Breakout Sessions

Beyond Literacy: Transformative Learning

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: PAL
Adults have an advantage of prior knowledge, but sometimes that knowledge can get in the way of learning new things. Let’s look at how we can create an environment for Transformative Learning, which means questioning what we know to problem solve and communicate more effectively. Read more about this session.

Building Career and Academic Success for Your Students

Presenter: Ann Beeson, M.Ed. • PD Category: Other
Help your ABE students transition toward a career while improving their academic skills. This presentation will be interactive, and participants will come away with resources to use in the classroom. Read more about this session.

Creating Student Success with GED – Let’s Help Students Earn Their TXCHSE!

Presenter: Jonna Forsyth • PD Category: Other
Can we talk? Let’s discuss how free GED resources and tools can help promote student success. We all want our students to succeed with the GED! Read more about this session.

Engaging Families through Meaningful and Critical Conversations

Presenter: Iván Tamayo • PD Category: Other
Join us for an enlightening session where we delve into the transformative power of storytelling in engaging families within the educational realm. Through the lens of The Family and Community University in Aldine ISD, we will explore how storytelling serves as a dynamic tool for fostering meaningful and critical conversations, ultimately strengthening relationships with families and their communities. Read more about this session.

Enhance Your Students’ Learning Experience with Ellii

Presenter: Laura Jacob • PD Category: LIT
Discover Ellii’s dynamic content platform, boosting student engagement and learning outcomes. Explore features streamlining teacher prep, empowering students, and aiding ESL and literacy instruction. Dive into a wealth of daily updated resources, including visually-rich lessons, phonics integration, and media supplements. Simplify resource management with Ellii’s user-friendly interface. Read more about this session.

From Blank Pages to Boundless Imagination: Explore the Basics of Book Creator

Presenter: Ashly Winkle • PD Category: LIT
Book Creator is versatile digital tool with over 100 free accessibility tools used for creating engaging multimodal books. Join this session to discover key features, navigation tips, and strategies for integrating Book Creator into adult education. Read more about this session.

How Empathy Impacts Reading (2-part session)

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
The subconscious process that produces empathy also plays a significant role in reading proficiency and comprehension. Our ability to develop empathy causes a shift in the brain that must be achieved to obtain reading comprehension. Read more about this session.

Keep ‘Em Coming Back! Retention Strategies for Growth and Success

Presenter: Charlie Weeks • PD Category: PAL
The struggle is real! Student retention is one of the most critical challenges in adult education. When attendance is down, student progress slows, and educator frustration grows. In this session, we will explore the problem but, more importantly, seek practical solutions. Read more about this session.

Keeping Learners Motivated and Engaged

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: PAL
Research shows a direct correlation between the power of motivating learners and its impact on attention and memory. We will discuss how learning happens, what impacts learning, and building a learning climate that yields results. Read more about this session.

Learn About the New TABE 13 & 14 and CLAS-E Tests!

Presenter: Chasity Wright • PD Category: Other
This session will provide updates on the changes to the tests including test length, objectives, and reporting. Read more about this session.

Leveling the Academic Field for Hispanics: Plaza Comunitaria!

Presenter: Rosa Maria Crocker • PD Category: Other
More than 70% of Hispanic students seeking their high school education come with educational gaps that need to be filled before they attempt their GED. Plaza Comunitaria is an accredited Adult Basic Education Pre-GED program available in the US and with proven efficacy to fill these gaps. Read more about this session.

Literacy for All: Structured Reading and Spelling (2-part session)

Presenter: Lara Speights, Catherine Hungerford Scott • PD Category: LIT
60% of readers need explicit reading instruction. Join Neuhaus Education Center Dyslexia Therapists and Reading Specialists to discuss evidence-based practices that are beneficial for all, and essential for our most vulnerable. Read more about this session.

Reading to Learn – Using Strategies for Teaching the Pre-HSE Learner

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: LIT
We have all had learners who struggle with reading, those who miss the GED or HiSET by only a few points or don’t understand what they are reading. This session will provide strategies and handouts to teach struggling readers. Read more about this session.

Science, Social Studies, and Math: Cross-Curricular Strategies

Presenter: Krista Mosher • PD Category: LIT
High school equivalency tests cover several content areas and instructors rarely have time to teach all areas in a meaningful way. We need to be creative in how we teach language arts, math, social studies, and science. Read more about this session.

Sharing the Stories of Adult Learners: A Bibliography

Presenter: Yolanda Medina • PD Category: Other
Sharing the stories of adult learners inspire tutors and students to do better. While these stories help restore hope and self-esteem, they also help advocate and market our adult literacy programs because there is nothing more effective than putting a human face to the struggles of basic literacy in adults. Read more about this session.

The Crucial Role of Relationship-Building in Reading Proficiency

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
Neuroscience reveals that relationships are not just a social construct, but a vital component of brain development. For educators, understanding the impact of relationship-building on learning and brain performance is essential. Read more about this session.

The Neuroscience of Reading

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
The neuroscience of reading results from a wealth of research on how the brain reaches reading proficiency. The research has developed the most effective teaching strategies to improve student outcomes. Read more about this session.

Upskilling Adult Learners: Leverage Video Lessons for Success

Presenter: Ashly Winkle • PD Category: LIT
Join us for an engaging session where we’ll explore a dynamic online resource. We’ll dive into a vast library of video lessons covering topics like ESL, workforce readiness, technology, reasoning, language arts, and math. Read more about this session.

Using Partnerships to Overcome Barriers

Presenter: Megan Webb • PD Category: Other
Real adult educators across the state of Texas have been sharing barriers that their learners face to achieving their learning goals. Come learn how AEL programs in Texas are bridging across organizations to overcome student barriers to learning. What are the pros and cons of partnering? How can you make partnerships work for your program and your learners? Read more about this session.

Ventures, ELPS and CASAS STEPS – We’ve Got You Covered

Presenter: Robin Graybill • PD Category: Other
The new CASAS STEPS is a big change in Adult Education because it’s based on the English Proficiency Standards. But while STEPS is new, the English Proficiency Standards have been around for years… Read more about this session.

Ways to Get Your Students Writing

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Do your ELL students enjoy writing? Or does it take time and effort to get them to write? Writing can be intimidating for adult literacy students. This session will provide activities and creative ways to assist in getting your students to write. Read more about this session.

Workforce Activities for Students Over 50

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: Other
Many of our students come to us at a later age when their children are out of the house, and they find it is time to continue their learning. For all that come to adult education we strive to incorporate workforce activities in our instruction to prepare our students for work. Read more about this session.

A Light Touch

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: LIT
Let’s talk about the transformative light of family! What can truly happen when families have the coveted space to illuminate the wonder of literacy together. And how does this light offer a vision for children’s future of freedom? Read more about this session.

Adult Education: The New Frontier

Presenter: Mahalia Baldini • PD Category: Other
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is up for reauthorization. Adult Education and Literacy continues to evolve. Come learn about recent updates and changes to policy and performance indicators that influence local service delivery statewide. Read more about this session.

Aging Texas Well – Aligning Health Literacy with Resource Awareness for Older Adults in Texas

Presenter: Camden Frost • PD Category: Other
The Texas Health and Human Services, Aging Service Coordination office promotes aging and living well through the Aging Texas Well initiative and the statewide Age Well Live Well campaign. Read more about this session.

Follow the Story Squared Road: How to Design a Concrete Campaign with a Clear Destination

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: Other
A well paved campaign that bridges your mission and target market can make the difference for your organization. What message has your organization been looking to sing from the mountaintops? Let’s ROADMAP it – Story Square style! Read more about this session.

Fostering Inclusive Learning: Building Belonging in Group and 1-1 Adult English Classes

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
This workshop empowers educators to create inclusive classrooms for diverse learners. Through case studies and practical tools, discover how to foster a sense of belonging and create a positive learning environment where all feel valued and connected. Read more about this session.

Program Self-Evaluation: When Did You Last Do This?

Presenter: Lester Meriwether • PD Category: Other
Based on a model developed by ProLiteracy, the presentation will assist literacy program administration with building capacity and attracting donors. organizational management, improving student services, and enhancing tutor/instructor value. Read more about this session.

360 Degree Instruction – Trauma-Informed Instruction that Creates Healthy Graduates and Productive Citizens

Presenter: Kathy Young • PD Category: PAL
Our students come to class with past and present trauma that is affecting their ability to learn and their success after they receive their GED. This breakout provides research-based best practices that every instructor can apply to become more effective in educating the whole student and producing flourishing citizens. Read more about this session.

Activities Focused on Community and Culture

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Come join in on this session and delve into activities designed to stimulate discussion in your ESL classroom and get your students to purposefully learn about U.S. culture and interact within the community. Read more about this session.

A Light Touch

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: LIT
Let’s talk about the transformative light of family! What can truly happen when families have the coveted space to illuminate the wonder of literacy together. And how does this light offer a vision for children’s future of freedom? Read more about this session.

Adult Education: The New Frontier

Presenter: Mahalia Baldini • PD Category: Other
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is up for reauthorization. Adult Education and Literacy continues to evolve. Come learn about recent updates and changes to policy and performance indicators that influence local service delivery statewide. Read more about this session.

Aging Texas Well – Aligning Health Literacy with Resource Awareness for Older Adults in Texas

Presenter: Camden Frost • PD Category: Other
The Texas Health and Human Services, Aging Service Coordination office promotes aging and living well through the Aging Texas Well initiative and the statewide Age Well Live Well campaign. Read more about this session.

Engaging Families through Meaningful and Critical Conversations

Presenter: Iván Tamayo • PD Category: Other
Join us for an enlightening session where we delve into the transformative power of storytelling in engaging families within the educational realm. Through the lens of The Family and Community University in Aldine ISD, we will explore how storytelling serves as a dynamic tool for fostering meaningful and critical conversations, ultimately strengthening relationships with families and their communities. Read more about this session.

Follow the Story Squared Road: How to Design a Concrete Campaign with a Clear Destination

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: Other
A well paved campaign that bridges your mission and target market can make the difference for your organization. What message has your organization been looking to sing from the mountaintops? Let’s ROADMAP it – Story Square style! Read more about this session.

Improving Accessibility and Creating Community with Volunteer ESOL Teachers

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
Do you want to maximize your ESOL program’s access and impact on a limited budget? Volunteers can serve not only as teachers who increase access for students inside the classroom but also as ambassadors within the community who create connections and a welcoming environment for English language learners from other countries. Read more about this session.

Innovative Partnerships Between a Community-Based Organization and the Public University

Presenter: Clarena Larrotta, Angi Mudd • PD Category: Other
In this session we put theory into practice: We will discuss our ongoing partnership between Texas State University’s M.A. program in Adult, Professional and Community Education and Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas adult education program. Read more about this session.

Leveraging State Digital Opportunity Programs to Expand Digital Literacy

Presenters: Lauren Weber, Idali Reyes • PD Category: Other
Learn about the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan and how the Texas Broadband Development Office plans to use federal funding to address barriers to the digital divide with particular focus on digital literacy. Read more about this session.

Using Partnerships to Overcome Barriers

Presenter: Megan Webb • PD Category: Other
Real adult educators across the state of Texas have been sharing barriers that their learners face to achieving their learning goals. Come learn how AEL programs in Texas are bridging across organizations to overcome student barriers to learning. What are the pros and cons of partnering? How can you make partnerships work for your program and your learners? Read more about this session.

AI for Adult Literacy Education

Presenter: Rina Renteria • PD Category: LIT
“AI for Adult Education Literacy” breaks down AI, tackling its benefits and challenges in education, all while jazzing up lesson planning and boosting digital literacy skills for learners. With a nod to AI platforms for adult education, this session hypes up AI’s knack for transforming your classroom. Read more about this session.

Bridging the AEL/GED to Certifications Gap with “Are You Ready for College”

Presenter: Candace Reese • PD Category: Other
This session invites you to expand your online educational tools beyond the norm to bridge students into the world of college certifications. We will explore an assessable online method for introducing students to strategies for communicating with instructors, studying, writing, and managing work-life balance before they attempt your coursework. Read more about this session.

Digital + Health + Literacy: A Prescription for Adult Ed & Career Pathways

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
Digital healthcare is no longer “science fiction” or an option for the privileged few. Adult learners need adult literacy experiences that mimic the evolving med tech world around them. Combining traditional health literacy with innovative digital health experiences is a next-level prescription for health education and career pathway development. Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy and Beyond

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: LIT
We probably all agree that digital literacy is important, but how do we include it in our beginning ESL classrooms? Let’s get hands-on about how to integrate these important skills in our lessons for adult learners. Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy Content Standards

Presenter: Crystal Tetrault • PD Category: LIT
This interactive session unpacks the standards’ structure and importance, then empowers you to craft mini-lessons integrating them into your curriculum. Read more about this session.

Hard Skills Open the Door. Soft Skills Build The Future.

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
In today’s dynamic work landscape, the interplay between hard skills and soft skills is pivotal for professional success. While hard skills provide the technical foundation necessary for specific roles, soft skills are the invisible threads that weave together effective collaboration, adaptability, and personal growth. Read more about this session.

Incorporating Relevant Content & Skills with Interactive Literacy Approaches

Presenter: Lisa Polk • PD Category: LIT
Actively engaging in literacy practices allows students to reach beyond barriers to access knowledge. Active learning experiences that include relevant texts and interactive literacy approaches motivate learners to progress in content knowledge and skills. Read more about this session.

Learn at the Library: 10 Years Growing a Digital Literacy Program in the Public Library

Presenter: Michelle Rickman • PD Category: Other
We traded in our “Quiet” signs for “Learning in progress”: Explore how an adult education initiative got its start within the public library and continues to adapt and scale. Consider your program’s pain points and make a plan to bolster student and staff support. Read more about this session.

Leveraging State Digital Opportunity Programs to Expand Digital Literacy

Presenters: Lauren Weber, Idali Reyes • PD Category: Other
Learn about the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan and how the Texas Broadband Development Office plans to use federal funding to address barriers to the digital divide with particular focus on digital literacy. Read more about this session.

360 Degree Instruction – Trauma-Informed Instruction that Creates Healthy Graduates and Productive Citizens

Presenter: Kathy Young • PD Category: PAL
Our students come to class with past and present trauma that is affecting their ability to learn and their success after they receive their GED. This breakout provides research-based best practices that every instructor can apply to become more effective in educating the whole student and producing flourishing citizens. Read more about this session.

Bridging the AEL/GED to Certifications Gap with “Are You Ready for College”

Presenter: Candace Reese • PD Category: Other
This session invites you to expand your online educational tools beyond the norm to bridge students into the world of college certifications. We will explore an assessable online method for introducing students to strategies for communicating with instructors, studying, writing, and managing work-life balance before they attempt your coursework. Read more about this session.

Differentiation Makes a Difference: Supporting Students at All Stages

Presenters: Martin Loa, Taynim Johnson • PD Category: LIT
“Teacher, this is too easy.” “Teacher, this is too hard.” What do you do when you have one class (in-person and/or online), one curriculum, and many students at different English proficiency levels? Read more about this session.

Beyond Literacy: Transformative Learning

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: PAL
Adults have an advantage of prior knowledge, but sometimes that knowledge can get in the way of learning new things. Let’s look at how we can create an environment for Transformative Learning, which means questioning what we know to problem solve and communicate more effectively. Read more about this session.

Creating Culture: The Cornerstone for Recruitment, Retention, and Completion

Presenter: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker • PD Category: Other
From intake to graduation, we will examine best practices for developing an environment rooted in student success. Small, intentional efforts in creating culture can mean big returns in student recruitment, retention, and completion rates for your programs. Read more about this session.

Fostering Inclusive Learning: Building Belonging in Group and 1-1 Adult English Classes

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
This workshop empowers educators to create inclusive classrooms for diverse learners. Through case studies and practical tools, discover how to foster a sense of belonging and create a positive learning environment where all feel valued and connected. Read more about this session.

Hard Skills Open the Door. Soft Skills Build The Future.

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
In today’s dynamic work landscape, the interplay between hard skills and soft skills is pivotal for professional success. While hard skills provide the technical foundation necessary for specific roles, soft skills are the invisible threads that weave together effective collaboration, adaptability, and personal growth. Read more about this session.

How Empathy Impacts Reading (2-part session)

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
The subconscious process that produces empathy also plays a significant role in reading proficiency and comprehension. Our ability to develop empathy causes a shift in the brain that must be achieved to obtain reading comprehension. Read more about this session.

Inclusive Leadership: Unleashing The Power of All of Us

Presenter: Vicki Clark • PD Category: Other
Leaders need to adapt to fast-changing, complex, and unpredictable environments – which necessitates a different kind of leadership. Join us for this thought-provoking session on Inclusive Leadership. Read more about this session.

Leveling the Academic Field for Hispanics: Plaza Comunitaria!

Presenter: Rosa Maria Crocker • PD Category: Other
More than 70% of Hispanic students seeking their high school education come with educational gaps that need to be filled before they attempt their GED. Plaza Comunitaria is an accredited Adult Basic Education Pre-GED program available in the US and with proven efficacy to fill these gaps. Read more about this session.

Sharing the Stories of Adult Learners: A Bibliography

Presenter: Yolanda Medina • PD Category: Other
Sharing the stories of adult learners inspire tutors and students to do better. While these stories help restore hope and self-esteem, they also help advocate and market our adult literacy programs because there is nothing more effective than putting a human face to the struggles of basic literacy in adults. Read more about this session.

Sounds of Success: Techniques for Boosting Motivation and Confidence Through Pronunciation

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: LIT
This interactive workshop will introduce a range of fun, applicable techniques and tools for practicing sound and stress with adult English language learners. Read more about this session.

The Crucial Role of Relationship-Building in Reading Proficiency

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
Neuroscience reveals that relationships are not just a social construct, but a vital component of brain development. For educators, understanding the impact of relationship-building on learning and brain performance is essential. Read more about this session.

A New Look at ESL Beginning Literacy

Presenter: Janet Kay • PD Category: LIT
How do we reach our adult students with a mature approach to beginning literacy? How much input can learners with little to no literacy in their own language handle without being overwhelmed? Read more about this session.

Activities Focused on Community and Culture

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Come join in on this session and delve into activities designed to stimulate discussion in your ESL classroom and get your students to purposefully learn about U.S. culture and interact within the community. Read more about this session.

Bouncing Back: Creating a Culture of Resilience in ESL Programs

Presenter: Katie Welch • PD Category: Other
Resilience is often defined as the ability to “bounce back” from challenges. How “bouncy” are your ESL students? Learn how to foster an environment where everyone — both teachers and students — feels empowered to persist in the face of stress and adversity. Read more about this session.

Differentiation Makes a Difference: Supporting Students at All Stages

Presenters: Martin Loa, Taynim Johnson • PD Category: LIT
“Teacher, this is too easy.” “Teacher, this is too hard.” What do you do when you have one class (in-person and/or online), one curriculum, and many students at different English proficiency levels? Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy and Beyond

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: LIT
We probably all agree that digital literacy is important, but how do we include it in our beginning ESL classrooms? Let’s get hands-on about how to integrate these important skills in our lessons for adult learners. Read more about this session.

Enhance Your Students’ Learning Experience with Ellii

Presenter: Laura Jacob • PD Category: LIT
Discover Ellii’s dynamic content platform, boosting student engagement and learning outcomes. Explore features streamlining teacher prep, empowering students, and aiding ESL and literacy instruction. Dive into a wealth of daily updated resources, including visually-rich lessons, phonics integration, and media supplements. Simplify resource management with Ellii’s user-friendly interface. Read more about this session.

ESL for Professionals: A Model for Teaching ITP

Presenter: Angi Mudd, Cynthia Arocha • PD Category: Other
Wondering where to start when serving your ITPs? This session will discuss the model used by Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to develop an online class called ESL for Professionals that serves ITPs in 9 different counties. Read more about this session.

Fostering Inclusive Learning: Building Belonging in Group and 1-1 Adult English Classes

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
This workshop empowers educators to create inclusive classrooms for diverse learners. Through case studies and practical tools, discover how to foster a sense of belonging and create a positive learning environment where all feel valued and connected. Read more about this session.

From Blank Pages to Boundless Imagination: Explore the Basics of Book Creator

Presenter: Ashly Winkle • PD Category: LIT
Book Creator is versatile digital tool with over 100 free accessibility tools used for creating engaging multimodal books. Join this session to discover key features, navigation tips, and strategies for integrating Book Creator into adult education. Read more about this session.

Improving Accessibility and Creating Community with Volunteer ESOL Teachers

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
Do you want to maximize your ESOL program’s access and impact on a limited budget? Volunteers can serve not only as teachers who increase access for students inside the classroom but also as ambassadors within the community who create connections and a welcoming environment for English language learners from other countries. Read more about this session.

Incorporating Relevant Content & Skills with Interactive Literacy Approaches

Presenter: Lisa Polk • PD Category: LIT
Actively engaging in literacy practices allows students to reach beyond barriers to access knowledge. Active learning experiences that include relevant texts and interactive literacy approaches motivate learners to progress in content knowledge and skills. Read more about this session.

Innovative Partnerships Between a Community-Based Organization and the Public University

Presenters: Clarena Larrotta, Angi Mudd • PD Category: Other
In this session we put theory into practice: We will discuss our ongoing partnership between Texas State University’s M.A. program in Adult, Professional and Community Education and Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas adult education program. Read more about this session.

Learn About the New TABE 13 & 14 and CLAS-E Tests!

Presenter: Chasity Wright • PD Category: Other
This session will provide updates on the changes to the tests including test length, objectives, and reporting. Read more about this session.

Sounds of Success: Techniques for Boosting Motivation and Confidence Through Pronunciation

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: LIT
This interactive workshop will introduce a range of fun, applicable techniques and tools for practicing sound and stress with adult English language learners. Read more about this session.

Upskilling Adult Learners: Leverage Video Lessons for Success

Presenter: Ashly Winkle • PD Category: LIT
Join us for an engaging session where we’ll explore a dynamic online resource. We’ll dive into a vast library of video lessons covering topics like ESL, workforce readiness, technology, reasoning, language arts, and math. Read more about this session.

Ventures, ELPS and CASAS STEPS – We’ve Got You Covered

Presenter: Robin Graybill • PD Category: Other
The new CASAS STEPS is a big change in Adult Education because it’s based on the English Proficiency Standards. But while STEPS is new, the English Proficiency Standards have been around for years… Read more about this session.

Ways to Get Your Students Writing

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Do your ELL students enjoy writing? Or does it take time and effort to get them to write? Writing can be intimidating for adult literacy students. This session will provide activities and creative ways to assist in getting your students to write. Read more about this session.

Workforce Activities for Students Over 50

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: Other
Many of our students come to us at a later age when their children are out of the house, and they find it is time to continue their learning. For all that come to adult education we strive to incorporate workforce activities in our instruction to prepare our students for work. Read more about this session.

A Light Touch

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: LIT
Let’s talk about the transformative light of family! What can truly happen when families have the coveted space to illuminate the wonder of literacy together. And how does this light offer a vision for children’s future of freedom? Read more about this session.

A New Look at ESL Beginning Literacy

Presenter: Janet Kay • PD Category: LIT
How do we reach our adult students with a mature approach to beginning literacy? How much input can learners with little to no literacy in their own language handle without being overwhelmed? Read more about this session.

Activities Focused on Community and Culture

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Come join in on this session and delve into activities designed to stimulate discussion in your ESL classroom and get your students to purposefully learn about U.S. culture and interact within the community. Read more about this session.

Creating Student Success with GED – Let’s Help Students Earn Their TXCHSE!

Presenter: Jonna Forsyth • PD Category: Other
Can we talk? Let’s discuss how free GED resources and tools can help promote student success. We all want our students to succeed with the GED! Read more about this session.

Differentiation Makes a Difference: Supporting Students at All Stages

Presenters: Martin Loa, Taynim Johnson • PD Category: LIT
“Teacher, this is too easy.” “Teacher, this is too hard.” What do you do when you have one class (in-person and/or online), one curriculum, and many students at different English proficiency levels? Read more about this session.

Engaging Families through Meaningful and Critical Conversations

Presenter: Iván Tamayo • PD Category: Other
Join us for an enlightening session where we delve into the transformative power of storytelling in engaging families within the educational realm. Through the lens of The Family and Community University in Aldine ISD, we will explore how storytelling serves as a dynamic tool for fostering meaningful and critical conversations, ultimately strengthening relationships with families and their communities. Read more about this session.

From Blank Pages to Boundless Imagination: Explore the Basics of Book Creator

Presenter: Ashly Winkle • PD Category: LIT
Book Creator is versatile digital tool with over 100 free accessibility tools used for creating engaging multimodal books. Join this session to discover key features, navigation tips, and strategies for integrating Book Creator into adult education. Read more about this session.

Keeping Learners Motivated and Engaged

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: PAL
Research shows a direct correlation between the power of motivating learners and its impact on attention and memory. We will discuss how learning happens, what impacts learning, and building a learning climate that yields results. Read more about this session.

Leveling the Academic Field for Hispanics: Plaza Comunitaria!

Presenter: Rosa Maria Crocker • PD Category: Other
More than 70% of Hispanic students seeking their high school education come with educational gaps that need to be filled before they attempt their GED. Plaza Comunitaria is an accredited Adult Basic Education Pre-GED program available in the US and with proven efficacy to fill these gaps. Read more about this session.

Reading to Learn – Using Strategies for Teaching the Pre-HSE Learner

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: LIT
We have all had learners who struggle with reading, those who miss the GED or HiSET by only a few points or don’t understand what they are reading. This session will provide strategies and handouts to teach struggling readers. Read more about this session.

Adult Education: The New Frontier

Presenter: Mahalia Baldini • PD Category: Other
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is up for reauthorization. Adult Education and Literacy continues to evolve. Come learn about recent updates and changes to policy and performance indicators that influence local service delivery statewide. Read more about this session.

Now What? Applying Evaluation Results

Presenter: Wendy Ogren • PD Category: Other
You’ve collected the data, but what do you do with it? Don’t let it sit on a shelf! Join us to explore how to apply evaluation results to inform program improvement, create a call to action, and raise funds for your organization. Read more about this session.

Aging Texas Well – Aligning Health Literacy with Resource Awareness for Older Adults in Texas

Presenter: Camden Frost • PD Category: Other
The Texas Health and Human Services, Aging Service Coordination office promotes aging and living well through the Aging Texas Well initiative and the statewide Age Well Live Well campaign. Read more about this session.

Digital + Health + Literacy: A Prescription for Adult Ed & Career Pathways

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
Digital healthcare is no longer “science fiction” or an option for the privileged few. Adult learners need adult literacy experiences that mimic the evolving med tech world around them. Combining traditional health literacy with innovative digital health experiences is a next-level prescription for health education and career pathway development. Read more about this session.

360 Degree Instruction – Trauma-Informed Instruction that Creates Healthy Graduates and Productive Citizens

Presenter: Kathy Young • PD Category: PAL
Our students come to class with past and present trauma that is affecting their ability to learn and their success after they receive their GED. This breakout provides research-based best practices that every instructor can apply to become more effective in educating the whole student and producing flourishing citizens. Read more about this session.

AI for Adult Literacy Education

Presenter: Rina Renteria • PD Category: LIT
“AI for Adult Education Literacy” breaks down AI, tackling its benefits and challenges in education, all while jazzing up lesson planning and boosting digital literacy skills for learners. With a nod to AI platforms for adult education, this session hypes up AI’s knack for transforming your classroom. Read more about this session.

Beyond Literacy: Transformative Learning

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: PAL
Adults have an advantage of prior knowledge, but sometimes that knowledge can get in the way of learning new things. Let’s look at how we can create an environment for Transformative Learning, which means questioning what we know to problem solve and communicate more effectively. Read more about this session.

Bouncing Back: Creating a Culture of Resilience in ESL Programs

Presenter: Katie Welch • PD Category: Other
Resilience is often defined as the ability to “bounce back” from challenges. How “bouncy” are your ESL students? Learn how to foster an environment where everyone — both teachers and students — feels empowered to persist in the face of stress and adversity. Read more about this session.

Creating Culture: The Cornerstone for Recruitment, Retention, and Completion

Presenter: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker • PD Category: Other
From intake to graduation, we will examine best practices for developing an environment rooted in student success. Small, intentional efforts in creating culture can mean big returns in student recruitment, retention, and completion rates for your programs. Read more about this session.

ESL for Professionals: A Model for Teaching ITP

Presenter: Angi Mudd, Cynthia Arocha • PD Category: Other
Wondering where to start when serving your ITPs? This session will discuss the model used by Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to develop an online class called ESL for Professionals that serves ITPs in 9 different counties. Read more about this session.

Goal Setting: Beyond SMART

Presenter: Wayne Crandall • PD Category: Other
SMART goals are one way of setting objectives that are clear, realistic, and achievable within a certain timeframe. But setting a SMART goal may not be enough to ensure success – you also need strategies to help you achieve your goal. Read more about this session.

How Empathy Impacts Reading (2-part session)

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
The subconscious process that produces empathy also plays a significant role in reading proficiency and comprehension. Our ability to develop empathy causes a shift in the brain that must be achieved to obtain reading comprehension. Read more about this session.

Innovative Partnerships Between a Community-Based Organization and the Public University

Presenter: Clarena Larrotta, Angi Mudd • PD Category: Other
In this session we put theory into practice: We will discuss our ongoing partnership between Texas State University’s M.A. program in Adult, Professional and Community Education and Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas adult education program. Read more about this session.

Keep ‘Em Coming Back! Retention Strategies for Growth and Success

Presenter: Charlie Weeks • PD Category: PAL
The struggle is real! Student retention is one of the most critical challenges in adult education. When attendance is down, student progress slows, and educator frustration grows. In this session, we will explore the problem but, more importantly, seek practical solutions. Read more about this session.

Keeping Learners Motivated and Engaged

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: PAL
Research shows a direct correlation between the power of motivating learners and its impact on attention and memory. We will discuss how learning happens, what impacts learning, and building a learning climate that yields results. Read more about this session.

Literacy for All: Structured Reading and Spelling (2-part session)

Presenter: Lara Speights, Catherine Hungerford Scott • PD Category: LIT
60% of readers need explicit reading instruction. Join Neuhaus Education Center Dyslexia Therapists and Reading Specialists to discuss evidence-based practices that are beneficial for all, and essential for our most vulnerable. Read more about this session.

Navigating the PD Portal: Essential Tips and Training Strategies for AEL Professionals

Presenter: Jessica Beaty • PD Category: Other
Come to a comprehensive exploration of TCALL’s PD Portal, emphasizing efficient utilization techniques. Read more about this session.

Reading to Learn – Using Strategies for Teaching the Pre-HSE Learner

Presenter: Christina Miller • PD Category: LIT
We have all had learners who struggle with reading, those who miss the GED or HiSET by only a few points or don’t understand what they are reading. This session will provide strategies and handouts to teach struggling readers. Read more about this session.

Science, Social Studies, and Math: Cross-Curricular Strategies

Presenter: Krista Mosher • PD Category: LIT
High school equivalency tests cover several content areas and instructors rarely have time to teach all areas in a meaningful way. We need to be creative in how we teach language arts, math, social studies, and science. Read more about this session.

Sounds of Success: Techniques for Boosting Motivation and Confidence Through Pronunciation

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: LIT
This interactive workshop will introduce a range of fun, applicable techniques and tools for practicing sound and stress with adult English language learners. Read more about this session.

The Crucial Role of Relationship-Building in Reading Proficiency

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
Neuroscience reveals that relationships are not just a social construct, but a vital component of brain development. For educators, understanding the impact of relationship-building on learning and brain performance is essential. Read more about this session.

The Neuroscience of Reading

Presenter: Horacio Sanchez • PD Category: LIT
The neuroscience of reading results from a wealth of research on how the brain reaches reading proficiency. The research has developed the most effective teaching strategies to improve student outcomes. Read more about this session.

Ventures, ELPS and CASAS STEPS – We’ve Got You Covered

Presenter: Robin Graybill • PD Category: Other
The new CASAS STEPS is a big change in Adult Education because it’s based on the English Proficiency Standards. But while STEPS is new, the English Proficiency Standards have been around for years… Read more about this session.

Ways to Get Your Students Writing

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: LIT
Do your ELL students enjoy writing? Or does it take time and effort to get them to write? Writing can be intimidating for adult literacy students. This session will provide activities and creative ways to assist in getting your students to write. Read more about this session.

Literacy for All: Structured Reading and Spelling (2-part session)

Presenter: Lara Speights, Catherine Hungerford Scott • PD Category: LIT
60% of readers need explicit reading instruction. Join Neuhaus Education Center Dyslexia Therapists and Reading Specialists to discuss evidence-based practices that are beneficial for all, and essential for our most vulnerable. Read more about this session.

Building Career and Academic Success for Your Students

Presenter: Ann Beeson, M.Ed. • PD Category: Other
Help your ABE students transition toward a career while improving their academic skills. This presentation will be interactive, and participants will come away with resources to use in the classroom. Read more about this session.

Creating Student Success with GED – Let’s Help Students Earn Their TXCHSE!

Presenter: Jonna Forsyth • PD Category: Other
Can we talk? Let’s discuss how free GED resources and tools can help promote student success. We all want our students to succeed with the GED! Read more about this session.

Learn at the Library: 10 Years Growing a Digital Literacy Program in the Public Library

Presenter: Michelle Rickman • PD Category: Other
We traded in our “Quiet” signs for “Learning in progress”: Explore how an adult education initiative got its start within the public library and continues to adapt and scale. Consider your program’s pain points and make a plan to bolster student and staff support. Read more about this session.

Follow the Story Squared Road: How to Design a Concrete Campaign with a Clear Destination

Presenter: Fran-Victoria Stephens • PD Category: Other
A well paved campaign that bridges your mission and target market can make the difference for your organization. What message has your organization been looking to sing from the mountaintops? Let’s ROADMAP it – Story Square style! Read more about this session.

Sharing the Stories of Adult Learners: A Bibliography

Presenter: Yolanda Medina • PD Category: Other
Sharing the stories of adult learners inspire tutors and students to do better. While these stories help restore hope and self-esteem, they also help advocate and market our adult literacy programs because there is nothing more effective than putting a human face to the struggles of basic literacy in adults. Read more about this session.

Science, Social Studies, and Math: Cross-Curricular Strategies

Presenter: Krista Mosher • PD Category: LIT
High school equivalency tests cover several content areas and instructors rarely have time to teach all areas in a meaningful way. We need to be creative in how we teach language arts, math, social studies, and science. Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy Content Standards

Presenter: Crystal Tetrault • PD Category: LIT
This interactive session unpacks the standards’ structure and importance, then empowers you to craft mini-lessons integrating them into your curriculum. Read more about this session.

Leveraging State Digital Opportunity Programs to Expand Digital Literacy

Presenters: Lauren Weber, Idali Reyes • PD Category: Other
Learn about the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan and how the Texas Broadband Development Office plans to use federal funding to address barriers to the digital divide with particular focus on digital literacy. Read more about this session.

Navigating the PD Portal: Essential Tips and Training Strategies for AEL Professionals

Presenter: Jessica Beaty • PD Category: Other
Come to a comprehensive exploration of TCALL’s PD Portal, emphasizing efficient utilization techniques. Read more about this session.

Now What? Applying Evaluation Results

Presenter: Wendy Ogren • PD Category: Other
You’ve collected the data, but what do you do with it? Don’t let it sit on a shelf! Join us to explore how to apply evaluation results to inform program improvement, create a call to action, and raise funds for your organization. Read more about this session.

Program Evaluation: A Key Component of Program Management (2-part session)

Presenter: Wendy Ogren • PD Category: Other
Program evaluation is a systematic, data-driven review of a program within an organization designed to answer questions about program effectiveness and efficiency, ensure program activities are connected to the organization’s strategic goals, and provide information that helps increase an organization’s ability to fulfill its mission. Read more about this session.

Creating Culture: The Cornerstone for Recruitment, Retention, and Completion

Presenter: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker • PD Category: Other
From intake to graduation, we will examine best practices for developing an environment rooted in student success. Small, intentional efforts in creating culture can mean big returns in student recruitment, retention, and completion rates for your programs. Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy Content Standards

Presenter: Crystal Tetrault • PD Category: LIT
This interactive session unpacks the standards’ structure and importance, then empowers you to craft mini-lessons integrating them into your curriculum. Read more about this session.

Goal Setting: Beyond SMART

Presenter: Wayne Crandall • PD Category: Other
SMART goals are one way of setting objectives that are clear, realistic, and achievable within a certain timeframe. But setting a SMART goal may not be enough to ensure success – you also need strategies to help you achieve your goal. Read more about this session.

Inclusive Leadership: Unleashing The Power of All of Us

Presenter: Vicki Clark • PD Category: Other
Leaders need to adapt to fast-changing, complex, and unpredictable environments – which necessitates a different kind of leadership. Join us for this thought-provoking session on Inclusive Leadership. Read more about this session.

Keep ‘Em Coming Back! Retention Strategies for Growth and Success

Presenter: Charlie Weeks • PD Category: PAL
The struggle is real! Student retention is one of the most critical challenges in adult education. When attendance is down, student progress slows, and educator frustration grows. In this session, we will explore the problem but, more importantly, seek practical solutions. Read more about this session.

Learn at the Library: 10 Years Growing a Digital Literacy Program in the Public Library

Presenter: Michelle Rickman • PD Category: Other
We traded in our “Quiet” signs for “Learning in progress”: Explore how an adult education initiative got its start within the public library and continues to adapt and scale. Consider your program’s pain points and make a plan to bolster student and staff support. Read more about this session.

Navigating Change and Transformation: 21st-Century Board Governance

Presenter: Vicki Clark Consulting • PD Category: Other
Change is inevitable. What can your organization do to be proactive in navigating change? Read more about this session.

Navigating the PD Portal: Essential Tips and Training Strategies for AEL Professionals

Presenter: Jessica Beaty • PD Category: Other
Come to a comprehensive exploration of TCALL’s PD Portal, emphasizing efficient utilization techniques. Read more about this session.

Program Self-Evaluation: When Did You Last Do This?

Presenter: Lester Meriwether • PD Category: Other
Based on a model developed by ProLiteracy, the presentation will assist literacy program administration with building capacity and attracting donors. organizational management, improving student services, and enhancing tutor/instructor value. Read more about this session.

Using Partnerships to Overcome Barriers

Presenter: Megan Webb • PD Category: Other
Real adult educators across the state of Texas have been sharing barriers that their learners face to achieving their learning goals. Come learn how AEL programs in Texas are bridging across organizations to overcome student barriers to learning. What are the pros and cons of partnering? How can you make partnerships work for your program and your learners? Read more about this session.

Goal Setting: Beyond SMART

Presenter: Wayne Crandall • PD Category: Other
SMART goals are one way of setting objectives that are clear, realistic, and achievable within a certain timeframe. But setting a SMART goal may not be enough to ensure success – you also need strategies to help you achieve your goal. Read more about this session.

Improving Accessibility and Creating Community with Volunteer ESOL Teachers

Presenter: Karin Bates • PD Category: Other
Do you want to maximize your ESOL program’s access and impact on a limited budget? Volunteers can serve not only as teachers who increase access for students inside the classroom but also as ambassadors within the community who create connections and a welcoming environment for English language learners from other countries. Read more about this session.

Program Self-Evaluation: When Did You Last Do This?

Presenter: Lester Meriwether • PD Category: Other
Based on a model developed by ProLiteracy, the presentation will assist literacy program administration with building capacity and attracting donors. organizational management, improving student services, and enhancing tutor/instructor value. Read more about this session.

A New Look at ESL Beginning Literacy

Presenter: Janet Kay • PD Category: LIT
How do we reach our adult students with a mature approach to beginning literacy? How much input can learners with little to no literacy in their own language handle without being overwhelmed? Read more about this session.

AI for Adult Literacy Education

Presenter: Rina Renteria • PD Category: LIT
“AI for Adult Education Literacy” breaks down AI, tackling its benefits and challenges in education, all while jazzing up lesson planning and boosting digital literacy skills for learners. With a nod to AI platforms for adult education, this session hypes up AI’s knack for transforming your classroom. Read more about this session.

Bridging the AEL/GED to Certifications Gap with “Are You Ready for College”

Presenter: Candace Reese • PD Category: Other
This session invites you to expand your online educational tools beyond the norm to bridge students into the world of college certifications. We will explore an assessable online method for introducing students to strategies for communicating with instructors, studying, writing, and managing work-life balance before they attempt your coursework. Read more about this session.

Building Career and Academic Success for Your Students

Presenter: Ann Beeson, M.Ed. • PD Category: Other
Help your ABE students transition toward a career while improving their academic skills. This presentation will be interactive, and participants will come away with resources to use in the classroom. Read more about this session.

Digital + Health + Literacy: A Prescription for Adult Ed & Career Pathways

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
Digital healthcare is no longer “science fiction” or an option for the privileged few. Adult learners need adult literacy experiences that mimic the evolving med tech world around them. Combining traditional health literacy with innovative digital health experiences is a next-level prescription for health education and career pathway development. Read more about this session.

Digital Literacy and Beyond

Presenter: Dr. Glenda Rose • PD Category: LIT
We probably all agree that digital literacy is important, but how do we include it in our beginning ESL classrooms? Let’s get hands-on about how to integrate these important skills in our lessons for adult learners. Read more about this session.

ESL for Professionals: A Model for Teaching ITP

Presenter: Angi Mudd, Cynthia Arocha • PD Category: Other
Wondering where to start when serving your ITPs? This session will discuss the model used by Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas to develop an online class called ESL for Professionals that serves ITPs in 9 different counties. Read more about this session.

Hard Skills Open the Door. Soft Skills Build The Future.

Presenter: Jacqueline Aguilera • PD Category: Other
In today’s dynamic work landscape, the interplay between hard skills and soft skills is pivotal for professional success. While hard skills provide the technical foundation necessary for specific roles, soft skills are the invisible threads that weave together effective collaboration, adaptability, and personal growth. Read more about this session.

Incorporating Relevant Content & Skills with Interactive Literacy Approaches

Presenter: Lisa Polk • PD Category: LIT
Actively engaging in literacy practices allows students to reach beyond barriers to access knowledge. Active learning experiences that include relevant texts and interactive literacy approaches motivate learners to progress in content knowledge and skills. Read more about this session.

Learn About the New TABE 13 & 14 and CLAS-E Tests!

Presenter: Chasity Wright • PD Category: Other
This session will provide updates on the changes to the tests including test length, objectives, and reporting. Read more about this session.

Workforce Activities for Students Over 50

Presenter: Dr. Olga Escamilla • PD Category: Other
Many of our students come to us at a later age when their children are out of the house, and they find it is time to continue their learning. For all that come to adult education we strive to incorporate workforce activities in our instruction to prepare our students for work. Read more about this session.