ENGAGE 2026 Professional Learning Conference: Full Schedule

Lunch Options or Bring Lunch for Game Show theme Party happening in the Student Union!

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8:30am CDT

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Come explore the skills tested from the Writing Process TEKS in the STAAR Revising passages. Leave with ideas, lessons, and resources to use in any unit to engage students in thinking like writers!

Presenters

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

(say it Mc-GOY)
I am a certified English teacher who enjoys learning & sharing about literacy, leadership, assessment, curriculum design, & school improvement. I share free TEKS-based resources on my website: www.tinyurl.com/ToshShares

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 806 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Saban's Winning Strategy- How to get 4s and 5s on AP Tests

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School

Attention to detail is the key and I will give you the keys to improve student writing on AP Tests. I'll give tips and tricks from an AP Reader's perspective. Honors teachers or anyone else interested in elevating writing is welcome! Find out what to emphasize in writing a Thesis, using Evidence to support your point, or how to properly use Context. I promise to be entertaining and give you the tools to elevate your students' writings!

Presenters

Eric Grant

AP US History Teacher at Eaton High School

I can teach you how to break down data in a quick and efficient way to help maximize your class time. I also have simple tricks to improve your students' writing. My students' feedback every year is that they actually like my notes and it's because of the simple things I do differently... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Orchestrating Your Orchestra Class

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 110 - Orchestra -Northwest High School

This collaborative workshop supports orchestra directors in planning effective fall concert programs, with a focus on purposeful repertoire selection and alignment with instructional goals. Participants will explore strategies for designing warm-ups and structuring pass-offs to promote consistent skill development. Attendees will also exchange repertoire ideas and leave with practical resources to strengthen their programs from the start of the year.

Presenters

Sara Wharry

Orchestra

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 110 - Orchestra -Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Planning

Audience Secondary

8:30am CDT

Engage - Specially Designed - Secondary Day 1 at Truett Wilson Middle School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 4:00pm CDT

SOAR Rm. B121/B122 - Truett Wilson Middle School

In this training, SOAR teachers will get a hands-on simulation of the Links curriculum, allowing teachers to rotate through practical implementation stations. Participants will master the essentials of Links classroom set-up and practice the mechanics of Discrete Trial Training (DTT), including Pivotal Response Training (PRT) to enhance student engagement. The rotation also features a deep dive into fine motor instruction using Handwriting Without Tears and strategies for integrating the Links Media center to support digital learning in a specialized setting.
THIS SESSION IS NOT AT NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL. It is at Wilson Middle School, 14250 Sendera Ranch Blvd, Haslet, TX 76052

Presenters

Elizabeth Elliott-Norman

Northwest ISD

Ruth Ann Beagle

Dyslexia Coordinator, NORTHWEST ISD, ADMINISTRATION

Amelia Bowler

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 4:00pm CDT
SOAR Rm. B121/B122 - Truett Wilson Middle School 14250 Sendera Ranch Blvd, Haslet, TX 76052, USA

Planning, Special Education | Instruction, Special Education | Learning Environment, Special Education

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Differentiation

10:15am CDT

Boosting STAAR Success with Class Companion

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1103 - Northwest High School

Discover how Class Companion can transform STAAR preparation in your 3rd–12th grade classrooms! In this hands-on session, teachers will explore how to use Class Companion’s AI-powered tools to provide targeted, TEKS-aligned practice that mirrors STAAR's question types. Learn how to easily create assignments from existing curriculum, generate rigorous open-ended and multiple-choice questions, and deliver instant, actionable feedback to support student growth.

Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies for using Class Companion to:
✅ Differentiate practice based on student needs
✅ Track progress on specific TEKS and readiness standards
✅ Encourage critical thinking and test-taking stamina
✅ Save time while improving instructional impact

Presenters

Kayla Beaman

Susan Borroeta

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1103 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Instructional Strategies

10:15am CDT

From Note-Takers to Thinkers: Strategies That Spark Active Learning

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 804 - Northwest High School

Shift students from passive note-takers to active thinkers with simple, high-impact routines. Learn how quick pre-class summaries boost readiness and how whiteboard teamwork drives discussion, problem-solving, and deeper understanding. Students move beyond memorizing to exploring, questioning, and applying—making learning stick in powerful ways

Presenters

Kerri Kamischke

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 804 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Instructional Strategies

10:15am CDT

Math Plays for a Winning Game! Increasing the Impact of your Graphing Calculator Tools

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1110 - Northwest High School

Stop running the same play when the game has changed. This session will compare and contrast the uses of DESMOS and the TI-84. Let's fill our toolbox with ways to help student become proficient and efficient consumers of these calculators.

Presenters

Melanye Griffin

Secondary Math Coordinator, Northwest ISD

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1110 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, Math

Audience Secondary

10:15am CDT

No Benchwarmer! Getting Every Student in The Game With Thinking Classrooms

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1204 - Northwest High School

Ready to call a new play in your math classroom? Inspired by Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl, this session introduces strategies that get students actively thinking, collaborating, and solving problems. Experience random grouping, vertical thinking spaces, and carefully scaffolded “thin-sliced” tasks from the student perspective. Leave with a game plan for increasing engagement, mathematical discourse, and student confidence while creating a classroom where every learner is in the game.

Presenters

Carla Dalton

NISD Secondary Math Instructional Coach

I'm entering my 23rd year in education. I have taught all levels of secondary math through College Algebra. One of my greatest passions in math education is helping students BELIEVE that they can do the math by fostering a mistake-friendly environment that prioritizes deep thinking... Read More →

Jennifer Covert

Honors & GT Algebra 1, Tidwell Middle School

I'm entering my 21st year teaching and my 10th year in NISD. I have taught all levels of math from Pre-algebra through Algebra 2. I love challenging students to push through barriers and helping them discover they can do more than they thought they could.

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1204 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Instruction, Math

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Differentiation

10:15am CDT

Stronger Together: Teaming Up with Your Campus Librarian

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School

When teachers and librarians work together, they form the ultimate instructional team. In this session, participants will explore ways to partner with the library to create meaningful learning opportunities that support any curriculum and help every student succeed. Leave with practical collaboration strategies and fresh ideas—and share how your librarian can best support you—every play, every day.

Presenters

Tiffany Siders

Librarian, Medlin Middle School

23 years in education teaching Social Studies, ELA, Math, Leadership, and being a librarian.

Meghan Batson

Library Media Specialist

Jennifer Gaskin

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

10:15am CDT

Brain + Belief = Breakthrough: Guiding Students Toward Purposeful Success (GT Update)

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1314 - Northwest High School

Unlock the power of mindset and the brain to help students discover who they’re meant to be, set meaningful goals, and take consistent action toward them. This energizing keynote blends practical neuroscience with classroom-ready strategies so educators and administrators can:
*Guide students to uncover personal purpose and align goals with long-term vision
*Teach goal-setting that leverages brain systems for motivation, focus, and habit formation
*Use evidence-based techniques to reduce fear and self-doubt and build resilience
*Help students develop healthy daily habits and mindsets that support academic and life success

Presenters

Shannon Anderson

Author, Brain Coach, Educator, Motivational Speaker, www.shannonisteaching.com

Shannon Anderson has taught for 26 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1314 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Learning Environment, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC GT Update

1:00pm CDT

Pages with Purpose: Rigorous & Responsive Journals in ELA

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 1303- Northwest High School

Stop chasing engagement and start building a system! This session shows how interactive journals can become a self-sustaining system that supports rigorous literacy practices, ongoing formative assessment, and consistent student engagement—without increasing teacher workload.

Presenters

Katelynn Steinhauser

English II Teacher, JAMES M STEELE EARLY COLLEGE H S

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1303- Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Assessment

1:00pm CDT

Score a Touchdown with Authentic Text Interaction! - Secondary

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 806 - Northwest High School

Come engage with the critical thinking of our comprehension & response TEKS as we intentionally interact with texts. Leave with resources, ideas, and strategies to use with any text!

Presenters

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 806 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

Winning the Project Game: Organize Student Teams with Microsoft Teams & Planner

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 1205 - Northwest High School

This session will explore how you can integrate a simple project management software from Microsoft to enhance student ownership, improve productivity, and ultimately lead to more successful (and organized!) project outcomes. Microsoft Teams and Planner can be used by anyone - CTE, STEM, Media, Yearbook, and even traditional Classroom projects - to assign tasks, track progress, communicate and collaborate - all with programs that you already have! Live demo, actionable takeaways, and more; get your project-based curriculum on track with Teams and Planner!

Presenters

Jarrod Cleveland

8th Grade LEAP | Digital Communications in the 21st Century

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1205 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, CTE

Audience Secondary

1:00pm CDT

Gameplan for the Future

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. 1104 - Northwest High School

From kickoff to the end zone, educators will learn how to develop a complete IEP Transition Plan by writing measurable postsecondary goals and aligning courses, transition services, and IEP components to support those goals. This session will focus on understanding how each part of the transition plan works together to create a clear pathway that prepares students for life after high school

Presenters

Heather Crawford

Transition Coordinator

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. 1104 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Special Education | Professional Practices & Responsibilities, Special Education | Instruction, Special Education

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Post-Secondary

2:45pm CDT

Beyond the Red Pen: Empowering Writers Through Micro-Conferences

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. 1303- Northwest High School

Looking to transform your writing instruction into something more meaningful, targeted, and student-centered? This session will explore how micro-conferences can be used to build student agency, improve writing mastery, and track individual progress over time. During this session, you will see real classroom examples of micro-conferencing, practice scripting a micro-conference, learn how to track student writing progress, develop your own digital template, and collaborate with peers. Walk away with templates, strategies, and inspiration to make writing feedback more meaningful and manageable—for you and your students!

Presenters

Katelynn Steinhauser

English II Teacher, JAMES M STEELE EARLY COLLEGE H S

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. 1303- Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Differentiation

2:45pm CDT

Read, Race, ENGAGE!

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. 1001 - Northwest High School

In today’s technology-driven classrooms, fostering strong literacy skills requires intentional engagement. This session equips teachers with practical strategies and tools to build reading, writing, and critical thinking across honors, GT, and on-level secondary classrooms.

Presenters

Olivia Myers

Secondary ELA - Middle School, Medlin Middle School

Madeline Melton

Secondary ELA - Middle School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. 1001 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Learning Environment, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC GT Update

2:45pm CDT

The Long Game: Strategies for Vertical Algebraic Growth

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School

Algebra is often taught as a series of isolated "tricks" and procedures, but it is actually a continuous story of relationships, patterns, and logic. In this session, we will zoom out and explore the vertical trajectory of algebraic thinking. Instead of focusing on "how to get the answer," we will investigate the conceptual shifts required to move students from basic inverse operations to the sophisticated world of advanced functions.

Presenters