ENGAGE 2026 Professional Learning Conference: Full Schedule

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

arrow_back View All Dates

8:30am CDT

Score a Touchdown with Authentic Text Interaction! - Secondary

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

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

(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

Wednesday July 22, 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

The Argument Arena: Where Claims Compete

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Rm. 1305- Northwest High School

In this hands-on session, we will explore how authors leverage rhetorical appeals and logical fallacies to strengthen an argument.

Presenters

Aleisha Reid

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1305- Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Literacy

8:30am CDT

Differentiation Strategies for Gifted Learners (K-2)

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Rm. 1103 - Northwest High School

Participants will explore practical strategies to differentiate instruction for gifted learners and reflect on how to apply these strategies in their own classrooms.

Presenters

Laura Taylor-Dunn

GT Specialist K-5, Curtis Elementary, Northwest ISD

Stacy Pickett

Gifted and Talented Specialist, Northwest ISD

Tricia Hanson

Gifted and Talented Specialist, Northwest ISD

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1103 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, ELA | Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC GT Update

10:15am CDT

Revising Skills for the Win!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 806 - Northwest High School

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

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 806 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Content Literacy

10:15am CDT

Notice and Note: Fiction Signposts

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School

Great readers, like great athletes, know what to watch for — and the Fiction Signposts from the Notice and Note series by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst give students exactly that edge when tackling literary texts. In this session, we'll break down each signpost and explore ready-to-use strategies for coaching students to read with intention and analyze an author's purpose like a pro.

Presenters

Melissa Garcia

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA | Planning, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Instructional Strategies

10:15am CDT

Differentiation Strategies for Gifted Learners (3-5 ELA)

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 803 - Northwest High School

Participants will explore practical strategies to differentiate instruction for gifted learners and reflect on how to apply these strategies in their own classrooms.

Presenters

Heather Martin

GT Specialist

I am a 23 year experienced teacher having taught grades K-5. I have been, both, departmentalized (ELA/SS) and self-contained, and have served as a Dyslexia Specialist. I am currently a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Hughes Elementary.

Caitlin Andrews

GT Specialist, Northwest ISD

Caitlin Andrews is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 14 years of experience in providing gifted services in both self-contained and pull-out classrooms. She is advocate for twice-exceptional students, a passion that has only grown since her own son was identified as dyslexic... Read More →

Lindsey Hart

G/T Specialist, Northwest ISD

Lindsey Hart is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 16 years of experience in providing gifted services in both classroom and pull-out settings. She advocates tirelessly for twice-exceptional students, and works closely with teachers and other specialists to develop curriculum... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 803 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, ELA | Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC GT Update

10:15am CDT

Establishing the New Basics of Guided Reading in Kindergarten

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1113 - Northwest High School

This session will focus on routines for book boxes, guided reading, and moving them towards successful indepedent practice.

Presenters

Whitney Bass

Early Childhood & ELA Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1113 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Planning, ELA | Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Differentiation

1:00pm CDT

Score a Touchdown with Authentic Text Interaction! - Elementary

Wednesday July 22, 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