WLC25 - HPISD Winter Learning Conference: Full Schedule

Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).

8:30am CST

Accountability 101 LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

This session is intended to provide an overview of TEA’s A-F Accountability System to develop a better understanding of how ratings are calculated. Participants will also have the opportunity review campus and district data to identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth.

Speakers

Skip Moran

ADMIN, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
NC221

All, Teachers, Counselors, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education

8:30am CST

Adult Wellness FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

SW201

Region 10 staff will present information on how adults can take care of themselves.

Speakers

Nickisha Fowler

Consultant, ESC Region 10

With 26 years of experience in education, I currently serve as a Counseling Consultant at Region 10 Education Service Center. My passion lies in supporting school counselors across the region to positively impact student success, focusing on personal, social, and academic development... Read More →

Amanda Knight

Consultant, ESC Region 10

With 18 years of experience in education, I serve as a Counseling Consultant at Region 10 Education Service Center, guiding over 130 schools in north Texas. I specialize in coaching and professional development, helping school counselors and administrators improve student outcomes... Read More →

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
SW201

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education, Librarians

8:30am CST

Building Your Financial Foundation: Maximizing TRS Benefits and Wellness Resources for Early-Career Employees FILLING

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

EC105

This 45-minute class is designed specifically for employees with less than five years of experience across all job classifications. The curriculum is structured to provide a foundational understanding of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS), explaining how contributions reflected on paycheck stubs translate into pension benefits. It also explores options for enhancing future pensions, such as 403b and 457 plans, emphasizing the critical role of time in investment growth due to compounding. Additionally, the importance of establishing a basic financial plan is discussed, along with an overview of selected supplemental benefit options that align with employees' financial goals. The program also highlights the Employee Assistance Program's (EAP) contribution to achieving positive wellness outcomes and how employees can more effectively utilize this service.

Speakers

Laura Weaver

BENEFITS MANAGER, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Sarah Tallant

North Texas Regional Manager, FFGA

Participant TRS AC Wellness Overview pdf

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
EC105

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education, Librarians

8:30am CST

Discovery in the Dome: The Digitarium at Pierce Planetarium FILLING

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

SW104 (Digitarium)

Fee the awe your students can experience while watching films in the dome. Excerpts of fulldome films across a range of grade levels and disciplines will lend insight into the educational and inspirational benefits of a visit to the Digitarium. The procedure of scheduling a class visit to the Digitarium will be explained.

Speakers

Glenys Quick

Digitarium, Highland Park ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
SW104 (Digitarium)

All, Teachers, Administrators, Librarians

8:30am CST

Habits of Discussion LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

NC218

This session for any classroom with discussion-based learning will focus on three specific action steps: (1) keep neutral/manage your tell (2) teach students to agree and build off one another’s responses (3) teach students to disagree respectfully. After viewing a model and naming the skill, teachers will get an opportunity to practice this skill in small groups with live coaching.

Speakers

Jordan Moore

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Stefanie Powell

Instructional Coach

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
NC218

All, Teachers

8:30am CST

Managing Conflict with Parents of Students with Disabilities: Insights from Educator Experiences FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST

SC208

Navigating challenging interactions with parents can be one of the most stressful aspects of teaching, especially when working with students with disabilities. This session explores findings from a phenomenological study on how K-12 educators are trained for and implement conflict management strategies. Participants will gain insights into real educator experiences, key themes from research, and practical approaches for responding to difficult parent communications. Through discussion and a hands-on activity, attendees will learn effective techniques for de-escalating conflicts and fostering positive partnerships with parents. Perfect for general and special education teachers looking to improve communication and reduce stress in parent interactions!

Speakers

Laura Mosby

SUPPORT STAT MIN, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CST
SC208

All, Teachers

8:30am CST

Introduction to Dorico Software, and Other Music Technology (K-12 MUSIC ONLY) LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 11:15am CST

NW202

Rebecca Lowery will be joining us from Romeo Music! Romeo has installed MOST of the sound systems in our classrooms and venues over the last few years. Bring your questions!!!
Rebecca will share ideas for how we should be using what we have, and what we might need in the future! She will also connect us with a trainer from Dorico who will walk us through the demo of this new music notation software. Bring your laptop if you would like to participate!!!

Speakers

WALKER, NATALIE L

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 11:15am CST
NW202

All, Teachers

8:30am CST

Radial Weaving with Artist Christine Miller (K-12 VISUAL ARTS ONLY) LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 11:15am CST

WC116

Teachers will learn the basics of radial weaving by creating their own loom with recycled objects and creating a unique design using color and texture using a variety of yarns. Teachers will also explore how to incorporate radial weaving into additional artistic forms such as mandalas, small sculptural installations, collaborative art projects, ceramic applications, and other ideas.

Speakers

WALKER, NATALIE L

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 8:30am - 11:15am CST
WC116

All, Teachers

9:30am CST

Building Your Financial Foundation: Maximizing TRS Benefits and Wellness Resources for Early-Career Employees FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

EC105

Speakers

Laura Weaver

BENEFITS MANAGER, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Sarah Tallant

North Texas Regional Manager, FFGA

Participant TRS AC Wellness Overview pdf

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
EC105

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education, Librarians

9:30am CST

Choosing Happiness and a Positive Perspective FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

NC223

Each day all people face different types of challenges and problems. This session offers many strategies for helping people choose positivity and happiness daily.

Speakers

JANIK, YVONNE D

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
NC223

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education, Librarians

9:30am CST

Excellence vs. Access: An overview of Section 504 LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

NC222

This session will briefly describe Section 504 as outline in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (revised 1978 to include Section 504). It would cover the basics every educator should know such as eligibility, data to consider, the purpose of a plan, and your role as the educator in the process.

Speakers

Kristie Graves

504/TAG Coordinator, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

WHITAKER, JENNIFER

504 Coordinator/ Ed Diagnostician, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
NC222

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Administrators, Special Education

9:30am CST

Live in the Dome! FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

SW104 (Digitarium)

The Digitarium is a natural multi-discipline facility – and its acoustics are extraordinary! Experience the visual transformation of the dome and its potential for interactive activities whether related to art, music, language, or science.
The procedure for scheduling and planning an immersive activity will be explained in the session.

Speakers

Glenys Quick

Digitarium, Highland Park ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
SW104 (Digitarium)

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Administrators, Librarians, Private music teachers

9:30am CST

Modifying Content Materials and Instruction to Improve Student Perfomance FILLING

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

EN208

Universal Design for Learning is a framework used to support the varying ways that students approach, access and process information. Through a variety of scenarios, participants will develop skills to help students master content beyond the use of paper and pencil tasks. Developing skills to modify content area work is an essential part of this session.

Speakers

David Fahnle

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

I have been a Certified Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing for 48 years. I have been a classroom teacher, provided in-class support to students and I am currently serving as the district Deaf Education Itinerant Teacher. My first love is teaching language, which is exactly what... Read More →

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
EN208

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Special Education

9:30am CST

National Board Cohort Collaboration LIMITED

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

EC104

This session is for current National Board Candidates only.

Speakers

Jacqueline Farley

Teacher, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
EC104

All, Teachers

9:30am CST

Reading, Spelling, and Handwriting Strategies shared by Dyslexia Therapists FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

EN207

Would you like to know some explicit reading, spelling, and handwriting strategies used in the dyslexia programs? Please join us.

Speakers

Auralie Ruggiere

SUPPORT STAT MIN, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
EN207

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Special Education

9:30am CST

TRS/BCBSTX ActiveCare Wellness Resources Overview FILLING

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST

EC106

Learn more about all the wellness resources and value-added programs embedded in your TRS ActiveCare plans. A Well onTarget demo will be provided.

Speakers

Laura Weaver

BENEFITS MANAGER, HIGHLAND PARK ISD

Marissa Ryals

BSBSTX

Amber Hodge

BCBSTX

Monday February 17, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CST
EC106

All, Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Counselors, Nurses, Office Staff, Administrators, Special Education, Librarians

10:30am CST

Find Your Thinking Talents FULL

Monday February 17, 2025 10:30am - 11:15am CST

NC223

What is a thinking talent? What are your top thinking talents? During our session we will learn what a thinking talent is and help you to identify your top 5 thinking talents.

Speakers