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

Diagnostician Assessment Platforms: District Inventory, Use, Help & Access (Diagnosticians Only) (252)

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

2219

This session is designed to streamline the evaluation process by ensuring all district diagnosticians have a clear understanding of the tools available, the protocols for their use, and the logistical support system in place.
Participants will receive an updated Assessment Battery Master List, detailing every tool currently owned by the district across cognitive, achievement, processing, and adaptive behavior domains. We will move beyond a simple list to discuss "Best Use Cases" for specific populations (e.g., EL students, low-incidence disabilities) and provide information related to where to access assessment tools/resources/platforms. The session concludes with a "Who’s Who" directory of technical and assessment battery support, ensuring no diagnostician is left troubleshooting in a vacuum.

Speakers

Kristy Kemp

Kristy has over 20 years of experience in education through the roles as a special education teacher, general education teacher, reading and math interventionist, ESL specialist and educational diagnostician. I have served in Prosper ISD as a diagnostician since 2019.

Patricia Weisman

Thursday July 30, 2026 8:00am - 8:50am CDT
2219

Special Education, K-12

9:00am CDT

The Prompt Fading Challenge (SPED Paras) (257)

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

2219

This training is designed to help paraprofessionals understand how to use the prompting hierarchy to support students and gradually fade that help over time. Participants will learn how to give the right amount of support, reduce prompts step by step, and encourage greater student independence during daily tasks and instruction.

Speakers

Caroline Herring

Communications Teacher, Walnut Grove High School

Hello! My name is Caroline Herring. This will be my 19th year in Education. I currently serve as a Communications Teacher at Walnut Grove High School. This will be my third year serving in that role and as centralized team lead. Prior to my time at Walnut Grove, I served as a Behavior... Read More →

Tom Briner

Thursday July 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
2219

Special Education, K-12

10:00am CDT

Supporting Centralized Students in the General Education Setting: A Guide to Natural Environment Behavior and Academic Coaching (259)

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

2219

This training on Natural Environment Behavioral Coaching emphasizes that all student behavior serves a function, driven by internal needs and external factors like sleep and family issues. Effective coaching leverages positive relationships to reinforce replacement behaviors through key strategies such as behavioral modeling, incidental intervention, and meaningful feedback. The training stresses the importance of preventative strategies, like priming and establishing consistent classroom norms, while advising educators to maintain consistency, discuss behavior privately, and avoid power struggles.

Speakers

Caroline Herring

Communications Teacher, Walnut Grove High School

Thursday July 30, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
2219

Special Education, K-12

11:00am CDT

Supporting Centralized Students in the General Education Setting: A Guide to Natural Environment Behavior and Academic Coaching (260)

Thursday July 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

2219

Speakers

Caroline Herring

Communications Teacher, Walnut Grove High School

Thursday July 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
2219

Special Education, K-12

1:00pm CDT

The Special Education Support Circle: A Playbook for Who's Who in Related Services (SPED Paras) (256)

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

2219

Do you ever wonder who the different specialists are coming in and out of your classroom, or how you can best support the specific work they do with students? Paraprofessionals are the "boots on the ground" who spend the most time with students, making you the most vital link in a student’s success. This session is designed to pull back the curtain on the multidisciplinary team.
Participants will analyze specialist roles (such as SLP, OT, PT, and more) to understand their specific goals for student development and differentiate between service models, clarifying the "why" behind direct versus consultative support. Most importantly, we will move beyond theory into practice: you will leave with a practical toolkit of "carry-over" techniques you can use immediately to reinforce specialist interventions during your daily classroom routines. Join us to bridge the gap between therapy and the classroom, ensuring our students have unified support every hour of the school day.

Speakers