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

Strategies for Success in Social Studies (168)

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

1216

How do we get students to do the heavy lifting in Social Studies from Day 1… without us talking the whole time? 😅

In this fun and interactive 50-minute session, you’ll experience high-impact literacy and engagement strategies made specifically for 3rd–5th grade classrooms. We’ll dive into “text coding,” student-friendly writing strategies, and easy ways to get kids thinking, talking, and doing the work from the very beginning. You’ll leave with practical tools, ready-to-use ideas, and probably a few “Wait… why haven’t I tried this yet?” moments to bring straight into your classroom!

Speakers

Selena Ramos

I am a lover of all things Social Studies and ELAR. When I’m not shaping the future minds of America, I enjoy reading, hiking, and being the best dog mom. Let’s connect!!

Raegan Jones

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
1216

GT, 46086

9:00am CDT

Dynamic Strategies for Primary Source (173)

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

1216

Primary sources are the "clues" of history, but how do we help students investigate them? Whether it’s an old photograph, a handwritten letter, a historical map, or a physical artifact, students need tools to unlock the story. In this hands-on session, you will experience versatile strategies that turn students into active investigators. You will leave with a toolkit to analyze sources with students throughout the year in Social Studies.

Speakers

Kaitlyn Cyranowicz

Paige Harris

Instructional Coach, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1216

GT, K-2, 3-5

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

1:00pm CDT

Unit Planning with Purpose: Designing Phenomena-Driven Science Experiences (232)

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

1216

How do we shift our science classrooms from traditional "information delivery" to authentic student investigation? In this interactive 50-minute session, we will explore how to design instructional units with clear, inquiry-driven purpose. Participants will analyze the critical differences between passive teaching methods and active discovery , learning how to use real-world, observable phenomena as the "spark" for student curiosity. We will also examine how to map instructional sequences that intentionally build essential skills and lead directly to robust unit performance tasks. You will leave with a clear framework for planning lessons where students actively figure things out and construct compelling, evidence-based explanations.

Speakers

Stefan Birek

Elementary Science Curriculum Coordinator, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1216

GT, 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