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

In this session, we will explore practical tips and shortcuts for using your Chromebook to complete everyday tasks efficiently. Participants will also learn key differences between Windows and ChromeOS, including navigation, file management, and common tools, to help make the transition smoother and more confident.

Speakers

Michael Cullers

Technology, Aledo ISD

Michael Lotter

ALEDO ISD

Tim Burley

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A105

Technology

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

10:15am CDT

MagicSchool: Setting Up Student Rooms

LIMITED

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

B114

Limited Capacity seats available

Master the complete setup and management of Student Rooms. Explore best practices for structuring rooms to boost student outcomes and scale AI implementation across your classrooms.

Speakers

Allen Schagene

Professional Development and Community Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Allen Schagene is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and has taught in both private and public schools in Houston, Texas. He is a lifelong learner dedicated to helping educators, caregivers, and students develop meaningful AI literacy skills. With twelve years of experience as... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B114

Technology

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Artificial Intelligence
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

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

Welcome to MagicSchool: Time-Saving AI Tools

FILLING

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

B114

Limited Capacity filling up

Discover how MagicSchool reclaims hours of your week through powerful time-saving features like Class Writing Feedback, Quizzes, and Teacher Tools. Learn real-world strategies to eliminate after-school grading and streamline lesson planning so you can focus on what matters most—connecting with students.

Speakers

Allen Schagene

Professional Development and Community Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B114

Technology

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

2:45pm CDT

Leverage AI to Transform Critical Writing in Math

LIMITED

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

B204

Limited Capacity seats available

In this professional learning session, teachers will explore how to use MagicSchool to support and extend students’ critical writing in mathematics. Participants will learn strategies for guiding students through structured math responses, deepening reasoning, and strengthening justification of answers using tools that scaffold thinking without reducing rigor. The session will include practical examples, ready-to-use prompts, and opportunities to design activities that align with grade-level standards while increasing student ownership of mathematical communication. Teachers will leave with actionable strategies to enhance both problem-solving and written explanation in their classrooms.

Speakers

Amanda Coomer

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B204

Technology

Audience 3rd-5th, Administrators
Subject Math, Artificial Intelligence
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

MagicSchool: Building Custom MagicSchool Student Chatbots

LIMITED

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

B114

Limited Capacity seats available

Create personalized chatbots tailored to your curriculum in minutes—no coding required. Learn to add guardrails, deploy safely with students, and provide differentiated support that increases engagement while keeping learning focused and secure.

Speakers

Allen Schagene

Professional Development and Community Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B114

Technology

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Artificial Intelligence
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

8:30am CDT

Quick Canvas Quizzes

LIMITED

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

B114

Limited Capacity seats available

Short on time but big on standards? In this hands-on session, you’ll get step-by-step guidance on using AI and a simple online tool to create standards-aligned quizzes and upload them directly into Canvas — in minutes. Walk away with a repeatable system you can use again and again.

Speakers

Meghan Roberson

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B114

Technology

Audience 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Artificial Intelligence, Canvas
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

1:00pm CDT

AI Powered Classroom - Reclaiming Your Time

LIMITED

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

B204

Limited Capacity seats available

Become a content creation expert by leveraging AI-powered chatbot tools to design engaging, standards-aligned lessons, assessments, and resources with greater efficiency and precision. This session will equip you with practical strategies and reusable prompt frameworks that elevate instructional quality while giving you back valuable time.

Speakers

Matthew Simmons

EMPOWER 2026 pdf

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B204

Technology

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Artificial Intelligence, Cross-disciplinary
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

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

Emily Mooney

GT Specialist- Stuard & Vandagriff Elementaries, Aledo ISD

Nora Hawkins

Jill Hall

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A109

Technology

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

1:00pm CDT

Google Slides to Canva: Dare To Switch?

LIMITED

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

Lecture Hall

Limited Capacity seats available

Feeling left behind while everyone’s making Canva Slides? Don’t worry, you don’t have to dive in headfirst! This session is perfect for Google Slides users who want to dip their toes into Canva presentations without the overwhelm.

You’ll get hands-on practice creating slides that look polished and professional - and yes, bring your laptop! By the end, you’ll have a few tricks up your sleeve and the confidence to experiment with Canva at your own pace.

Speakers

Thien Huynh

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Aledo ISD

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

Technology

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

2:45pm CDT

Build-a-Bot Workshop: Practical MagicSchool Chatbots for Any Experience Level

LIMITED

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

B109

Limited Capacity seats available

This session is designed for everyone, from first-time users to MagicSchool “magicians,” with clear entry points and extension options throughout. Teachers will learn how to move from using existing MagicSchool chatbots to designing custom bots that support instruction and student buy-in. We will start with common use cases like character conversations, debate partners, and writing feedback. Then we will explore custom bots for escape rooms, dynamic student interaction, and student goal creation. Teachers will leave with a polished, ready-to-use chatbot they can plug into instruction next year, plus collaboration strategies for building, revising, and sharing bots across a team so they stay valuable over time.

Speakers