ENGAGE 2026 Professional Learning Conference: Full Schedule

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

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

Introduction to ADI for Science Teachers

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

Rm. 803 - Northwest High School

Argument Driven Inquiry is a seven stage lab experience that plays an important role in helping students use disciplinary ideas along with their own idea to figure something out about the world around them. Experience how to guide students through the process as they use different disciplinary practices and lieracy skills to collaborate and move their thinking forward.

Presenters

Helen Wright

Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Courtney Toht

Secondary Science Instructional Coach

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 803 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Science

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

10:15am CDT

Score a Touchdown with Authentic Text Interaction! - Elementary

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

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

Rookie of the Year (your first 3 years as a teacher)

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

Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School

Tips and Tricks for New Teachers (first 3 years) to immediately make an impact. I will show you how to plan a lesson that is engaging, how to make the most out of data, and ultimately how to love what you do everyday. If you are nervous about engagement, or what planning for the day/week/month/year, or having a boring class then this is the session for you! I promise you'll be entertained and learn how to be the Rookie of the Year!

Presenters

Eric Grant

AP US History Teacher at Eaton High School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, All Contents

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Literacy K-12

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

Rm. 1106 - Northwest High School

As a nation, we have long acknowledged the critical importance of deep, conceptual understanding of academic language as a cornerstone of student achievement. Yet, despite this recognition, our collective practices and systemic efforts have not consistently aligned with these aspirations. The persistent discrepancy between what we know and what we collectively do continues to impact students’ ability to access, comprehend, and engage with complex academic content within and across disciplines.

Presenters

Donyall Dickey

CEO and Lead Consultant, Educational Epiphany

Donyall D. Dickey, Ed.D. is a nationally recognized authority on curriculum, instruction, organizational
development, and district improvement. Unparalleled levels of student achievement and school improvement
distinguish Dr. Dickey's 20+ year career as an educational leader. Dr. D... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1106 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

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

2:45pm CDT

Two-a-Days: Training Your Brain with Paired Texts

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

Rm. 1217 - Northwest High School

Every great athlete knows that two-a-days build the strength, endurance, and mental toughness it takes to compete at the highest level. The same is true for our readers. In this power-packed session, educators will lace up and dive into the world of paired texts — a dynamic instructional approach that challenges students to think harder, read deeper, and push beyond the surface of a single text. Just as two-a-day practices sharpen an athlete's skills from multiple angles, paired texts train the brain to analyze, synthesize, and draw connections across two carefully selected passages. Participants will explore strategies for intentional text pairing, scaffolding complex thinking, and coaching students through evidence-based discussion and writing. Leave this session with a training plan full of practical tools and classroom-ready resources that will condition your students to become stronger, more confident readers — one rep at a time.

Presenters

Kelli Palmer

Elementary ELA Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. 1217 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Planning, ELA | Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Getting Students to Write with Clarity and Strength 3-12 in ALL Contents

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

Rm. 1109 - Northwest High School

This session, curriculum and instruction thought leader, Dr. Donyall D. Dickey, is designed todeepen participants’ knowledge of the critical components of high-quality, standards-informed writing instruction across grade levels and content areas. Through a blend of research-based theory and practical application, the session will address essential instructional elements that shape students into competent and confident writers.
Throughout the session, participants will gain insight to actionable strategies to support the planning, delivery, and evaluation of writing instruction. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring alignment with state standards and curricular expectations across all content areas, not limited to English language arts. Educators will leave the session equipped to lead writing instruction that is rigorous, relevant, and developmentally appropriate—empowering students to express knowledge effectively and meet academic benchmarks with confidence.

Presenters

Donyall Dickey

CEO and Lead Consultant, Educational Epiphany

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1109 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Score a Touchdown with Authentic Text Interaction! - Secondary

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

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

Hands-On ADI Exploration: Unveiling 6th Grade Science Labs!

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

Rm. 801 - Northwest High School

Experience 6th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.

Presenters

Helen Wright

Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Courtney Toht

Secondary Science Instructional Coach

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 801 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Science | Instruction, Science

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Game Plan for Great Collections

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1115 - Northwest High School

Step onto the field with a winning strategy for building and maintaining a dynamic, student-centered library collection. In this session, school librarians will develop a clear “game plan” for collection development by examining current data, identifying gaps, and aligning selections with student interests, curriculum needs, and district priorities.Participants will explore practical strategies for evaluating and weeding collections, diversifying titles, and staying responsive to evolving student needs. Using real-world scenarios and collaborative discussion, librarians will learn how to balance budgets, prioritize purchases, and ensure their collections remain relevant, inclusive, and engaging for all learners.Leave with actionable plays you can implement immediately—so your library collection is not just in the game, but winning it.

Presenters

Jamie Eikenberry

Secondary Librarian, Northwest ISD

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1115 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Planning, Library

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

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

Hands-On ADI Exploration: Unveiling 7th Grade Science Labs!

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

Rm. 801 - Northwest High School

Experience 7th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.

Presenters

Helen Wright

Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Courtney Toht

Secondary Science Instructional Coach

Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 801 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Science | Instruction, Science

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

DAEP All the Things!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 1106 - Northwest High School

An update of last year's session that was well attended and well received: A session for any elementary or secondary staff who want to know more about what we do at DAEP. We are a support campus and our mission is to teach in all aspects. We will discuss our routines and procedures of course. But more importantly, we will discuss how we try to have our classrooms mirror those of the home campus, through restorative practices, our behavior framework, and through alignment with the district scope and sequence.

Presenters

Diana Foster

Principal, Northwest ISD

Rhett King

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1106 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

Read It Like a Scientist: Teaching Students to Break Down Complex Text

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 1115 - Northwest High School

In this interactive session, teachers will step into the role of students to experience what it truly means to “read like a scientist.” Participants will engage in hands-on strategies that break down complex science texts into manageable, meaningful chunks. Through modeling, guided practice, and collaborative discussion, teachers will learn how to help students annotate with purpose, identify key information, and make sense of challenging vocabulary and diagrams. Teachers will actively practice annotation strategies, analyze sample student responses, and transform traditional reading tasks into engaging, standards-aligned learning experiences. By the end of the session, participants will walk away with ready-to-use tools, sentence stems, and classroom strategies that support comprehension, critical thinking, and success on rigorous assessments like STAAR.

Presenters

Jenna Winter

Valerie Sims

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1115 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Instruction, Science

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

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

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 806 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

Hands-On ADI Exploration: Unveiling 8th Grade Science Labs!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 801 - Northwest High School

Experience 8th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.

Presenters

Helen Wright

Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Courtney Toht

Secondary Science Instructional Coach

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 801 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Science | Instruction, Science

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

1:00pm CDT

Summer Garage Library: No Offseason for Reading!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Rm. 1121 - Northwest High School

As advertised: a library...in a garage...during the summer. The Summer Garage Library is our family's way of building a community of readers in our neighborhood for the past 8 years. Learn about our innovative approach to encourage and support reading during the summer. Includes a book tasting of the 2026-27 Texas Bluebonnet book selections, so you can be ready to share and book talk these texts with your students.

Presenters

Brian Droege

4th Grade Teacher, Kay Granger Elementary School

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Rm. 1121 - Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Professional Practices & Responsibilities, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Content Literacy

2:45pm CDT

Hit the Bench- Relaxation and Resetting the Mind Through Art

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. ART 711 -Northwest High School

We will focus on meditation, mindfulness, and well-being with a "Black Out Poetry" session where we will recycle book pages to create a poetic work of art with inks and watercolors. All materials will be supplied. Cross Curricular Visual Art with Language Arts.

Presenters

Adriane Lovern

HS Art, Northwest ISD

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. ART 711 -Northwest High School 2301 Texan Dr, Justin, TX 76247, USA

Instruction, All Contents

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

2:45pm CDT

Hands-On ADI Exploration: Unveiling Biology and Chemistry Science Labs!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

Rm. 801 - Northwest High School

Experience Biology curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.

Presenters

Helen Wright

Instructional Coach, Northwest ISD

Courtney Toht

Secondary Science Instructional Coach

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
Rm. 801 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Planning, Science | Instruction, Science

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

NoodleTools: Your Research Game Plan

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Rm. 1110 - Northwest High School

Step onto the field with a winning strategy for student research! In this session, educators will learn how to use NoodleTools as their playbook for guiding students through the research process—from building strong sources to creating accurate citations and organized notes. Whether you're coaching beginners or seasoned researchers, you’ll discover practical ways to integrate NoodleTools into your instruction, support academic integrity, and keep students on track from kickoff to final submission. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies that will help your students score big on their next research project!

Presenters

Kay Downing

Jamie Eikenberry

Secondary Librarian, Northwest ISD

Meghan Batson

Library Media Specialist

Jaime LeRoy

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1110 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Instruction, All Contents

Audience Secondary
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

Sack the Boredom: Elementary Writing Engagement ELA

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School

This session will be all about beefing up engagement during writer’s workshop in upper Elementary (2-5) classes. It will go through strategies to engage students in discourse, encourage stronger feedback, and work to build scholars out of reluctant writers. This will include engagement strategies, ways to work grammar and foundations into your usual workshop blocks more often, and ways to encourage students to LOVE writing instead of just tolerating it.

Note: don’t forget a charged laptop!

Presenters

Ness Eaves

3rd Grade ELA, Berkshire Elementary

3rd grade teacher with a passion for being passionate, connecting with students, and building reading lives beyond the classroom. Lover of all things literacy, and not afraid to get a little silly to make learning fun!

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Rm. 1203 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Learning Environment, ELA

Audience Elementary
TOPIC Content Literacy

10:15am CDT

Stronger Together: A SPED & General Education Team Approach

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School

In this session, general education teachers will explore the “why” behind SPED collaboration and the importance of our work. They will learn the basics of SPED processes and how to effectively complete required forms.

Presenters

Melissa Roberts

Northwest ISD,ROANOKE EL

Paola Morales

SPED Resource Teacher, Roanoke Elementary

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
Rm. 1214 - Northwest High School Northwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247

Professional Practices & Responsibilities, All Contents

Audience All Levels
TOPIC Content Literacy

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

10:15am CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

2:45pm CDT

8:30am CDT

8:30am CDT

10:15am CDT

Get help with the event