Aledo ISD Empower 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Professional Learning Academy Empower 2025!

2:45pm CDT

Moving Kids Up! Through Academic Discussion and HLQ

Thursday May 29, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Since promoting academic discussion and higher-order questioning continues to be a problem of practice, how can we adjust our daily practices to make them a consistent and integral part of instruction? Together, we’ll explore practical, cross-curricular strategies and activities that foster meaningful academic discourse and deepen student thinking through higher-level questioning.

Speakers

Casi Faulk

Kindergarten Teacher, Aledo ISD

Autumn Stephens

Anastasia Conrad

Thursday May 29, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
A101

Cross-disciplinary

Audience 3rd-5th, PreK-2nd
Subject Academic Disucssion, High-level Questioning
Credit 1.5hr, CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

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

Jennifer Lawler

Friday May 30, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B107

Cross-disciplinary

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject High-level Questioning, Academic Discussion
Credit 1.5hr, CPE, ESL, FLEX

10:15am CDT

I have an answer, do you have a question? LIMITED

Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

A104

Want to ignite deeper thinking and spark student ownership in your classroom? This interactive session will give you practical strategies to elevate your questioning techniques and empower students to craft their own powerful questions. Learn how to guide discussions that go beyond surface-level responses and promote critical thinking, curiosity, and engagement. Whether you're looking to enrich your lessons or energize your learners, this session will leave you inspired and ready to transform classroom conversations. Come ready to think, ask, and grow!

Speakers

Robin Newkirk

7th grade science teacher, Aledo Middle School

I have been teaching for 17 years. I am currently a 7th grade science teacher at AMS. This is my 6th year in Aledo.

Valerie Whitehead

Special Education Collaborative Teacher

With 22 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 →

Adriane Jenkins

7th Grade Science - Aledo ISDI am finishing year 11 in Education. 5 years were at the Elementary level teaching Science, Social Studies, and Math. This year I finished my 6th year in Middle School Science. My passion is encouraging students to use their strengths to find success... Read More →

Friday May 30, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A104

Cross-disciplinary

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, PreK-2nd
Subject High-level Questioning
Credit 1.5hr, CPE, FLEX, GT