Aledo ISD Empower 2026

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B109

Limited Capacity seats available

For years, stations have gotten a bad reputation:

“They’re chaotic.”

“Students aren’t really learning.”

“I can’t meet with every group.”

“It’s too much prep.”

“I don’t have the resources.”

But what if stations aren’t the problem — just the system?

This session will help K-2 teachers lose the negative mindset about stations in 10 practical, doable, classroom-ready literacy stations.

Speakers

Julie Johnson

2nd grade teacher

Shara Hetherington

2nd grade Teacher, McCall Elementary

Carrie Young

2nd Grade Teacher, Aledo ISD

Sophie Collins

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B109

Classroom Management

Audience PreK-2nd
Subject Cross-disciplinary
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

I have an answer, do you have a question?

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B112

Limited Capacity filling up

In this session, you will explore powerful strategies for helping learners at all levels develop high-level, curiosity-driven questions that promote deeper understanding and critical thinking. Together, we'll uncover ways to build a classroom culture where students feel confident, motivated, and excited to generate their own meaningful questions. You'll leave with ready-to-use techniques, engaging activities, and a renewed sense of inspiration to spark curiosity and elevate inquiry in your classroom!

Speakers

Robin Newkirk

7th grade science teacher, Aledo Middle School

I have been teaching for 19 years. I am currently a 7th grade science teacher at AMS and just completed my 8th year there. Building relationship with my school community is very important to me.

Adriane Jenkins

7th Grade Teacher - Aledo Middle School

7th Grade Science - Aledo ISD
I am finishing year 12 in Education. 5 years were at the Elementary level teaching Science, Social Studies, and Math. This year I finished my 7th year in Middle School Science. My passion is encouraging students to use their strengths to find success in the classroom and int... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B112

Cross-disciplinary

Company High-level Questioning
Audience 6th-8th
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

Amplify Desmos Math (K–5): Navigating the Platform & Exploring Your New Curriculum

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Lecture Hall

Limited Capacity filling up

Get an introduction to Amplify Desmos Math, our newly adopted K–5 math curriculum. In this hands-on session, teachers will explore the digital teacher platform while becoming familiar with the structure and key components of the program. Participants will have time to interact with the teacher materials, examine lesson resources, and navigate the tools that support planning and instruction. By the end of the session, teachers will feel more confident locating resources, understanding how lessons are organized, and beginning to envision how the curriculum will support student learning in their classrooms.

Speakers

Deanne Torres

Math Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Lecture Hall

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

10:15am CDT

Fluent and Fearless

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B108

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will implement a consistent five-minute daily fluency routine, followed by targeted word work that reinforces grade-appropriate phonics and syllabication skills—supporting automaticity, accuracy, and deeper meaning-making. This work lays the foundation to build higher level vocabulary knowledge that cultivates fluent and fearless readers.

Speakers

Hannah McConnell

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Tiffany Stokes

Tiffany Stokes is a 4th grade Reading/Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Vandagriff Elementary in Aledo, Texas. This year, she was honored to receive the 2023 Marvas Collins AISD Teacher of the Year. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas who loves being a teacher... Read More →

Kaylee Jones

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B108

Audience 3rd-5th
Subject Fluency
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT, ESL

10:15am CDT

Writing with Checklists

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

A107

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to empower your students to write their best using a checklist!

Speakers

Lara Blanchard

Sherie Griswold

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A107

Audience 3rd-5th
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

Glow & Grow: Making Writing Feedback Work

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B106

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us to explore how meaningful feedback can transform student writing! In this session, we’ll dive into teacher-led conferences, peer-to-peer feedback, and using Magic School to provide structured, actionable comments. Participants will learn strategies for building a culture of accountable talk, guiding students to give and receive “glows and grows,” and supporting all learners, including gifted and ESL students, through targeted, growth-focused feedback. Walk away with practical tools to make writing conferences engaging, efficient, and truly impactful.

Speakers

Hope Tuel

6th - 8th ESL, Aledo ISD

Emily Kelley

5th Grade RLA, Walsh Elementary

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B106

Student Feedback

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT, ESL

10:15am CDT

Yes, you CANVA!

FULL

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

A101

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Create It, Teach It: Join us as we explore and create lessons utilizing Canva to enhance student engagement and achievement. A portion of this session will be focused on a Canva "Make and Take" to better prepare you for the upcoming school year.

Speakers

Stacey Utley

1st Grade Teacher

Maggie Tass

Jennifer Sarvis

1st Grade Teacher

Ashton Adams

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A101

Technology

Audience PreK-2nd, 9th-12th
Subject Student Engagement
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

1:00pm CDT

Small Moves, Big Gains Part 1

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B201

Limited Capacity seats available

Small Moves Big Gains, by Nancy Motley, Seidlitz Senior Educational Consultant, focuses on how small, everyday teacher habits can increase student talk, deepen thinking, and improve learning. This session highlights simple, high-impact strategies that make classrooms more interactive, language-rich, and student-centered — without adding extra work. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can use right away to help students talk more, think more, and achieve more.

Speakers

Kayla Cope

ESL Program Specialist, Aledo ISD Administration

Hi Bearcats!I'm excited to be starting my 24th year in public education and my 14th year as an ESL Specialist. It’s a true privilege to support the Emerging Bilingual families and staff of Aledo ISD!I began my teaching career in College Station ISD, working with 5th and 6th grade... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B201

Academic Discussion

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, Administrators, PreK-2nd
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX

1:00pm CDT

From Surface to Synthesis: Two Power Routines for Deeper Thinking

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B206

Limited Capacity filling up

In this interactive workshop, teachers will learn two research-based questioning routines that help students ask better questions, make meaningful connections, and think more deeply about content. By using protagonists, participants will explore the Question Pencil Routine—a framework that helps students generate intentional questions across eight question stems—and the Hexagonal Questioning Routine—a collaborative strategy that makes conceptual connections visible and builds higher-order thinking skills. Through hands-on practice, teachers will discover how to implement these routines in their classrooms, scaffold for diverse learners (including English language learners), and use these strategies to guide student inquiry and learning. Perfect for teachers seeking to move beyond surface-level questions and foster genuine curiosity and engagement!

Speakers

Hannah McConnell

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Zan Banks

4th Grade RLA/SS

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B206

High-level Questioning

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Subject Cross-disciplinary
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

1:00pm CDT

Amplify Desmos Math 3–5: Inside the Math Block (Model Lesson)

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B210

Limited Capacity filling up

What does a strong math block look like with our new Amplify curriculum? In this practical, hands-on session, teachers will experience the structure of an Amplify math lesson by participating in a model math block. As we move through each component, we’ll unpack the purpose of each part of the lesson and explore how it fits into your daily instructional time. By the end of the session, teachers will have a clear understanding of the different elements of Amplify and feel confident organizing their own math block to make the most of the curriculum.

Speakers

Marissa Torres

Aledo ISD

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B210

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2
Subject Math
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

1:00pm CDT

Amplify Desmos Math K–2: Inside the Math Block (Model Lesson)

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Library

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Barb Williams

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Library

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2
Subject Math
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

1:00pm CDT

Stemscopes Success: Navigate, Plan, Teach

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B104

Limited Capacity seats available

Get an introduction to Stemscopes Math, our newly adopted curriculum for grades 6 through Algebra I. In this session, teachers will explore the digital platform and gain an overview of how the curriculum is organized to support instruction. Participants will be guided through key features of the site, including where to locate lessons, resources, and instructional supports for planning and implementation. By the end of the session, teachers will have a clearer understanding of the structure of the curriculum and feel more confident navigating the platform as they begin preparing to use Stemscopes in their classrooms.

Speakers

Tammy Schank

Math Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Keely Hulme

Math Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B104

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2, 6th-8th
Subject Math
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

1:00pm CDT

Yes, Even If You "Don't Like Poetry": Practical Strategies for Deep Analysis

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Poetry can feel intimidating — abstract, confusing, even inaccessible. But what if it’s actually the most efficient way to teach rigorous comprehension? In this hands-on session, we’ll demystify poetry and model simple, repeatable protocols that help readers unpack meaning, analyze craft, and support claims with evidence. Because poems can be brief, students can go deeper — and those thinking skills transfer seamlessly to novels, primary sources, and beyond. Even if you just need a moment surrounded by beautiful words and well-crafted lines, this session is for you.

Speakers

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Staci Hammer coordinates the reading language arts curriculum for Aledo ISD. Her passions include developing teacher expertise and empowering students to identify as readers, writers, listeners, speakers, and thinkers.

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B110

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, Administrators
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

1:00pm CDT

Making Thinking Visible: Increasing Rigor Through Interactive Science Notebooking

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B112

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will learn fresh ideas about science notebooking, including differentiation strategies, vocabulary supports, and ways to increase rigor and relevance.

Speakers

Haley Loftin

Elizabeth Garcia

GT Specialist, Aledo ISD

Liz has been in education for 15 years and holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in GT. She is passionate about STEM, differentiation, and creating meaningful, hands-on experiences for students.

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B112

Science

Audience 3rd-5th, PreK-2nd
Subject Science
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

1:00pm CDT

Stage to Classroom: Strengthening Rigor, Discourse, and Literacy Across Content Areas

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B204

Limited Capacity seats available

This session introduces practical theatre-based strategies that increase cognitive engagement, academic language development, and depth of understanding across content areas. Through structured approaches such as perspective reading, hot seating, tableaux, and guided discourse, teachers will learn how to strengthen literacy, student voice, and standards-driven rigor while supporting multilingual learners and diverse levels of readiness.

Speakers

Joseph Dassinger

Theatre Director, Aledo High School

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B204

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

From Silence to Insight: Unlocking Student Thinking with Chalk Talks

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B203

Limited Capacity seats available

What happens when students discuss ideas without speaking? Powerful thinking. In this session, teachers will experience a Chalk Talk from the student perspective and learn how this simple strategy can transform classroom discussions. We’ll explore how silent written conversations can build participation, deepen thinking, and naturally lead to stronger questions and richer dialogue. Participants will leave with ready-to-use prompts, facilitation tips, and strategies to help students move from quick answers to thoughtful, higher-level responses.

Speakers

Tiffany Nakamura

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B203

Academic Discussion

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

Building the Culture, Designing the Work: Creating Meaningful Collaboration in Secondary Classrooms

FULL

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B107

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Creating meaningful collaboration in the classroom requires more than simply placing students in groups—it requires intentionally building a learning environment where students feel safe sharing ideas, taking risks, and thinking beyond traditional approaches. This professional development session will focus on practical strategies teachers can use to foster a classroom culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and student ownership of learning. The session will also address adaptations of familiar collaborative structures to incorporate technology, accommodate large class sizes, and enhance rigorous and creative thinking.

Speakers

Rachel Grier

Sarah Zedler

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B107

Collaboration

Audience 9th-12th
Subject Math, Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

Understanding EB Needs and How to Help Close the Gap

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

A109

Limited Capacity seats available

Essential information all teachers of EBs need to know and ways we can unlock their potential, including strategies that can work for any student.

Speakers

Audrey Mann

Teacher

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A109

Emergent Bilingual Students

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Subject Cross-disciplinary
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

Amplify Desmos Math (K-2): mClass and Boost Learning

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Library

Limited Capacity filling up

Explore how mCLASS and Boost Learning support instruction within Amplify Desmos Math for K–2 students. This session will provide an overview of how these tools connect to the curriculum and support student learning, progress monitoring, and targeted practice. Participants will learn about key features of each platform and how they can be used to strengthen early numeracy development. Teachers will also have time to explore the platforms themselves to become more familiar with the tools and resources available to support their students.

Speakers

Deanne Torres

Math Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Library

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2
Subject Math
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

2:45pm CDT

McGraw-Hill High School Math: Navigating the Platform and Exploring the Curriculum

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B202

Limited Capacity seats available

Get an introduction to McGraw Hill, our newly adopted curriculum for grades Geometry, PAP Geometry, Algebra II and Pre-cal. In this session, teachers will explore the digital platform and gain an overview of how the curriculum is organized to support instruction. Participants will be guided through key features of the site, including where to locate lessons, resources, and instructional supports for planning and implementation. By the end of the session, teachers will have a clearer understanding of the structure of the curriculum and feel more confident navigating the platform as they begin preparing to use McGraw Hill in their classrooms.

Speakers

Keely Hulme

Math Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B202

Math

Audience 3rd-5th, K-2, 9th-12th
Subject Math
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL, GT

2:45pm CDT

5 Questions for Any Text

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity filling up

This professional learning session introduces Marilyn Perle’s “5 Questions for Any Text” as a simple, powerful framework for helping students read more deeply and think critically about what they encounter. Participants will explore how the five questions guide students to analyze purpose, audience, message, and perspective across any type of text. Educators will leave with ready-to-use prompts that support stronger comprehension, discussion, and media literacy across content areas.

Speakers

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B110

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

High Impact, Low Overwhelm: Practical RLA Moves That Strengthen Student Thinking

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B109

Limited Capacity seats available

Explore seven high-leverage RLA instructional shifts that deepen student thinking and discussion—without adding extra planning, materials, or grading.

Speakers

Katelyn Smith

RLA Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Hi everyone! I’m Katelyn Smith, and I’m the 6-12 RLA Instructional Specialist. While AHS has been my home for several years, I’ve really enjoyed finding a new home at both AMS and MMS and getting to know those campuses this year. Although RLA is my primary focus and where my... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B109

Audience 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

Visual Supports in the Classroom

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B201

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, teachers will learn how to implement visual supports for their students to increase independence, student engagement and success in the general and special education classrooms.

Speakers

Dawn McNair

teacher, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B201

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Subject Visual Supports
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

Leverage AI to Transform Critical Writing in Math