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

Reading an FIE: Using Student Strengths to Prioritize Instructional Strategies (240)

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

2216

This session focuses on building educators’ capacity to effectively read and interpret a Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) with an emphasis on identifying and leveraging student strengths. Participants will learn how to move beyond scores to understand patterns in cognitive, academic, and behavioral data, and how these strengths can be used to inform and prioritize targeted instructional strategies. The session will support educators in making data-driven decisions that align evaluation findings with practical classroom supports to enhance student outcomes.

Speakers

Christine Kelly

Educational Diagnostician, Prosper ISD

With more than 25 years in education, I have had the opportunity to serve students in a variety of roles, including general education teacher, special education teacher, and currently as an Educational Diagnostician. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about helping students... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
2216

Special Education, K-12

9:00am CDT

From Symbols to Sentences: Building Authentic Writing Through ULS SymbolStix (230)

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

2216

This session is designed for special education teachers in centralized programs who support nonverbal autistic students in grades K–12. We will explore how to transform ULS SymbolStix visuals into powerful tools for authentic communication and writing.
Participants will learn how to guide students in cutting, sequencing, and assembling symbols to build sentences that turn into real letters with real purpose. From holiday greetings to messages about seasons and community helpers, students will create writing that means something and encourage writing that can spark a response!
It is a fully integrated experience where communication, fine motor skills, and academic content come together in a fun, engaging, and purposeful way. You’ll walk away with ready-to-use ideas that your students will love and that align beautifully with IEP goals. And the best part is you can gain data from it!

Speakers

Rhonda Cary

Special Education Communications Teacher

Hello! My name is Rhonda Cary, and I am a Special Education Communications teacher at Cockrell Elementary School. I recently completed my first year of teaching, and I was incredibly honored to be recognized by the Cockrell Champion staff with the “Rising Star of the Year” award... Read More →

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
2216

Special Education, K-12

10:00am CDT

The Multi-Sensory Makeover: Adapting ULS for Active Student Engagement (Centralized Special Education Teachers only) (231)

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

2216

Are you looking for ways to bring the Unique Learning System (ULS) to life? While the digital curriculum offers a robust framework, our students in self-contained settings thrive when learning is tactile, interactive, and personalized. In this hands-on session, we will move beyond the "print and go" mentality. We’ll explore creative strategies to adapt ULS monthly units into multi-sensory learning activities. Attendees will spend the session exploring high-utility materials they can take directly back to their classrooms to increase student participation and functional communication.

Speakers

Stephanie Cross

Special Education Coach, Prosper ISD

I am Special Education Coach in Prosper ISD. I support teachers and campuses in implementing high-quality specially designed instruction and inclusive practices for students with diverse abilities. I am passionate about building teacher capacity through collaboration, coaching... Read More →

Christina Domingue

Special Education Instructional Coach

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
2216

Special Education, K-12

1:00pm CDT

Neurodiversity Affirming Practices in the Classroom (242)

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

2216

This interactive workshop teaches special education and general education teachers how to support neurodivergent students by building on strengths instead of focusing on deficits. Participants will learn what neurodiversity-affirming practice looks like, how these practices can be implemented in IEP goals and accommodations, and classroom strategies that honor students' needs without forcing them to act "normal."

Speakers

Bridget Fleming

Speech-Language Pathologist

Alexis Knowles

Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
2216

Instructional, K-12

2:00pm CDT

WJ-V Cognition and Achievement (251)

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

2216

This session provides an intensive, hands-on exploration of the Woodcock-Johnson V (WJ-V), focusing on the core batteries for Cognitive Abilities and Achievement. As the field transitions to this latest iteration, educational diagnosticians and school psychologists will gain the technical proficiency and interpretive confidence needed to maintain assessment integrity.
Participants will dive into the structural shifts and psychometric enhancements of the WJ-V. The training bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application through the following modules:
- Battery Overview: Identifying the primary differences between the WJ IV and WJ-V, including new subtests and refined basal/ceiling rules.
- Administration Best Practices: A step-by-step walkthrough of standardized administration procedures to ensure valid scores across diverse student populations.
- Scoring & Interpretation: Utilizing the digital platform for precise scoring and learning how to synthesize cognitive and achievement data to identify strengths and weaknesses

Speakers

Beckie Cybulski

Educational Diagnostician, Prosper ISD

Beckie Cybulski is an Educational Diagnostician with nearly 30 years of experience in special education and assessment in both public and private settings. She has worked primarily with middle and high school students and currently serves at Walnut Grove High School, where her responsibilities... Read More →