Get ready to refresh, refine, and remix your learning at Summer Inspire on May 27-28 from 8:30–4:00! This year, we’re building on what works, exploring new strategies, and amplifying the impact we have on students. Please bring a charged device to all sessions.
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
Sockwell Center: 6301 Chapel Hill Blvd, Plano, TX 75093
Some tips for navigating Sched:
Filter sessions by type using the menu bar on the right side of Sched (All Levels, Elementary, Secondary, Session Times).
Reserve your spot by clicking the circle icon next to the session name. Be sure to log in with your PISD credentials to secure your spot—sessions fill up fast!
There are 80-minute (earn 1.5 hours of credit), three-hour, and full day (earning 6 hours of credit) session options for each day. Participants are invited to attend as many as they wish each day.
All sessions qualify for 26-27 Trade Hours.
Have additional questions? Contact Kyle Fritsche at [email protected].
Sign up or log in to add sessions to your schedule and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Teachers have many tools in their toolbox. One of the best tools is CogAT. Teachers will analyze CogAT to dig into how each student learns best. This powerful tool can be used to adjust instruction to make instruction more effective for each student.
Jennifer Ruth began her career in Plano ISD at Christie Elementary as a teacher and instructional specialist. From this experience she learned that she loved tote trays but hated textbook counts. She now works as an Assessment Specialist supporting teachers in how to use the data... Read More →
Transform everyday lessons into rich opportunities for expert thinking by applying the Depth & Complexity framework with purpose and clarity. Examine how each icon moves students beyond surface‑level recall and into deeper analysis, reasoning, and conceptual understanding. Practice using the icons to redesign questions, tasks, and discussions across content areas so rigor increases without increasing workload. Participants will leave with practical strategies, templates, and classroom‑ready tools that help all learners move from simple to substantive thinking.
Kyla serves as the GT specialist at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano ISD. Kyla supports gifted learners K-5 through PACE, Plano Academic and Creative Education, a pullout program for identified GT students.
“The Learning Pit” may sound intimidating, but it’s the space where students grow as critical thinkers and problem-solvers. In this discussion-based session, participants will explore the concept of the learning pit and collaboratively develop strategies for designing learning experiences that promote productive struggle and deeper student engagement.
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.]
Teachers have many tools in their toolbox. One of the best tools is CogAT. Teachers will analyze CogAT to dig into how each student learns best. This powerful tool can be used to adjust instruction to make instruction more effective for each student.
Jennifer Ruth began her career in Plano ISD at Christie Elementary as a teacher and instructional specialist. From this experience she learned that she loved tote trays but hated textbook counts. She now works as an Assessment Specialist supporting teachers in how to use the data... Read More →
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Transform everyday lessons into rich opportunities for expert thinking by applying the Depth & Complexity framework with purpose and clarity. Examine how each icon moves students beyond surface‑level recall and into deeper analysis, reasoning, and conceptual understanding. Practice using the icons to redesign questions, tasks, and discussions across content areas so rigor increases without increasing workload. Participants will leave with practical strategies, templates, and classroom‑ready tools that help all learners move from simple to substantive thinking.
Kyla serves as the GT specialist at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano ISD. Kyla supports gifted learners K-5 through PACE, Plano Academic and Creative Education, a pullout program for identified GT students.
“The Learning Pit” may sound intimidating, but it’s the space where students grow as critical thinkers and problem-solvers. In this discussion-based session, participants will explore the concept of the learning pit and collaboratively develop strategies for designing learning experiences that promote productive struggle and deeper student engagement.
Teachers have many tools in their toolbox. One of the best tools is CogAT. Teachers will analyze CogAT to dig into how each student learns best. This powerful tool can be used to adjust instruction to make instruction more effective for each student.
Jennifer Ruth began her career in Plano ISD at Christie Elementary as a teacher and instructional specialist. From this experience she learned that she loved tote trays but hated textbook counts. She now works as an Assessment Specialist supporting teachers in how to use the data... Read More →
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Transform everyday lessons into rich opportunities for expert thinking by applying the Depth & Complexity framework with purpose and clarity. Examine how each icon moves students beyond surface‑level recall and into deeper analysis, reasoning, and conceptual understanding. Practice using the icons to redesign questions, tasks, and discussions across content areas so rigor increases without increasing workload. Participants will leave with practical strategies, templates, and classroom‑ready tools that help all learners move from simple to substantive thinking.
Kyla serves as the GT specialist at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano ISD. Kyla supports gifted learners K-5 through PACE, Plano Academic and Creative Education, a pullout program for identified GT students.
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.]
Teachers have many tools in their toolbox. One of the best tools is CogAT. Teachers will analyze CogAT to dig into how each student learns best. This powerful tool can be used to adjust instruction to make instruction more effective for each student.
Jennifer Ruth began her career in Plano ISD at Christie Elementary as a teacher and instructional specialist. From this experience she learned that she loved tote trays but hated textbook counts. She now works as an Assessment Specialist supporting teachers in how to use the data... Read More →
Transform everyday lessons into rich opportunities for expert thinking by applying the Depth & Complexity framework with purpose and clarity. Examine how each icon moves students beyond surface‑level recall and into deeper analysis, reasoning, and conceptual understanding. Practice using the icons to redesign questions, tasks, and discussions across content areas so rigor increases without increasing workload. Participants will leave with practical strategies, templates, and classroom‑ready tools that help all learners move from simple to substantive thinking.
Kyla serves as the GT specialist at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano ISD. Kyla supports gifted learners K-5 through PACE, Plano Academic and Creative Education, a pullout program for identified GT students.
Engage with the Depth and Complexity framework to explore its role in creating rigorous, high-level learning experiences aligned to district curriculum. Explore ready to use resources you can take back to your team and classroom for immediate use. This session is intended for first time learners.
28 years as a PISD educator, I have spent most of my career as a gifted specialist and the last several years as a coordinator for both the IB Primary Years Program at Huffman Elementary and currently the Advanced Academics Coordinator. My passions in education include collaborating... Read More →
Many of us assign group work and group projects, but how accurately do grades we assign to group work reflect student learning? This session will ask participants to reflect on current practice and, using the work of Dr. Susan M. Brookhart, understand the relationship between group projects, individual mastery, and grades.
Kevin Moore serves as Director of Advanced Academics for Plano ISD, where he oversees various programs that include the district's GT services, AP and IB programs, and academic competitions in addition to collaborating on all things CCMR. Kevin is an adjunct faculty member in the... Read More →
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Many of us assign group work and group projects, but how accurately do grades we assign to group work reflect student learning? This session will ask participants to reflect on current practice and, using the work of Dr. Susan M. Brookhart, understand the relationship between group projects, individual mastery, and grades.
Kevin Moore serves as Director of Advanced Academics for Plano ISD, where he oversees various programs that include the district's GT services, AP and IB programs, and academic competitions in addition to collaborating on all things CCMR. Kevin is an adjunct faculty member in the... Read More →
