Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

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8:30am CDT

Differentiation Stations: A Strategy Walkthrough

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

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

This session is designed to empower teachers to design differentiated lessons that foster critical thinking, student choice, and creative expression—essential for meeting the needs of GT learners. In this station-based workshop, participants will walk away with practical strategies, adaptable resources, and a personalized action plan to implement differentiation immediately in their classrooms.

Speakers

Shelly Morrill

GT Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Shelly Morrill has been an educator for over 20 years and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Specialization in GT. Parenting her own gifted children sparked her interest in finding better ways to nurture, inspire and educate gifted students. Shelly has served... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A109

Differentiation

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

10:15am CDT

What Gifted Kids Want You to Know (A Teacher’s Guide to the Inner World of Advanced Learners)

FILLING

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

A109

Limited Capacity filling up

Purpose:
Help teachers understand gifted learners beyond test scores—how they think, feel, and experience school—and what teachers can do immediately in response.
Outcomes
Teachers will:
• Understand common social-emotional and cognitive traits of gifted learners
• Reframe “challenging” behaviors
• Identify small shifts that make a big difference

Speakers

Emily Mooney

GT Specialist- Stuard & Vandagriff Elementaries, Aledo ISD

Nora Hawkins

Jill Hall

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A109

Classroom Management

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

1:00pm CDT

Beyond the Classroom: Integrating GT and ESL Learning Through VR

FULL

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

A109

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

This session explores how virtual reality can be used to integrate Gifted and Talented and ESL instruction through immersive, language-rich learning experiences. Participants will learn how VR supports higher-level thinking, inquiry, and creativity while providing visual and contextual supports that enhance language development and access for English learners. Teachers will leave with practical strategies for using VR to extend learning beyond the classroom for diverse student populations.

Speakers

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

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

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