Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

10:15am CDT

Grow Our Own: Pathways into Specialized Student Support Roles

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

Limited Capacity seats available

This informational professional learning session is designed to support staff who are interested in transitioning into specialized student support roles such as Speech-Language Pathology, Diagnostician, School Psychology, and related fields. Facilitators will share their personal journey into their current role, offer a realistic “day in the life” perspective, and highlight key skills and mindsets needed for success. Participants will also receive practical information about local and regional preparation programs, certification pathways, and resources that provide an accessible track for growing into these roles from within our district.

Speakers

Kelly Paiz

Diagnostician, Aledo ISD

Mandy Overturff

TSVI, Aledo ISD

Shannon Elliott

Speech-Language Pathologist

Jill Keith

School Psychologist, Aledo ISD

Sarah Hall

Lynn Jameson

Executive Director of Special Programs, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B110

Student Support

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

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

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

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

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

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