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Aledo ISD Empower 2025
Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Professional Learning Academy Empower 2025!
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Friday, May 30
 

8:30am CDT

DIY Project Based Learning FILLING
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A105
This session will guide participants in designing a cross-disciplinary Project-Based Learning (PBL) project that integrates mathematics, reading, and writing through an engaging and authentic experience. Participants will explore an example of a DIY PBL unit that utilizes Google Sites, Canva, and AI applications as well as incorporates opportunities within the project to extend or scaffold elements. Participants will have the opportunity DIY their own PBL unit that incorporates multiple cross-disciplinary skills such as mathematical concepts, structured critical writing, and research skills while leveraging technology to create an interactive and meaningful final product.
Speakers
avatar for Chelsea Cook
avatar for Amanda Coomer
avatar for Tanya Sides

Tanya Sides

3rd Grade Teacher, AISD - Annetta EL.
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A105
  Cross-disciplinary

8:30am CDT

Love for Learning: Cultivating Curiosity through Discussion and Questioning LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B107
In Love for Learning: Cultivating Curiosity through Discussion and Questioning, educators will explore the importance of curiosity in the classroom and the role rigor plays in nurturing it. We will focus on:
Understanding the Power of Curiosity
Incorporating High-Level Questioning
And Creating Tools for Your Classroom: Question Stems to use Now!
No matter what you're teaching, this session will provide actionable tools to help spark thoughtful discussions and elevate the rigor of your classroom interactions.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Lawler
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B107
  Cross-disciplinary

8:30am CDT

Differentiation Stations: A Strategy Walkthrough LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B110
This session is designed to empower teachers to design differentiated lessons that foster critical thinking, student choice, and creative expression—essential for meeting the needs of GT learners. In this station-based workshop, participants will walk away with practical strategies, adaptable resources, and a personalized action plan to implement differentiation immediately in their classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Liz Garcia

Liz Garcia

GT Specialist, Aledo ISD
Liz has been in education for 15 years and holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in GT. She is passionate about STEM, differentiation, and creating meaningful, hands-on experiences for students. 
avatar for Shelly Morrill

Shelly Morrill

GT Coordinator, Aledo ISD
Shelly Morrill has been an educator for over 20 years and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Specialization in GT. Parenting her own gifted children sparked her interest in finding better ways to nurture, inspire and educate gifted students. Shelly has served... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B110
  Differentiation

8:30am CDT

Early Literacy Oral Language Series - The Magic of Words: Enchanting Oral Language, Vocabulary & Comprehension in Young Learners LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A101
Unlock the magic of oral language, vocabulary, and comprehension in your PreK-2nd grade classroom! Guided by inspired by The 7 Mighty Moves, this interactive session will equip educators with powerful, research-backed strategies to build confident speakers, engaged listeners, and strong readers.
Speakers
avatar for Maggie Lozano

Maggie Lozano

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A101
  Reading/Language Arts

8:30am CDT

Empowering Educators: Innovative Strategies and Tools for Supporting Struggling Readers LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A111
 Unlock new ways to support all readers in this empowering session designed for today's educators. Explore innovative strategies and practical tools to help struggling readers — including those with dyslexia, specific learning disabilities (SLD), emerging bilinguals (EB), and even gifted learners (GT) — reach their full potential.


Speakers
avatar for Amber Jaime

Amber Jaime

Dyslexia Specialist, AISD--Vandagriff Elementary
Dyslexia Specialist at Vanda C.A.L.P. Wrapping up my 20th year as an educator, my 8th year serving students with Dyslexia. 
KD
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A111
  Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

8:30am CDT

Building Classroom Leaders: Data-based Management LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A107
In this session, educators will explore how to create a proactive, student-centered classroom culture rooted in data from the very first day.  Discover how to design a dynamic, behavior-informed seating chart that evolves with your learners and supports leadership development. Participants will walk away with practical strategies to:
• Use classroom data to structure student groups proactively—not reactively.
• Foster student investment by introducing rotating leadership roles and emphasizing flexibility within collaborative teams.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and positive peer accountability.
Whether you're new to using data in the classroom or ready to level up your approach, this training will equip you with tools to create a thriving, student-led learning environment.
Speakers
avatar for C. Alan Landrum

C. Alan Landrum

Teacher, Aledo ISD
avatar for Skye Lindgron

Skye Lindgron

6th & 7th Math Teacher, Aledo Middle School
avatar for Karah Dale
Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
A107
  Using Data Effectively

10:15am CDT

Building Powerful Units: Leveraging Team Strengths for Comprehensive Content Design LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A103
In this professional development session, participants will explore how to create cohesive, high-impact units by strategically utilizing the diverse strengths of their teaching teams. Through the lens of backward design, we will dive into how to effectively plan and align learning goals, assessments, and instructional activities. You’ll learn how to craft engaging lessons that meet the needs of all students, while seamlessly incorporating interventions for struggling learners and extensions for those ready for more. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with tools and strategies to construct units that are not only rigorous and engaging but also adaptable to the unique needs of your students and the strengths of your teaching team.
Speakers
AD

Allison Dearman

3rd Grade Teacher, Aledo ISD
avatar for Catherine Clay
avatar for Stefanie Story
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A103
  Cross-disciplinary

10:15am CDT

Clueless About Clauses? As If! LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A107
Take student writing from totally buggin’ to totally brilliant with sentence-level strategies that make writing feel way more concrete. Even if you teach a content other than RLA, you’ll leave this interactive session feeling equipped to model, support, and provide explicit feedback on syntax—no plaid skirt required. Whether you're working with struggling writers or advanced learners, these strategies are an easy way to differentiate without the drama. You'll walk away with sentence-building strategies that even Cher Horowitz would find are totally essential!
Speakers
avatar for Hannah McConnell

Hannah McConnell

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A107
  Cross-disciplinary

10:15am CDT

Teaching in Time: The Power of Timelines to Deepen Thinking Across Texts LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B114
Back by popular demand—but with a fresh focus—this session builds on our previous exploration of timelines as powerful classroom tools. In this next-level session, we’ll move beyond timeline basics and dive into how timeline activities can promote rigorous reading, purposeful writing, and dynamic discussion across disciplines. Participants will rotate through three interactive stations that model how timelines can support analysis, historical thinking, and argument development. You'll walk away with ready-to-use strategies and a tailored plan for integrating timelines into your instruction. Whether you joined us last time or are new to timeline thinking, this session will expand your toolkit and inspire new possibilities for helping students make meaning across time, text, and content area. Open to all, but designed for RLA and Social Studies teachers.
Speakers
avatar for Staci Hammer

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD
Staci Hammer coordinates 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.
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B114
  Cross-disciplinary

10:15am CDT

Choice Boards That Work: Make, Take, and Differentiate! FILLING
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B107
Calling all primary teachers! Join us for a fun, hands-on professional learning session designed to spark creativity and empower your teaching practice. This Make & Take workshop is all about Differentiation, Extensions, and Choice Boards—and you’ll leave with ready-to-use tools that meet the diverse needs of your students from day one!
Whether you're looking to challenge high-flyers, support your little learners, or offer more student voice and choice, this session is packed with practical ideas, customizable templates, and engaging activities you can take straight back to your classroom.
Be ready to collaborate with colleagues as you differentiate, extend, and ignite learning together—see you there!
Speakers
avatar for Stacey Utley

Stacey Utley

1st Grade Teacher
avatar for Jennifer Sarvis

Jennifer Sarvis

1st Grade Teacher
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B107
  Differentiation

10:15am CDT

Simplifying Progress Tracking via Student Goal-Setting LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A109
Do you find it hard to progress monitor for your students to identify specific needs and celebrate success? Come ready to build some goal-setting templates that you can use to empower your students to track their own progress. 
Speakers
avatar for Loryn Windwehen

Loryn Windwehen

Associate Principal, Aledo High School
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A109
  Differentiation

10:15am CDT

ESL is "Spillin' the Tea" on Our Best Resource: Summit K-12! LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B104
Come explore Summit from a student's point of view and see how it supports EB (Emergent Bilingual) development in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Stop by for refreshments, connect with others, and "Spill your own Tea"!
Speakers
avatar for Kayla Cope

Kayla Cope

ESL Lead, Aledo ISD Administration
Hi Bearcats!I'm excited to be starting my 24th year in public education and my 14th year as an ESL Specialist. It’s a true privilege to support the Emerging Bilingual families and staff of Aledo ISD!I began my teaching career in College Station ISD, working with 5th and 6th grade... Read More →
avatar for Audrey Mann
avatar for Catalina Rossi

Catalina Rossi

ESL Lead
I am originally from Colombia, and Spanish is my first language. Before entering education, I worked as an architect for eight years. I began my teaching career as a substitute teacher and tutor at Birdville ISD, then became a bilingual teacher at Fort Worth ISD. For the past six... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B104
  Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

10:15am CDT

Fresh Canva AI Features! Zero Effort, All Results LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B112
This session is so fresh Canva had to slap a “new car smell” sticker on it. Want to create resources, interactive timelines, and simulations without knowing how to code? You got it. These new AI features are here to make your life easier like a personal assistant but without the weird small talk. And guess what? That’s not all. We’re diving into every AI update Canva just dropped so you can finally say goodbye to the days of "I’ll just Google it later." Don’t miss out and come see how these fresh features will have you creating like a pro with zero stress.
Speakers
avatar for Thien Huynh

Thien Huynh

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Aledo ISD
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B112
  Technology Integration

10:15am CDT

Google Sheets for Teachers: Because Tracking Student Data on Napkins Doesn't Work FILLING
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B106
Create and utilize google sheets for progress monitoring, analyzing assessment results, and motivating students. Walk away with templates that you can incorporate on day one of next year!  An added bonus in this session includes discussion connecting trackers and higher ratings on rubrics for the CT Continuum and T-TESS. 
Speakers
avatar for Tyler Bauer

Tyler Bauer

6th Grade RLA, McAnally Middle School
avatar for Amanda Douglas

Amanda Douglas

6th Grade RLA Teacher
avatar for Paula Vidaurri

Paula Vidaurri

Instructional Specialist, 6-8 RLA, Aledo ISD
Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B106
  Technology Integration

1:00pm CDT

Clueless About Clauses? As If! LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A109
Take student writing from totally buggin’ to totally brilliant with sentence-level strategies that make writing feel way more concrete. Even if you teach a content other than RLA, you’ll leave this interactive session feeling equipped to model, support, and provide explicit feedback on syntax—no plaid skirt required. Whether you're working with struggling writers or advanced learners, these strategies are an easy way to differentiate without the drama. You'll walk away with sentence-building strategies that even Cher Horowitz would find are totally essential!
Speakers
avatar for Hannah McConnell

Hannah McConnell

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A109
  Cross-disciplinary

1:00pm CDT

Annotating Digital Texts for Critical Reading and Writing LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B104
Teachers will practice a strategy students can use to help with summary, analysis, and evaluating ideas to make choices before writing.
Speakers
avatar for Shea Douglas
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B104
  Reading/Language Arts

1:00pm CDT

Supporting Students with Active Neuro-Minds (ADHD): Strategies for Engaging Minds & Bodies FULL
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A107
In this session, educators will gain practical tools and strategies to effectively support K-12 students with active-neuro minds (ADHD) in the school setting. Participants will explore the unique ways these learners process information, regulate emotions, and engage with their environment. The session will focus on understanding how the ADHD brain works, identifying common challenges faced by these students, and implementing proactive supports to foster academic and social success.

Educators will leave equipped with evidence-based strategies for classroom management, flexible instruction, and physical movement integration to help these students thrive. Join us to discover how engaging both the mind and body can transform learning experiences for students with active-neuro minds.
Speakers
avatar for Axelle Brown
avatar for Amy Rankin

Amy Rankin

Occupational Therapist, Aledo ISD
I am have been a occupational therapist for 12 years with my primary focus of practice with a pediatric population. Where I have provided occupational therapy services in a pediatric hospital setting, home health setting, and school-based setting. I have served as a school based occupational... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A107
  Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

1:00pm CDT

AI’m on It: Using AI to Develop Literacy Resources LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B106
In this hands-on session, educators will explore how AI can streamline the creation of effective literacy intervention materials and interactive learning tools. Participants will learn to generate differentiated reading passages and adaptive activities that meet diverse student needs. The session will also introduce AI-powered tools for teachers and students, including automated feedback systems and interactive discussion aids. By the end, attendees will leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use AI-generated resources that can enhance literacy instruction with efficiency and creativity.
Speakers
avatar for Tyler Bauer

Tyler Bauer

6th Grade RLA, McAnally Middle School
avatar for Thomas Mistler

Thomas Mistler

RLA 9th Grade Teacher
Friday May 30, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B106
  Technology Integration

2:45pm CDT

Teaching in Time: The Power of Timelines to Deepen Thinking Across Texts LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B114
Back by popular demand—but with a fresh focus—this session builds on our previous exploration of timelines as powerful classroom tools. In this next-level session, we’ll move beyond timeline basics and dive into how timeline activities can promote rigorous reading, purposeful writing, and dynamic discussion across disciplines. Participants will rotate through three interactive stations that model how timelines can support analysis, historical thinking, and argument development. You'll walk away with ready-to-use strategies and a tailored plan for integrating timelines into your instruction. Whether you joined us last time or are new to timeline thinking, this session will expand your toolkit and inspire new possibilities for helping students make meaning across time, text, and content area. Open to all, but designed for RLA and Social Studies teachers.
Speakers
avatar for Staci Hammer

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD
Staci Hammer coordinates 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.
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B114
  Cross-disciplinary

2:45pm CDT

The Oral Language Series: Think a Little, Talk a Little, Write a Little LIMITED
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A104
This professional learning session explores how oral language skills serve as a foundation for strong writing development. Participants will engage in strategies that encourage thinking, discussion, and verbal expression to enhance student writing skills. Through interactive activities and practical applications, educators will learn how to integrate speaking and listening into the writing process to support student growth.
Speakers
avatar for Audra Ellerbusch

Audra Ellerbusch

Early Literacy Specialist, Aledo ISD
I am entering my 23rd 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 24 years, I cherish both my family and my career. My heart is in literacy education, and I am dedicated... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A104
  Reading/Language Arts

2:45pm CDT

Street Data vs Hard Data FILLING
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A109
Utilizing street data & student data to serve students effectively; we will break down the concepts of street data, clarify the importance of both street and student data, then go into how teachers can use this data to tailor their teaching practices, build stronger relationships and foster student growth. 
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Kuhns

Elizabeth Kuhns

Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD
Elizabeth is an Instructional Specialist in Aledo ISD.  As a classroom teacher for over twelve years, with both elementary and middle school experience,  student growth is one of Elizabeth's many passions.  She believes that teamwork and partnership within your professional learning... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A109
  Using Data Effectively
 
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