Buckle up for an exciting journey in professional learning at Summer Inspire: Destination Excellence on May 28-29 from 8:30 to 4:00! This summer, we’re hitting the road toward innovation, impact, and instructional excellence. Please note: Our main location will be Shepton High School, but some sessions may be at the Plano ISD Sockwell Center.
Shepton High School: 5505 W Plano Pkwy, Plano, TX 75093
Here are some helpful tips for navigating Sched:
You can filter for session types by using the menu bar on the right side of the screen (Elementary, GT Credit, Full-day, etc.)
This professional development session is designed to give educators and administrators a thorough understanding of how to leverage artificial intelligence to improve specially designed instruction for students with disabilities at all levels of special education services. Participants will explore a variety of topics, including how AI can aid in differentiated instruction and promote inclusive practices. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to utilize AI in creating environments where students with disabilities can thrive.
Ensure compliance and clear communication by understanding the role of Prior Written Notice (PWN) at the end of the ARD process. This session will guide participants through the legal requirements, key components, and best practices for drafting thorough and data-driven PWNs. Attendees will learn how to document decisions effectively, address parental concerns, and ensure transparency in IEP development. By the end of this training, participants will have the knowledge and tools to write clear, legally sound notices that support student-centered decision-making.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
House Bill 1416 introduced key changes to accelerated instruction requirements, impacting classroom teachers' roles in supporting students needing additional academic support. This session will break down the essential components of HB 1416, including updated tutoring mandates, progress monitoring expectations, and best practices for integrating accelerated instruction within the classroom setting. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to meet legislative requirements while maintaining effective instructional practices.
I've Had STOIC, Now Let's Plan for Next Year is designed for teachers who have already completed STOIC classroom management training and are now ready to plan for the upcoming 25-26 school year. Participants will build on their knowledge of each component in the STOIC framework to develop actionable classroom management plans that align with their behavioral and instructional goals. Through collaborative planning and reflection, the Student Management Team will assist teachers in refining their use of STOIC strategies to create a positive, structured classroom environment. Attendees will leave with a clear ideas and personalized plan to implement effective classroom management techniques throughout the next school year.
Positive Reinforcement Systems (Whole Class and Individual) will be a comprehensive look at designing, implementing, and reflecting on your classroom system. This session will give you the keys to a successful system, and provide specific interventions and strategies to help you. It will also allow time for a Q & A about whole class and individual reinforcement systems.
In this session, Title I Coaches will have the opportunity to preview, analyze, and reflect on our new competency sets for the 25/26 school year including our Teacher Best Practices and new Plano ISD Coach competencies. This is specific for Title I Instructional Coaches, however others are welcome to join if they want to learn more! Target Audience: Title I Instructional Coaches, Elementary Bilingual Coaches
Engage students at all levels by integrating Depth and Complexity into your classroom! This session will provide practical strategies and tools to challenge advanced learners while differentiating for diverse needs. Learn how to design lessons that foster critical thinking, creativity, and deep understanding across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and techniques to enhance engagement and academic rigor in your classroom.
Join us at (WE) Weatherford Elementary as we share the journey we took to ensure every student thrived in a safe learning environment. Discover how we collaborated with staff to create a general education Independent Learning Environment, utilizing both district and campus resources.
(For secondary) This interactive training walks participants through lessons and tools from the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s Upstander Education Database that can be used in the classroom to discuss good citizenship to create safe environments that promote kindness, respect, and other Upstander skills. Participants will examine TEKS-aligned grade appropriate resources that use historical Upstanders as examples of these traits and provide students with activities to reflect on and build good citizenship. Learning Goals: Gain resources and strategies for teaching Upstander skills and good citizenship through TEKS-aligned resources.
Discover ways to use high-impact protocols that spark engagement and deepen learning across all content areas. Explore a blend of EduProtocols, Project Zero thinking routines, and CASEL Signature Practices that encourage collaboration, reflection, and student voice. Experience how consistent routines reduce cognitive load and support learner variability through flexible, repeatable structures. Access curated resources and leave with ready-to-use strategies supported by simple tech and no-tech tools.
This innovative training will help all teachers transform their classrooms into vibrant spaces where students can use academic language to talk, read, write, and think about each lesson’s content. This 7 Steps training outlines a dynamic process for structuring, planning, and facilitating a language-rich classroom. In addition,. participants gain knowledge of helpful ways to integrate both content and language standards when planning instruction. They also receive specific strategies for differentiating instruction so that all learners within the classroom can build their ability to discuss and communicate academic concepts effectively
In this interactive session, educators will explore high-impact strategies to build background knowledge and make content accessible for emerging bilingual students. With a focus on comprehensible input, culturally relevant teaching, and academic vocabulary development, participants will learn how to design lessons that connect new content to students’ lived experiences and prior knowledge. Educators will leave with practical tools to create inclusive, linguistically rich classrooms that support both language development and content mastery
Educators have multiple resources they are expected to internalize and implement with integrity. And classrooms are increasingly diverse places, full of students with a variety of strengths and needs. What if we could find better ways to incorporate that diversity into the lesson internalization process and remove barriers to achievement for ALL learners? Participants will: examine principles of universally designed instruction and how they connect with the instructional cycle, enhance the lesson internalization process to ensure that rigorous learning experiences meet the needs of ALL learners, explore options for engagement, representation, and expression that reduce barriers for diverse learners across content areas, and practice teaching strategies that support effective classroom behavior management. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
How can we promote engaging, dynamic, differentiated instruction with minimal teacher preparation and maximum results? With lead4ward’s low-prep/high-yield instructional resources! Move from teacher-centered instruction with passive, bored students to exciting, engaging instruction where students move, do the talking, comprehend content, correct mistakes, and deepen connections. Get ready to move, interact, and have lots of fun as we rehearse activities that engage students to learn academic vocabulary, analyze complex visuals, comprehend difficult text, and THINK! TALK! WRITE! You’ll be able to use the strategies we practice in the session with students the very next day! [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
Ready to ignite your passion for mentoring? Join us for an energizing experience where you’ll dive into the essential tools and strategies that make mentoring meaningful. Through hands-on activities, real-world scenarios, and collaborative discussions, you’ll explore what it truly means to support and mentor other educators. Whether you're a new teacher mentor through the PISD mentoring program or a teacher leader, if you’ve got a heart for inspiring new educators, you’ll leave this session equipped—and excited—to mentor with confidence and impact your school.
This workshop, based on the book Teaching Gifted Multilingual Learners (MLs) with Depth and Complexity, provides practical answers for educators seeking to better identify and serve gifted multilingual learners. Participants will learn how to combine best practices in gifted education with best practices in education for multilingual learners to meet the needs of these students. Tools and information will be provided to help educators become talent scouts in the gifted identification process. Strategies will be shared to meet the social and emotional needs of these students. Guidance and examples of how to combine sheltered instruction with Depth and Complexity will help participants simultaneously meet their students’ language and learning needs. Participants will leave with practical ideas to identify and serve gifted multilingual learners. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
Help students go beyond surface-level learning and develop deeper thinking skills with Discovery Education. In this session, you’ll explore how to leverage Discovery Education’s tools and strategies to foster critical thinking, encourage metacognition, and guide students in processing content more meaningfully. From analyzing media to reflecting on their learning, you’ll discover practical ways to challenge students’ thinking and build habits of mind that support lifelong learning—all while making the most of what Discovery Education has to offer.
In this session, Elementary PLANners will gain hands-on experience with BenQ Boards, AI tools, and iPads. The session will discuss alignment with the district’s Digital Learning Plan and Tech TEKS, emphasizing the "why" behind digital integration and equipping educators with strategic approaches to implementation on their campuses. PLANners will expand their leadership skills and learn best practices to lead adult learning on their campus. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
Jumpstart your Seesaw journey by mastering the platform’s essential tools for instruction and engagement. Design purposeful learning tasks, manage student work with ease, and elevate student ownership in the classroom. Participants will also complete the steps to become an official Seesaw Pioneer!
Ensure compliance and clear communication by understanding the role of Prior Written Notice (PWN) at the end of the ARD process. This session will guide participants through the legal requirements, key components, and best practices for drafting thorough and data-driven PWNs. Attendees will learn how to document decisions effectively, address parental concerns, and ensure transparency in IEP development. By the end of this training, participants will have the knowledge and tools to write clear, legally sound notices that support student-centered decision-making.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
House Bill 1416 introduced key changes to accelerated instruction requirements, impacting classroom teachers' roles in supporting students needing additional academic support. This session will break down the essential components of HB 1416, including updated tutoring mandates, progress monitoring expectations, and best practices for integrating accelerated instruction within the classroom setting. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to meet legislative requirements while maintaining effective instructional practices.
I've Had STOIC, Now Let's Plan for Next Year is designed for teachers who have already completed STOIC classroom management training and are now ready to plan for the upcoming 25-26 school year. Participants will build on their knowledge of each component in the STOIC framework to develop actionable classroom management plans that align with their behavioral and instructional goals. Through collaborative planning and reflection, the Student Management Team will assist teachers in refining their use of STOIC strategies to create a positive, structured classroom environment. Attendees will leave with a clear ideas and personalized plan to implement effective classroom management techniques throughout the next school year.
Join us for an engaging professional development session designed to empower educators in effectively collecting data for Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. In this workshop, participants will delve into the intricacies of data collection, learning practical strategies to accurately measure student progress and inform instructional decisions. The session will cover best practices for simplifying and streamlining data collection systems, both technological and non-technological, to facilitate efficient progress monitoring across various educational settings
Positive Reinforcement Systems (Whole Class and Individual) will be a comprehensive look at designing, implementing, and reflecting on your classroom system. This session will give you the keys to a successful system, and provide specific interventions and strategies to help you. It will also allow time for a Q & A about whole class and individual reinforcement systems.
Engage students at all levels by integrating Depth and Complexity into your classroom! This session will provide practical strategies and tools to challenge advanced learners while differentiating for diverse needs. Learn how to design lessons that foster critical thinking, creativity, and deep understanding across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and techniques to enhance engagement and academic rigor in your classroom.
Join us at (WE) Weatherford Elementary as we share the journey we took to ensure every student thrived in a safe learning environment. Discover how we collaborated with staff to create a general education Independent Learning Environment, utilizing both district and campus resources.
(For secondary) This interactive training walks participants through lessons and tools from the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s Upstander Education Database that can be used in the classroom to discuss good citizenship to create safe environments that promote kindness, respect, and other Upstander skills. Participants will examine TEKS-aligned grade appropriate resources that use historical Upstanders as examples of these traits and provide students with activities to reflect on and build good citizenship. Learning Goals: Gain resources and strategies for teaching Upstander skills and good citizenship through TEKS-aligned resources.
Discover ways to use high-impact protocols that spark engagement and deepen learning across all content areas. Explore a blend of EduProtocols, Project Zero thinking routines, and CASEL Signature Practices that encourage collaboration, reflection, and student voice. Experience how consistent routines reduce cognitive load and support learner variability through flexible, repeatable structures. Access curated resources and leave with ready-to-use strategies supported by simple tech and no-tech tools.
Ensure compliance and clear communication by understanding the role of Prior Written Notice (PWN) at the end of the ARD process. This session will guide participants through the legal requirements, key components, and best practices for drafting thorough and data-driven PWNs. Attendees will learn how to document decisions effectively, address parental concerns, and ensure transparency in IEP development. By the end of this training, participants will have the knowledge and tools to write clear, legally sound notices that support student-centered decision-making.
This professional development session is designed to equip special education teachers with effective leadership strategies to excel in their roles. Participants will explore methods for fostering a collaborative environment, approaches to resolving conflicts, and techniques for managing the evolving expectations within special education. The training aims to enhance educators' abilities to lead and collaborate effectively, ensuring positive outcomes for students with disabilities.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
I've Had STOIC, Now Let's Plan for Next Year is designed for teachers who have already completed STOIC classroom management training and are now ready to plan for the upcoming 25-26 school year. Participants will build on their knowledge of each component in the STOIC framework to develop actionable classroom management plans that align with their behavioral and instructional goals. Through collaborative planning and reflection, the Student Management Team will assist teachers in refining their use of STOIC strategies to create a positive, structured classroom environment. Attendees will leave with a clear ideas and personalized plan to implement effective classroom management techniques throughout the next school year.
Positive Reinforcement Systems (Whole Class and Individual) will be a comprehensive look at designing, implementing, and reflecting on your classroom system. This session will give you the keys to a successful system, and provide specific interventions and strategies to help you. It will also allow time for a Q & A about whole class and individual reinforcement systems.
Engage students at all levels by integrating Depth and Complexity into your classroom! This session will provide practical strategies and tools to challenge advanced learners while differentiating for diverse needs. Learn how to design lessons that foster critical thinking, creativity, and deep understanding across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and techniques to enhance engagement and academic rigor in your classroom.
(For elementary) This interactive training walks participants through lessons and tools from the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s Upstander Education Database that can be used in the classroom to discuss good citizenship to create safe environments that promote kindness, respect, and other Upstander skills. Participants will examine TEKS-aligned grade appropriate resources that use historical Upstanders as examples of these traits and provide students with activities to reflect on and build good citizenship. Learning Goals: Gain resources and strategies for teaching Upstander skills and good citizenship through TEKS-aligned resources.
Join us at (WE) Weatherford Elementary as we share the journey we took to ensure every student thrived in a safe learning environment. Discover how we collaborated with staff to create a general education Independent Learning Environment, utilizing both district and campus resources.
Explore how learning profiles—how students prefer to take in, process, and share information—can inform flexible instructional design. Apply Carol Ann Tomlinson’s framework to plan differentiated experiences that honor student variability while encouraging growth. Experience strategies supported by both tech and no-tech tools, and leave with practical ideas for designing instruction that balances choice, challenge, and support.
This innovative training will help all teachers transform their classrooms into vibrant spaces where students can use academic language to talk, read, write, and think about each lesson’s content. This 7 Steps training outlines a dynamic process for structuring, planning, and facilitating a language-rich classroom. In addition,. participants gain knowledge of helpful ways to integrate both content and language standards when planning instruction. They also receive specific strategies for differentiating instruction so that all learners within the classroom can build their ability to discuss and communicate academic concepts effectively
Educators have multiple resources they are expected to internalize and implement with integrity. And classrooms are increasingly diverse places, full of students with a variety of strengths and needs. What if we could find better ways to incorporate that diversity into the lesson internalization process and remove barriers to achievement for ALL learners? Participants will: examine principles of universally designed instruction and how they connect with the instructional cycle, enhance the lesson internalization process to ensure that rigorous learning experiences meet the needs of ALL learners, explore options for engagement, representation, and expression that reduce barriers for diverse learners across content areas, and practice teaching strategies that support effective classroom behavior management. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
How can we promote engaging, dynamic, differentiated instruction with minimal teacher preparation and maximum results? With lead4ward’s low-prep/high-yield instructional resources! Move from teacher-centered instruction with passive, bored students to exciting, engaging instruction where students move, do the talking, comprehend content, correct mistakes, and deepen connections. Get ready to move, interact, and have lots of fun as we rehearse activities that engage students to learn academic vocabulary, analyze complex visuals, comprehend difficult text, and THINK! TALK! WRITE! You’ll be able to use the strategies we practice in the session with students the very next day! [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
This follow-up session shifts the focus from input to student output, exploring how to create meaningful opportunities for emerging bilinguals to express their understanding. Educators will dive into strategies that promote academic talk, structured interaction, and scaffolded writing. Emphasis will be placed on formative assessment and language production tasks that empower students to use academic language with confidence. Participants will walk away with classroom-ready techniques to amplify student voice and deepen comprehension through active language use.
This workshop, based on the book Teaching Gifted Multilingual Learners (MLs) with Depth and Complexity, provides practical answers for educators seeking to better identify and serve gifted multilingual learners. Participants will learn how to combine best practices in gifted education with best practices in education for multilingual learners to meet the needs of these students. Tools and information will be provided to help educators become talent scouts in the gifted identification process. Strategies will be shared to meet the social and emotional needs of these students. Guidance and examples of how to combine sheltered instruction with Depth and Complexity will help participants simultaneously meet their students’ language and learning needs. Participants will leave with practical ideas to identify and serve gifted multilingual learners. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
Looking to boost student talk and collaboration in your classroom? This session explores how Discovery Education can support rich student-to-student discussion through engaging digital content and versatile instructional strategies. Learn how to vary your discussion techniques, encourage meaningful peer interactions, and create a classroom culture where students learn with—and from—each other. You’ll leave with ready-to-use ideas that promote collaboration and deepen understanding across any content area.
Jumpstart your Seesaw journey by mastering the platform’s essential tools for instruction and engagement. Design purposeful learning tasks, manage student work with ease, and elevate student ownership in the classroom. Participants will also complete the steps to become an official Seesaw Pioneer!
Join us for an interactive, hands-on session focused on using accommodations to build background knowledge and academic language for emergent bilingual students. Through real student examples, collaborative grading, and scenario-based problem solving, you’ll co-create strategies that support language growth and classroom success. Walk away with practical tools, a ready-to-use template, and the confidence to empower every learner through research-based best practices.
In this session, Secondary PLANners will gain hands-on experience with BenQ Boards, AI tools, and iPads. The session will discuss alignment with the district’s Digital Learning Plan and Tech TEKS, emphasizing the "why" behind digital integration and equipping educators with strategic approaches to implementation on their campuses. PLANners will expand their leadership skills and learn best practices to lead adult learning on their campus. [Please note: This session is at the Sockwell Center.]
Ensure compliance and clear communication by understanding the role of Prior Written Notice (PWN) at the end of the ARD process. This session will guide participants through the legal requirements, key components, and best practices for drafting thorough and data-driven PWNs. Attendees will learn how to document decisions effectively, address parental concerns, and ensure transparency in IEP development. By the end of this training, participants will have the knowledge and tools to write clear, legally sound notices that support student-centered decision-making.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
I've Had STOIC, Now Let's Plan for Next Year is designed for teachers who have already completed STOIC classroom management training and are now ready to plan for the upcoming 25-26 school year. Participants will build on their knowledge of each component in the STOIC framework to develop actionable classroom management plans that align with their behavioral and instructional goals. Through collaborative planning and reflection, the Student Management Team will assist teachers in refining their use of STOIC strategies to create a positive, structured classroom environment. Attendees will leave with a clear ideas and personalized plan to implement effective classroom management techniques throughout the next school year.
Positive Reinforcement Systems (Whole Class and Individual) will be a comprehensive look at designing, implementing, and reflecting on your classroom system. This session will give you the keys to a successful system, and provide specific interventions and strategies to help you. It will also allow time for a Q & A about whole class and individual reinforcement systems.
Engage students at all levels by integrating Depth and Complexity into your classroom! This session will provide practical strategies and tools to challenge advanced learners while differentiating for diverse needs. Learn how to design lessons that foster critical thinking, creativity, and deep understanding across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and techniques to enhance engagement and academic rigor in your classroom.
(For elementary) This interactive training walks participants through lessons and tools from the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s Upstander Education Database that can be used in the classroom to discuss good citizenship to create safe environments that promote kindness, respect, and other Upstander skills. Participants will examine TEKS-aligned grade appropriate resources that use historical Upstanders as examples of these traits and provide students with activities to reflect on and build good citizenship. Learning Goals: Gain resources and strategies for teaching Upstander skills and good citizenship through TEKS-aligned resources.
Join us at (WE) Weatherford Elementary as we share the journey we took to ensure every student thrived in a safe learning environment. Discover how we collaborated with staff to create a general education Independent Learning Environment, utilizing both district and campus resources.
Explore how learning profiles—how students prefer to take in, process, and share information—can inform flexible instructional design. Apply Carol Ann Tomlinson’s framework to plan differentiated experiences that honor student variability while encouraging growth. Experience strategies supported by both tech and no-tech tools, and leave with practical ideas for designing instruction that balances choice, challenge, and support.
