Aledo ISD Empower 2026

Aledo ISD Empower 2026

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

8:30am CDT

Keynote with Trevor Ragan: How to Get Better at Getting Better CafetoriumTrevor Ragan

10:15am CDT

Brains Before Books: From Shutdown to Success in Reading and Writing A109Ashley Swords • Jill Taloa

How to Lose Your Negative Mindset About 10 Stations B109Julie Johnson • Shara Hetherington • Carrie Young • Sophie Collins

Breakout Session with Trevor Ragan: Leading Learners: How Our Mindsets and Actions Shape the Learning Environment CafetoriumTrevor Ragan

Grow Our Own: Pathways into Specialized Student Support Roles B110Kelly Paiz • Mandy Overturff • Shannon Elliott • Jill Keith • Sarah Hall • Lynn Jameson

Get to Know Your Chromebook A105Michael Cullers • Michael Lotter • Tim Burley

Yes, you CANVA! A101Stacey Utley • Maggie Tass • Jennifer Sarvis • Ashton Adams

1:00pm CDT

Small Moves, Big Gains Part 1 B201Kayla Cope

Empowered to L.E.A.D: Supporting Every Student, Every Teacher B202Joni Myres • Tyler Bauer

Connection Before Correction B208Brittany Mallory • Gini Lott

Beyond the Basics: Cultivating Excellence in Early Literacy B108Grace St.John-Staver • Autumn Starks

Folk Dances for Community Building A105Olivia Ramirez

From Surface to Synthesis: Two Power Routines for Deeper Thinking B206Hannah McConnell • Zan Banks

Making Thinking Visible: Increasing Rigor Through Interactive Science Notebooking B112Haley Loftin • Elizabeth Garcia

Breakout Session with Trevor Ragan: Leading Learners: How Our Mindsets and Actions Shape the Learning Environment CafetoriumTrevor Ragan

IEP Strategies and Supports with Accommodations & Modifications A109Kelsey Smith • Katie Tonemah

Stage to Classroom: Strengthening Rigor, Discourse, and Literacy Across Content Areas B204Joseph Dassinger

Supporting Students with Active Neuro-Minds (ADHD): Strategies for Engaging Minds & Bodies A103Axelle Brown • Amy Rankin

TBRI- Trust-Based Relational Intervention- Caregiver Training A107Galen Smith • Anne Navarrette

Welcome to MagicSchool: Time-Saving AI Tools B114Allen Schagene

2:45pm CDT

From Silence to Insight: Unlocking Student Thinking with Chalk Talks B203Tiffany Nakamura

Choice Boards That Work: Make, Take, and Differentiate! B112Stacey Utley • Jennifer Sarvis

One Classroom, Many Learners: Making Differentiation Work B106Jennifer Campbell

Understanding EB Needs and How to Help Close the Gap A109Audrey Mann

Uke Can Do It! Teaching Ukulele in the Elementary Music Room A105Olivia Ramirez

Excellence in Action: AISD Campus Teacher of the Year Panel CafetoriumTyler Bauer • Tricia Pettigrew • Elizabeth Garcia • Olivia Ulmer • Emily Lyle • Teressa Love • Emily Kelley • Anna Reed • Sara Garner • Stacey Roberson • Amber Crissey

We Need to Talk…. About your Parent Communication! B206Hannah McConnell • Heather Street

Part 1 and 2 Introduction to the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) B205Amy Olson

Visual Supports in the Classroom B201Dawn McNair

8:30am CDT

Lead the Way, Capture the Heart: Aligning LEAD with the EXCEL Model B108Maggie Lozano

Differentiation Stations: A Strategy Walkthrough A109Shelly Morrill

Turning Ideas Into Dollars: A Grant Writing Playbook A105Rod Arnold

Simple is as Simple does at the Teacher Table B112Rebekah Getz • Katie Harbour

Capture the Flag of Success A107Kristen Loyd

10:15am CDT

From Reactive to Proactive: L.E.A.D.ing through De-escalation A107Gina Henze • Heather Street • Katie Griffin

What Gifted Kids Want You to Know (A Teacher’s Guide to the Inner World of Advanced Learners) A109Emily Mooney • Nora Hawkins • Jill Hall

Active Literacy: High Engagement Strategies for PreK–2 Readers B201Audra Ellerbusch

Studies Weekly - Your Questions Answered B107Danny Hulshult

Many Goals, One Classroom: The Workshop Model in a Resource Setting B202Erin Gray • Kathryn Wilson • Brandi Shackelford

1:00pm CDT

From Chaos to Clarity: Systems for Successful Small Groups B206Kendra Adams

From Feet to Beat: Whole-Body Pathways to Rhythmic Literacy A105Olivia Ramirez

From Simple to Strategic: Advancing Questioning Practices in Early Learning B108Cathy Remigio • Katie Harbour

Studies Weekly - Your Questions Answered B107Danny Hulshult

Stay Stong, End Smart: Engagement & Closures That Actually Work B109Karen Lasater

Beyond the Classroom: Integrating GT and ESL Learning Through VR A109Emily Mooney • Nora Hawkins • Jill Hall

Google Slides to Canva: Dare To Switch? Lecture HallThien Huynh

2:45pm CDT

Google Sheets for Teachers: Because Tracking Student Data on Napkins Doesn't Work B106Paula Vidaurri • Tyler Bauer • Amanda Douglas

We Need to Talk…. About your Parent Communication! A101Hannah McConnell • Heather Street

Learning Through Inquiry B112Luke Campbell • Kate Thomas

Empowering Educators: Morphological Strategies and Tools for Supporting Struggling Readers with Vocabulary and Comprehension B107Amber Jaime • Kelly Dyson

Google Slides to Canva: Dare To Switch? Lecture HallThien Huynh