Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

10:15am CDT

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

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

Reading/Language Arts

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

10:15am CDT

Writing with Checklists

LIMITED

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

Reading/Language Arts

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

1:00pm CDT

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

LIMITED

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

Reading/Language Arts

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

2:45pm CDT

5 Questions for Any Text

FILLING

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

Reading/Language Arts

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

LIMITED

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

Reading/Language Arts

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

8:30am CDT

Purposeful Craft: The Author's Purpose TEKS - 3-5

LIMITED

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

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Come dive into the Author's Purpose & Craft TEKS strand, with a specific focus on examining the different ways that organization is tested. Leave with resources, ideas, & lessons to use with students with every genre and every text.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

(say it Mc-GOY)
I am a certified English teacher who enjoys learning & sharing about literacy, leadership, assessment, curriculum design, & school improvement. I share free TEKS-based resources on my website: www.tinyurl.com/ToshShares

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

8:30am CDT

Simple is as Simple does at the Teacher Table

FILLING

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

B112

Limited Capacity filling up

Knowing what to do to grow readers and writers can be daunting. Taking a systematic and explicit approach can guarantee success for students and teachers alike. In this session, we will explore how progress monitoring can guide instruction and help form flexible student groups at the teacher table, allowing teachers to respond to student needs in real time. Participants will also learn how to leverage the instructional resources they already have, eliminating the need to spend time and money searching for endless supplemental materials. New approaches can feel overwhelming, but growth is the goal. Are you ready to grow?

Speakers

Rebekah Getz

Katie Harbour

First Grade Teacher, Aledo ISD

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B112

Reading/Language Arts

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

10:15am CDT

Active Literacy: High Engagement Strategies for PreK–2 Readers

LIMITED

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

B201

Limited Capacity seats available

How do we ensure every child is thinking, responding, and learning during foundational literacy lessons? In this session, teachers will explore engagement strategies based on the explicit instruction practices of Anita Archer. Through modeling and collaborative practice, participants will experience routines that increase opportunities for student responses, support active participation, and strengthen early reading instruction in PreK–2 classrooms.

Speakers

Audra Ellerbusch

Early Literacy Specialist, Aledo ISD

I am entering my 24rd year in education with a deep passion for teaching Reading and Language Arts and empowering young learners. As a proud mom of four amazing boys and a wife of 25 years, I cherish both my family and my career. My heart is in literacy education, and I am dedicated... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B201

Reading/Language Arts

Audience PreK-2nd
Subject Early Literacy
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, ESL

10:15am CDT

Purposeful Craft: The Author's Purpose TEKS - 6-12

LIMITED

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

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

1:00pm CDT

Focus on Revising! - 6-12

LIMITED

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

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Come explore the skills tested in the Revising passages with hands-on interaction. Leave with resources, lessons, and ideas to use with your students throughout the year.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

2:45pm CDT

Focus on Revising! - K-5

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Come explore the skills tested in the Revising passages with hands-on interaction. Leave with resources, lessons, and ideas to use with your students throughout the year.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

Audience K-5th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

10:15am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

Get help with the event