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

9:00am CDT

Inclusion in the Art Room. (245)

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

1235

This interactive session equips art teachers with practical, classroom-ready strategies to make art learning inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to students of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning needs. Participants will examine bias in curriculum and assessment and develop techniques for culturally sustaining pedagogy that honors students’ identities and creative voices. The session balances research-based principles with hands-on activities and ready-to-use lesson adaptations.

Speakers

Natasha Millard

Fine Arts Instructor, Prosper ISD

My name is Natasha Millard, and I have been an art educator for 16 years. I have had the joy of teaching artists of all ages, from 1 to 96 years old. My journey in teaching began at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, where I worked as an art instructor and curator intern, but I quickly... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
1235

GT, K-2, 3-5, Pre K

10:00am CDT

Why Serve? Hidden Benefits of Professional Leadership for You, Your Campus, and Your Students (255)

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

1235

Professional organizations can help educators extend their impact beyond their own classroom to strengthen their campus, department, and district. Through a panel of educators serving in leadership roles in organizations such as Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, American Choral Directors Association, International Thespian Society, and Texas Educational Theatre Association, participants will discover how professional service creates access to innovative ideas, instructional resources, leadership opportunities, and meaningful professional networks.
Panelists will share practical examples of how involvement in professional organizations can strengthen teaching practices, support student opportunities, build stronger programs, and increase collaboration across a district.
Attendees will leave with:
- Practical ways to get involved, regardless of experience level
- Strategies for using professional organizations to improve instruction and student engagement
- Ideas for bringing new resources and connections back to their campus
- A plan for taking the next step in professional leadership

Speakers

Eric Cooley

Joshua McGuire

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
1235

Leadership, 6-8, 9-12

1:00pm CDT

CVI Trilogy: Working with Visually Impaired Students with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), Phase 1 (285)

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

1235

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) will offer the first of a set of three trainings in the three phases of CVI. This training will cover phase 1, the initial stage of Cortical Visual Impairment (typically CVI Range score 0–3) where the goal is to build consistent, voluntary visual attention in children who rarely use or rely on their vision. The focus is on stabilizing visual functioning by using simple, high-contrast, and often light-based materials.

Speakers

Lynne McAlister

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
1235

Special Education, K-12

2:00pm CDT

Foster Creativity in Pre-K (Emphasizing Process over Product) (306)

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

1235

This training session explores the concept of process art and its role in early childhood classrooms. Emphasis is placed on shifting the focus from producing a perfect final product to valuing the creative process itself. Educators will gain practical strategies to support student exploration, choice, and individuality, while recognizing the importance of the learning, thinking, and problem-solving that occur during art experiences.

Speakers

Amy Ceron

Sindhuja Muthukumar

Hello! I am Sindhu and I am an Instructional Assistant at Calhoun Early Childhood School.
I have been in early childhood education for 6 years with children ranging from 3 to 6 years old.
I believe school for all ages is meant to be magical, playful, and fun. My passion is to light a fire in children, showing them there is wonder all around just waiting to be discovered. I am passionate about process art because it helps me connect with the children while they crea... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
1235

Instructional, Pre K, K-2