Prosper Connects '26: Full Schedule

Prosper Connects 26: Your Ultimate Professional Learning Adventure!
Get Ready for the most incredible day of learning in Prosper ISD! July 30th at Walnut Grove High School | Over 300 Sessions Await!

Calling all educators! Prepare for a day packed with inspiration, innovation, and incredible learning opportunities. From the electrifying drumline welcome to the delicious indoor lunch options from the Walnut Grove cafeteria serving up a variety of food, this isn’t just another professional development day – it’s a celebration of education!
✨ Highlights:

👕Attire: Favorite Team Jersey, jeans, and comfortable shoes
🚍Grab the Shuttle from Rock Hill HS (16061 N Coit Rd, Frisco, TX 750) for easy parking (runs every 20 min)
🥁 Epic Drumline Kick-Off
☕Breakfast Options: Union Coffee and Baked Goods & Sonic
🌮 INSIDE Lunch options provided by Aramark and Hardy’s Cafe: Union Coffee, Cane’s, Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, Pizza Hut, Greens & Grains, Sushi, Taco Line, & Hardy’s Cafe
🧠 GT Credit Sessions Available (sessions that are orange = GT)
📚 Up to 6 Professional Learning Hours

8:00am CDT

Engaging Students from Start to Finish with TEKS based Activities in TX Science! (Grades 3-5)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

1210

Engage your students with Texas Science built in Page Keeley probes and PhotoStart/Photo Finish activities. Page Keeley probes provide formative assessment at thebeginning of the lesson so you can calculate just how much time needs to be spent onconcepts and at the end of the lesson to show just how much they have learned. PhotoStart/Photo finish activities use photos to strengthen observations, inferencing, andreasoning skills. Take your students to the next level through discourse and reasoning!

Speakers

Carol Carter

McGraw Hill

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1210

Instructional, 3-5

8:00am CDT

Interactive Read Aloud: Mastering Intentional Discourse for Deeper Comprehension (246)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

1212

Transform your read-alouds from a passive listening experience into a powerhouse for student thinking. In this session, participants will learn how to intentionally plan and deliver interactive read-alouds that promote meaningful student discourse and ensure the rich thinking transfers to students’ independent reading and writing.

Speakers

Heather Garavaglia

Librarian, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1212

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

8:00am CDT

Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Cultivating Early Agency for Long-Term Readiness (233)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

1121

Think College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) is strictly for high schoolers? Think again. This session reframes the K–5 "Explorer" phase, shifting it from passive career awareness to active problem-solving and critical thinking. We will move beyond the classroom walls to transition students from Curious Observers into Active Investigators. By intentionally fostering academic stamina and self-awareness in the early years, we empower our learners to break boundaries—unlocking advanced coursework and elite CTE pathways long before they ever set foot on a secondary campus. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap to navigate the unique programs and pathways available within Prosper ISD, ensuring every student is equipped to own their future.

Speakers

Stefanie Mueller

Jennifer Pruiett

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1121

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

8:00am CDT

The Power of Connection: Advanced Padlet Strategies (111)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

2222

Elevate student engagement by integrating high-quality instructional strategies into your Padlet practice. This session explores how to use Padlet to facilitate Hexagonal Thinking and other collaborative strategies that challenge students to find and justify relationships between concepts. Join us to build a toolkit of advanced strategies that turn your digital space into a dynamic hub for student-led learning.

Speakers

Amy Leggat

Princess, Padlet

Texas education isn't just my job, it's my story. Both degrees are from SHSU and I spent years teaching ELA/SS/ESL in Conroe ISD. Now instead of bringing lesson plans to students, I get to bring tools to teachers.

Outside of Padlet, I'm probably chasing live music, wandering a... Read More →

Michelle Dunaway (Host)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
2222

Instructional, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

8:00am CDT

The Roving Framework: Adapting Literacy Scaffolds for Problem Solving (57)

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT

1219

Tired of students getting "stuck" on multi-step problems or staring at blank pages during writing? In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to adapt the "Roving Paragraph" strategy into a high-engagement, collaborative rotation. We will explore how to use this movement-based technique to tackle the 6-Step Problem Solving Framework in Math and paragraph construction in ELAR. Leave with a "plug-and-play" strategy that turns individual struggle into collective success!

Speakers

Kelsey Longtin

Instructional Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1219

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

9:00am CDT

First Day Jitters (217)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

1102

The bell rings. Students walk in. All eyes are on you—now what? This session is for brand-new teachers and experienced educators alike who want to feel confident and prepared on day one. Learn simple, effective strategies to calm your nerves, connect with students, and start the year on the right foot.

Speakers

Autumn Cama

5th Grade Teacher

Hi there! I am a passionate teacher, who loves not only students but teachers as well. My dream is for new and veteran teachers alike to feel successful, confident, and calm about their first day of school! I have been an educator in Prosper ISD for five sweet years at Cockrell Elementary... Read More →

Ginger Hoffman

Teacher

Hi! I’m Ginger Hoffman, a wife and mother of six, entering my fifth year teaching 4th Grade ELAR and Texas History at Cockrell Elementary. Before moving to Prosper, I taught at a low socioeconomic school and worked in a GED program for adults in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Coming from a m... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1102

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

9:00am CDT

Lights On, Voices Up: Launching an Elementary Theater Club that Builds Community and Belonging (415)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

1237

This session provides a step-by-step guide to launching and sustaining a successful elementary theater club. Participants will explore program structure, rehearsal processes, production planning, budgeting, and strategies for growing a fully funded and community-supported program. Beyond performance, elementary theater builds confidence, collaboration skills, and gives students a powerful outlet to find and use their voice. Learn how to create a theater experience that empowers students, engages families, strengthens campus culture, and becomes a sought-after opportunity for students.

Speakers

Nancy Allen

Elementary Music Teacher, Stuber Elementary

Amy Darling

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1237

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

9:00am CDT

Literacy Workshop: Where Reading adn Writing Converge (122)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

1214

How can you help students read like a writer and write like a reader? In literacy workshop classrooms, students inhale author's words and ideas and exhale their own interpretations and extensions of those thoughts in conversations and responses.

Speakers

Jenn Stinnett

Reading Specialist

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1214

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

9:00am CDT

Multiplication and Division Fact Strategies (Grades 3-5) (404)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

2120

Basic facts are the "sight words" of math. Learn how research has changed our understanding of how childrenbest learn facts for understanding and retention. Resources include games and activities for your classroom.

Speakers

Donna Boucher

Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner

Donna Boucher brings a wealth of experience to the education world, having served as a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. Now, she partners with schools and districts to improve math outcomes and support effective teaching practices. A sought-after... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
2120

Instructional, 3-5

9:00am CDT

Padlet 101: From Basics to Brilliance (109)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

2222

Capture every student's voice with the power of Padlet. This session is designed for educators new to the platform who want to master the essentials of digital collaboration. You will explore the various post types—from text and images to video and drawings—and learn how to facilitate a secure, interactive environment for all learners.

Speakers

Amy Leggat

Princess, Padlet

Michelle Dunaway (Host)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
2222

Instructional, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

9:00am CDT

Ready, Set, Strike! (33)

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

GYM- AUX 2

From pickleball to hockey and more, this session explores striking with long- and short-handled implements through fun, game-based activities.Come ready to play!

Speakers

Kelli Smith

PE Teacher/ Elementary PE Coordinator, Baker Elementary

My name is Kelli Smith and I teach K-5 PE at Baker Elementary! I am also the PISD Elementary PE Coordinator. I am passionate about quality PE and collaborating with other teachers to create engaging and fun activities for our students!

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
GYM- AUX 2

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

10:00am CDT

Building Leaders: Student Council at the Elementary Level (25)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

1202

Wondering how to get the most of your student council experience? Let's collaborate with a roundtable discussion on what is working for you and how you can build your students' leadership capacity. Come ready to share and leave with inspiration for next year's young leaders.

Speakers

Kim Cooper

GT Specialist

Karen Hutchinson

Kindergarten Teacher, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
1202

Instructional, K-2, 3-5, 6-8

10:00am CDT

Building Number Fluency & Confidence (using Multiplication Charts) (216)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

2101

When calculators are not allowed, students’ confidence and ability to engage with grade-level content depend heavily on their number fluency. This session explores how multiplication charts can be used intentionally as a tool for building fluency and supporting mathematical reasoning—not just memorization.
Participants will learn routines and strategies that help students notice patterns, make connections across operations, and apply facts flexibly when working with fractions and ratios.
Participants will walk away with practical ways to turn multiplication tables into a powerful tool for reasoning, problem solving, and equitable access to rigorous math learning for all students, as well as some engaging fluency games that can be easily implemented in any classroom.

Speakers

Heather Eck

Darlene Griffin

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
2101

Instructional, 3-5, 6-8

10:00am CDT

Math Workshop—What Students are Doing When You’re in Small Group (K-2) (405)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

2120

Learn how to structure math workshop so your students can become successful, independent learners,allowing you to maximize small group instruction. This session will focus on structure, accountability, andexpectations and will include sample tasks.

Speakers

Donna Boucher

Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
2120

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

10:00am CDT

More Than Just a Short Answer: Designing Authentic BCRs with Padlet (75)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

1215

Brief Constructed Responses don’t have to be "boring"! Learn how Padlet Sandbox can help you transform responses into engaging learning experiences while building your confidence with the tool. You’ll leave with a ready-to-use activity you designed yourself and can implement right away.

Speakers

Hailey Geiser

Victoria Fiddler

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
1215

Instructional, 3-5, K-2

10:00am CDT

The Power of Connection: Advanced Padlet Strategies (110)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

2222

Speakers

Amy Leggat

Princess, Padlet

Michelle Dunaway (Host)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
2222

Instructional, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

10:00am CDT

WIN Time: Systems that Work (212)

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

1216

This session builds a clear understanding of WIN Time as a campus-wide system designed to meet student needs through intentional grouping and targeted instruction. Participants will explore the non-negotiables, structures, and routines that make cross-grade implementation successful. By the end, they will leave with a practical, ready-to-use framework to launch or refine WIN Time on their campus.

Speakers

Heather Clay

Elementary Literacy Coach

Erin Vranesh

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
1216

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

11:00am CDT

Building a Culture of Excellence in Your Classroom (305)

Thursday July 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Do your students know you expect them to succeed—or just hope they will? What would change in your classroom if every student knew you expected them to succeed at a high level? In this session, you will feel empowered with simple strategies to implement in your classroom to build a culture of excellence where kids want to succeed as much as you want them to.

Speakers

Hannah Freeman

Peyton Bunch

5th Grade ELAR/SS, Cockrell Elementary

Teri Stepanic

Thursday July 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

12:00pm CDT

Building a Team - Strategies on the Culture of building ACADEMIC UIL teams (26)

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

1204

Experienced coaches known for having large and committed teams share their tips and tricks for getting students involved and keeping them involved in the extra-curricular activities. When the draw of competition isn't enough, these strategies will help you keep students coming back year after year.

Speakers

Rachael Cummings

Hannah Rodriguez

Speech & Debate Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
1204

Instructional, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

12:00pm CDT

Interactive Read Aloud: Mastering Intentional Discourse for Deeper Comprehension (247)

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

1212

Speakers

Heather Garavaglia

Librarian, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
1212

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

12:00pm CDT

Math Workshop—What Students are Doing When You’re in Small Group (3-5) (406)

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

2120

Speakers

Donna Boucher

Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
2120

Instructional, 3-5

12:00pm CDT

Tech that Supports: Supporting Diverse Learners in GenEd and Resource Classrooms (381)

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

1100

Less theory, more "I can actually use this." Discover how technology can open doors for diverse learners in both general education and resource settings, with hands-on tools and real classroom strategies you can implement right away.

Speakers

Hailey Geiser

Tracey Heusinkveld

Thursday July 30, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
1100

Instructional, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

1:00pm CDT

Being an Elementary UIL Academic Campus Coordinator (30)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1204

Attendees will learn the resources provided to them and strategies for handling the position of UIL Academic Campus Coordinator smoothly. All Coordinators are encouraged to attend to get prepared for the upcoming school year.

Speakers

Racy Kane

Director of Academic Competition, Prosper ISD

Racy Kane serves as Director of Academic Competition for Prosper ISD where she supports Speech and Debate throughout the district, Spelling Bee, Mock Trial, Robotics, and UIL Academics at the district's 30 campuses.
Prior to moving to the district office, Racy was the Associate Principal at Prosper HS where she served in campus administration for 6 years. She runs multiple UIL District contests in the North Texas area and is the UIL Regional Director for Region 2-5A and 1-6A. For the past 13... Read More →

Hannah Rodriguez

Speech & Debate Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1204

Instructional, 3-5, K-2

1:00pm CDT

From Chaos to Clarity: AI for Special Education Teachers (382)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1126

Special education teachers in self-contained and resource settings face the daily challenge of balancing complex instruction, intensive behavior support, data collection, and family communication—often with limited planning time. This session explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can serve as a powerful partner in reducing cognitive overload and streamlining professional responsibilities.
Using the High-Leverage Practices (HLPs) framework as a guide, presenters will demonstrate practical, evidence-based applications for AI across four essential domains: Collaboration, Data-Driven Planning, Instruction, and Behavior, with an emphasis on instruction and behavior. Participants will learn how to move beyond generic tools to create highly individualized student supports—from drafting family-friendly progress summaries and visual schedules to analyzing behavior patterns and generating multi-level academic materials.
Through real-world examples and sample prompts, this session highlights how early-career teachers are currently using AI to enhance instructional precision while maintaining the human-centered, ethical, and relational heart of special education.

Speakers

Anna Ballard

Secondary Inclusion Teacher

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1126

Instructional, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

1:00pm CDT

Literacy Library Unlocked: Grades 2-5 (71)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1233

This session will offer teachers the opportunity to learn about the campus literacy library and all it has to offer. We will walk participants through responsive ELAR Small Group Instruction using the resources found in the literacy library (leveled texts, lesson folders, decodable texts, Reading/Writing strategies books). We will also discuss how to incorporate responsive writing instruction with the literacy library resources in the literacy small group structure. We will also talk through how teaching up can be accomplished through small group while using the lesson folder as a starting point.

Speakers

Fabiana Vaughn

Instructional Coach, T&L Department

Erika Hutchinson

Instructional Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1233

Instructional, 3-5, K-2

1:00pm CDT

Number Talks & Other Numeracy Tasks to Kick Off the Math Workshop (59)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1219

Kick off your math workshop with powerful routines that build students’ number sense and mathematical thinking. In this session, teachers will explore Number Talks and other short numeracy routines that engage students in reasoning, strategy sharing, and meaningful math discourse. Participants will leave with practical routines that are quick to implement and help create a strong mathematical start to every math block.

Speakers

Kim Burch

Elementary Math Coordinator, PISD

I LOVE all things Math and Prosper ISD!

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1219

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

1:00pm CDT

WIN Time That Delivers: From Data to Instruction (213)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1214

In this session, teachers will learn how to use student data to form flexible, homogeneous groups and design targeted instruction that meets varying needs. Participants will reflect on their current WIN Time practices and refine their approach for greater impact. By the end, they will leave with a clear, actionable plan to implement WIN Time effectively in Unit 1.

Speakers

Heather Clay

Elementary Literacy Coach

Erin Vranesh

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1214

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

1:00pm CDT

World Traditions in the Music Room (55)

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

1100

Mid-Autumn Festival, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Holi, AAPI Month, Sakura season, and more! Take 5-10 minutes at the start of your music lesson to recognize a culture different from our own, listen to a related song, and acknowledge the changing seasons will add richness and vibrancy to your music classroom! Our Prosper students love to learn, and adding a small recognition of the vibrancy of our world cultures will grow your students education and empathy.

Speakers

Corey Fisher

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1100

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

2:00pm CDT

DBQ Basics for Elementary Grades 2-5 (237)

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

1216

What’s a DBQ? In this session, we will break down the DBQ process and what that could look like in the elementary classroom. Participants will leave the session with clarity and an understanding of the basics needed to launch a DBQ with their students.

Speakers

Shauna Copeland

Katelyn Morris

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
1216

Instructional, 3-5, K-2

2:00pm CDT

From Unit Planner to Daily Plans: Bridging the Planning Gap (431)

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

1217

Let’s be honest: it’s easy to get lost between the "big picture" unit plan and what actually needs to happen on a Tuesday morning. This session is about closing that gap so your daily instruction actually matches your unit goals. We’ll work on turning those broad plans into simple daily wins, making sure every lesson has a clear focus and a path to student success.

Speakers

Tiffany Nelson

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
1217

Instructional, K-2, 3-5

2:00pm CDT

Literacy Small Group in Action: 2-5 (72)

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

1233

Refine your ability to provide responsive instruction. In this session, participants will observe a small group in action to analyze real-time decision-making and instructional adjustments. Teachers will walk away with tips and tricks of systems, routines, and progress-monitoring strategies designed to meet the unique needs of the students in front of them. (*This is part 2 of a 2 part training for literacy small group instruction. Participation in both is encouraged but not required. “Literacy Library Unlocked” is the part 1 course.)

Speakers

Fabiana Vaughn

Instructional Coach, T&L Department

Erika Hutchinson

Instructional Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
1233

Instructional, 3-5, K-2

2:00pm CDT

Neurodiversity‑Affirming Classrooms: Small Shifts, Big Impact (139)

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

2211

What if "challenging behaviors" were actually "unmet needs"? In this hands-on session, we shift the lens from a compliance-based model to a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Rather than focusing on "fixing" the student, we explore how to "fix" the environment to support diverse brains. Participants will move beyond theory to practice, conducting a 360-degree sensory audit of a classroom and testing a "toolkit" of low-cost, high-impact strategies. You will leave with a concrete "one-inch shift" plan. a single, immediate change you can implement tomorrow to reduce cognitive load, honor sensory needs, and foster a culture of belonging for every learner in your building.

Speakers