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

The Digital Choice Board: Differentiation Made Simple (267)

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

1117

High-impact differentiation doesn’t have to mean three different lesson plans. In this 50-minute workshop, we will master the art of the Digital Choice Board—a one-stop shop for student autonomy and tiered support. Following a "Model/Apply" format, we will use Padlet to build a structured "Learning Hub" and integrate School AI to provide students with real-time, personalized feedback as they work. You will leave this session with a ready-to-use digital choice board tailored to your grade level, allowing you to meet every student’s needs from day one.

Speakers

Jenny Allen

6th Grade ELAR Teacher, PISD

I am a Texas native, born and raised, and I started my teaching career in Mesquite, Texas. I am a wife to a wonderful husband, I am a mother of three, and I have a beautiful grandson. I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with my Bachelor's Degree in Criminology... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1117

GT, 6-8, 9-12

9:00am CDT

Discourse by Design in Secondary Math (85)

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

1117

Rather than relying on questioning alone to prompt discussion, this session focuses on discourse-by-design—examining secondary math instructional strategies that intentionally create the need for student-to-student communication so all learners engage in mathematical sense-making through structured collaboration and shared problem-solving.

Speakers

Jordan Benton

Secondary Math Instructional Coach

This will be my 4th year in Prosper ISD as a Secondary Math Instructional coach and my 16th year in education.

Erin Fitzgerald

Secondary Math Instructional Coach

This will be my 10th year in Prosper ISD and my 14th year in education.

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1117

Instructional, 6-8, 9-12

10:00am CDT

Building Connection Before Content: High Impact First Week Strategies (241)

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

1117

The first few days of school are a high-stakes window for capturing student buy-in and setting the tone for the entire year. This session helps you intentionally design a classroom culture rooted in mutual respect and student voice. We will model secondary-friendly activities that help you quickly learn who your students are while practicing collaborative methods for establishing classroom norms.

Speakers

Jordan Benton

Secondary Math Instructional Coach

This will be my 4th year in Prosper ISD as a Secondary Math Instructional coach and my 16th year in education.

Nicole Ellis

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
1117

Instructional, 6-8, 9-12

1:00pm CDT

Strategic Thinking: Empowering Independent Mathematicians (185)

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

1117

Participants will explore and practice specific instructional strategies—including 3 Reads, Numberless Word Problems, and the Problem-Solving Mat—that scaffold critical thinking and mathematical discourse. By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify and apply these strategic thinking tools to empower all students to become confident, independent problem solvers who can effectively justify their reasoning.

Speakers

Nicole Ellis

Jordan Benton

Secondary Math Instructional Coach

This will be my 4th year in Prosper ISD as a Secondary Math Instructional coach and my 16th year in education.

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1117

GT, 6-8, 9-12

2:00pm CDT

Eduprotocols in the Math Classroom (330)

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

1117

What if your students begged for more math practice? Welcome to the world of Math EduProtocols! This session is a deep dive into high-engagement strategies that prioritize "thick" thinking over "thin" busywork. While our primary focus will be on Secondary (6-12) applications, these frames are incredibly adaptable. With just a "little tweak," Elementary (K-5) educators can utilize these same protocols to build rock-solid number sense and foundational fluency. Learn how to gamify your curriculum using templates like 8-Puzzlers and Math Reps that meet every learner where they are. Stop grading worksheets and start sparking conversations. Leave with templates you can use on Monday!

Speakers