Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

1:00pm CDT

IEP Strategies and Supports with Accommodations & Modifications

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

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on practical, classroom-ready strategies which align to IEP goals. Participants will explore how to design meaningful accommodations and modifications in their lessons and use data binders to track progress efficiently to support student growth. Teachers will leave with concrete tools, examples, and systems they can immediately apply to strengthen IEP implementation and progress monitoring.

Speakers

Kelsey Smith

Katie Tonemah

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A109

Special Education

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Subject Cross-disciplinary

2:45pm CDT

Master Your Alternative Curriculum

LIMITED

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

A101

Limited Capacity seats available

Go beyond the basics in this hands-on workshop for teachers implementing an alternative curriculum. Learn to leverage data, customize lessons, and strategically use all available curriculum tools and supplemental resources.

Speakers

Chelsea Folts

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A101

Special Education

Audience Special Education Teachers
Subject Teach Town
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

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

LIMITED

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

B205

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will provide a practical introduction to the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), an assessment tool used to evaluate language, learning and social skills in early learners with autism and related developmental delays. Participants will learn how to administer, score and interpret the VB-MAPP and how to use assessment results to guide appropriate goal writing.

Speakers

Amy Olson

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B205

Special Education

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

8:30am CDT

Building Collaborative Relationships with Parents for Successful IEP Meetings

LIMITED

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

A101

Limited Capacity seats available

Communicating effectively with challenging parents and ensuring their meaningful involvement in the preparation for their child’s upcoming IEP meeting.

Speakers

Terry Alexander

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A101

Special Education

Audience Special Education Teachers, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

8:30am CDT

Refining Your Core5 Implementation and Using Data to Personalize Learning

LIMITED

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

B201

Limited Capacity seats available

Objectives:
Review and Reflect on the Core5 Adaptive Blended Learning Model and Best Practices
Analyze student level reports to understand instructional priorities
Explore resources for meeting instructional priorities

Please bring a device for some hands-on activities.

Speakers

Vicki Boring

Professional Learning Facilitator, Lexia Learning

Katie Tonemah

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B201

Special Education

Audience K-5 Special Education Teachers
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

8:30am CDT

Using Technology in a SPED World

LIMITED

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

B107

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on efficiency tools for special education teachers. It will discuss using tech-savvy strategies to streamline ARD preparation, data collection, progress monitoring, lesson planning, and overall organization.

Speakers

Tiffany Burris

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B107

Special Education

Audience Special Education Teachers
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

10:15am CDT

Implementing PowerUp

LIMITED

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

B203

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will understand the PowerUp Adaptive Blended Learning Model (this is not a sit and get, but a tool for actionable data and research-based resources)
Teachers will explore best practices and strategies for implementation including the 5-Minute Check in Data Routine and Lexia Resources
Teachers will have the opportunity to create a plan to implement PowerUp Best Practices

Please bring a device for some hands-on activities.

Speakers

Vicki Boring

Professional Learning Facilitator, Lexia Learning

Katie Tonemah

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B203

Special Education

Audience 6-12 Special Education Teachers
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

1:00pm CDT

PLAAFP Glow-Ups: From ‘It Works’ to ‘This Drives Instruction"

LIMITED

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

B202

Limited Capacity seats available

Writing a compliant PLAAFP is one thing—writing a high-quality PLAAFP that truly drives instruction and strong IEPs is another. This session is designed to help special education teachers move beyond “acceptable” present levels and toward clear, meaningful, and instructionally aligned PLAAFPs.

Drawing on state-recognized practices, participants will examine what separates effective PLAAFPs from those that merely meet compliance. Through clear examples and nonexamples, educators will learn how to connect student data, strengths, and needs to instruction and goal development in a way that is both defensible and usable in the classroom.

Teachers will leave with practical tools, sentence structures, and models they can immediately apply to their own caseloads—making PLAAFP writing smarter, more efficient, and more impactful for both IEP teams and students.

Speakers

Valerie Whitehead

Special Education Collaborative Teacher

With 24 years of experience in education, I’ve has the opportunity to teach students from kindergarten through 8th grade in various roles, including kindergarten teacher, 4th grade departmentalized and self-contained, physical education coach, middle school math teacher for both... Read More →

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B202

Special Education

Audience Special Education Teachers
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

Special Programs Curriculum Resources: A Deep Dive into Lexia, TouchMath, Diffit, & More!

LIMITED

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

B104

Limited Capacity seats available

We will spend time reviewing all the curriculum resources that are provided to special programs teachers. We will look at resources for math, ELAR, social skills and behavior support, AI tools, and discover practical and useful ways to integrate these into your instruction.

Please bring a device for some hands-on activities.

Speakers

Vicki Boring

Professional Learning Facilitator, Lexia Learning

Katie Tonemah

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B104

Special Education

Audience Special Education Teachers
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

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