Aledo ISD Empower 2026

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

A109

Limited Capacity seats available

When reading and writing feel overwhelming, many students respond by shutting down or avoiding the task. In this session, we explore how brain-based regulation strategies and foundational literacy supports can help struggling readers and writers re-engage in learning. Participants will leave with practical classroom strategies—such as movement, flexible seating, and emotional regulation tools—that reduce overwhelm and increase student confidence.

Speakers

Ashley Swords

3rd Grade Teacher

Jill Taloa

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A109

Classroom Management

Audience 3rd-5th, PreK-2nd
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

How to Lose Your Negative Mindset About 10 Stations

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

Motivation Matters: Empowering Students through authentic experiences, growth and extensions

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

B104

Limited Capacity seats available

Keeping students motivated can feel tougher than ever—but it doesn’t have to be!

In this session, we’ll explore fun, practical ways to boost engagement by giving students more voice and choice through creative, cross-curricular extensions that connect learning to the real world. We’ll also share simple strategies to build authentic opportunities for student ownership—especially when it comes to tracking personal growth and owning their data.

Get ready for ideas you can use right away to spark curiosity, creativity, and commitment!

Speakers

Becca Presnall

4th grade math teacher, Aledo ISD

Olivia Ulmer

Aledo ISD

Linda Capps

4th. Grade RLA Lynn McKinney Elementary, Aledo ISD

Jenna Farrell

Molly Moore

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B104

Student Engagement

Audience 3rd-5th
Subject Cross-disciplinary
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, 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

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

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

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

Supporting Students with Active Neuro-Minds (ADHD): Strategies for Engaging Minds & Bodies

FULL

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

A103

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

In this session, educators will gain practical tools and strategies to effectively support K-12 students with active-neuro minds (ADHD) in the school setting. Participants will explore the unique ways these learners process information, regulate emotions, and engage with their environment. The session will focus on understanding how the ADHD brain works, identifying common challenges faced by these students, and implementing proactive supports to foster academic and social success.

Educators will leave equipped with evidence-based strategies for classroom management, flexible instruction, and physical movement integration to help these students thrive. Join us to discover how engaging both the mind and body can transform learning experiences for students with active-neuro minds.

Speakers

Axelle Brown

I am a Special Education Resource and Co-Teacher with over 12 years of experience supporting students across inclusive classroom settings. I specialize in working with learners with ADHD, Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, and behavioral challenges. As both a teacher with ADHD... Read More →

Amy Rankin

Occupational Therapist, Aledo ISD

I am have been a occupational therapist for 12 years with my primary focus of practice with a pediatric population. Where I have provided occupational therapy services in a pediatric hospital setting, home health setting, and school-based setting. I have served as a school based occupational... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A103

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

2:45pm CDT

Ready for it? Empowering Young Leaders

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

B108

Limited Capacity seats available

In this interactive session, we’ll share how we cultivate independent, confident leaders in elementary classrooms through purposeful structures, debate, student voice, and our Junior Teacher Cohort model. You’ll leave with actionable ideas to create meaningful leadership opportunities in your own classroom!

Speakers

Ashley Caldwell

I have been in the classroom, both as a general education and inclusion teacher, for the past 19 years. I love bringing learning to life through engaging lessons that keep the kids guessing as to what is coming next.

Georgi Hernandez

3rd Grade RLA, Aledo ISD

Madison McCutcheon

3rd Grade Math at McKinney Elementary.

Constance Wall

Brittany Burns

3rd Grade Teacher

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B108

Classroom Management

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

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

Choice Boards That Work: Make, Take, and Differentiate!

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

B112

Limited Capacity seats available

Calling all primary teachers! Join us for a fun, hands-on professional learning session designed to spark creativity and empower your teaching practice. This Make & Take workshop is all about Differentiation, Extensions, and Choice Boards—and you’ll leave with ready-to-use tools that meet the diverse needs of your students from day one!
Whether you're looking to challenge high-flyers, support your little learners, or offer more student voice and choice, this session is packed with practical ideas, customizable templates, and engaging activities you can take straight back to your classroom.
Be ready to collaborate with colleagues as you differentiate, extend, and ignite learning together—see you there!

Speakers

Stacey Utley

1st Grade Teacher

Jennifer Sarvis

1st Grade Teacher

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B112

Differentiation

Audience PreK-2nd
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT

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

Leverage AI to Transform Critical Writing in Math