contributed Federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) dollars to approve over 200 affordable units over the last two years. There are also needed resources for those with mental health and substance abuse

issues. The county is working closely with the state on a new model to improve our homelessness situation.

Though the homelessness situation is incredibly complicated, we are working hard to find solutions – both in preventing homelessness and helping those struggling to find a path to self-sufficiency.

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.