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

Blackout Poetry- Art and ELAR! (97)

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

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Have you wanted to lead your students in creating a unique piece of poetry and art? In this session, teachers will learn how to connect art and ELAR, working with school librarians, and the process of teaching a Blackout Poetry lesson. Teachers will not only learn how to present this unique lesson to their students but will also walk away with the resources and an original piece of their own Blakout Poetry, as well!

Speakers

Caitlin Freeman

Art Teacher, Prosper ISD

Becky Seiberling

Art Teacher, Prosper ISD

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
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GT, K-2, 3-5

9:00am CDT

Thinking on Your Feet: Improv Strategies for Engaging Teaching (373)

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

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Lecturing is an important part of teaching... but it's also BORING (and your students agree)! In this session, we will stand up and use techniques from the comedy world to learn to think on our feet. Improv is everywhere in teaching! From lecturing, to asking probing questions, to getting to know your students- teachers are constantly improvising in the classroom. By harnessing these skills and working these muscles, you can give a lecture that students look forward to! Be prepared to stand up, move your body, say silly things, and think on your feet!

Speakers

Hallie Mcculloch

Certified Culinary Arts instructor, B.S. Family and Consumer Sciences Education, amateur improviser!

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
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Instructional, 6-8, 9-12

12:00pm CDT

Principals & Assistant Principals Only: Understanding the Full Continuum of Special Education Services in Prosper ISD (371)

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

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This session, led by the Special Education Coordinator Team, is designed to provide principals and assistant principals with a comprehensive overview of the full continuum of special education services available in Prosper ISD. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the range of supports and placements offered to meet diverse student needs, from in-class accommodations to more specialized programming. The session will focus on how services are designed to ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE), while also highlighting the structures, staffing, and supports that make each program successful on campus. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, campus leaders will deepen their understanding of how to effectively support special education staff, ensure compliance, and foster inclusive practices.

Speakers

Leah Gomez

Heather Williams

SPED Instructional Coach, PISD

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

1:00pm CDT

Principals and Assistant Principals Only: Strengthening SDI Through the Workshop Model (372)

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

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This session, led by the Special Education Coordinator Team, is designed to support campus leaders in understanding how specially designed instruction (SDI) can be effectively implemented through the workshop model. Participants will explore how SDI is intentionally planned, delivered, and adjusted to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities within a structured instructional framework. The session will highlight key components of the workshop model—including mini-lessons, guided practice, independent work time, and small group instruction—and how each provides opportunities for meaningful SDI. Campus leaders will gain practical insight into what strong SDI looks like in the classroom, how teachers can differentiate and scaffold instruction in real time, and how to monitor and support ongoing adjustments based on student progress. Additionally, the session will explicitly connect SDI practices to the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), helping administrators identify look-fors aligned to domains such as planning, instruction, and differentiation.

Speakers

Meg Tillman

SPED Coordinator

Meg Tillman currently serves as a Special Education Coordinator in Prosper ISD, bringing nearly two decades of educational experience and a passion for supporting students, staff, and systems. Prior to stepping into district leadership, Meg spent 12 years as a campus administrator... Read More →

Kylene Lockey

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

2:00pm CDT

Making Literacy Interactive: Engaging K-5 Learners with Canva and Learning A-Z (430)

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

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This session will introduce elementary teachers to a variety of engaging and effective digital tools designed to enhance instruction and support student learning. Participants will explore how to create and use interactive phonics games with Canva, implement resources from Learning A-Z to support differentiated literacy instruction, and utilize Gemini to streamline planning, generate ideas, and personalize learning experiences.

Speakers

Rileigh Brown

4th Grade ELAR/SS, Boyer Elementary School

Howdy! My name is Rileigh Brown and I am in my third year of teaching 4th grade. I am originally from Frisco and graduated from Texas A&M University. I come from a family of educators and am proud to be one of four family members teaching in Prosper ISD.

Carrie Honaker

4th Grade Teacher, Boyer Elementary

With 18 years of experience, I am a dedicated and versatile educator with a passion for instructional leadership, curriculum development, and student-centered learning. I hold a Bachelors of Art in Music Education and a Master of Education focusing on Teacher Leadership, which have... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
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GT, K-5