strong>Pearl 3 (2nd Floor) [
clear filter]
8:00am CST
LITerally STEM
Wednesday December 4, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CST
Speakers 
District Lead GT Teacher, Tyler ISD
Melissa O’Neal currently serves as the District Lead GT Teacher for Tyler ISD. With over 21 years of teaching experience, she has taught both elementary and middle school prior to solely focusing on gifted and talented elementary students. Her passion for gifted students was sparked...
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GT Teacher, Tyler ISD
Alecia Cole is an educator of eight years, poet, gifted adult, and mom of gifted children. She taught first, fourth, and fifth grades before transitioning to focus her career on gifted elementary learners. A lover of learning herself, Alecia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication...
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11:00am CST
The Magic of AR and VR in Action! [Secondary Focus]
Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers 
CEER - CTE Digital Communications, Pine Tree ISD
Heather Brantley is an experienced educator and founder of HeatherTechEdu. With a background in instructional design and technology integration, Heather is passionate about helping teachers and students leverage the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Through HeatherTechEdu...
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3:15pm CST
The Struggle Is Real: Valuing Productive Struggle
Wednesday December 4, 2024 3:15pm - 4:15pm CST
Speakers 
Sales Executive-Central South, Art of Problem Solving
With 11 years of experience and a Masters in Teacher Leadership, my enthusiasm for education is evident. I have partnered with educators to strategically design and execute cross-curricular lesson plans aligned with state standards. My passion lies in leveraging critical thinking...
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8:00am CST
Cognitive Strategies for Building Success for ALL Students with CogAT
Thursday December 5, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CST
Speakers 
Assistant Director - Gifted & Talented, North East ISD
Student Achievement Specialist, Plano ISD
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...
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Product Strategist, Riverside Insights
MONICA SIMONDS, M.Ed., was the Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services in Richardson ISD. After receiving her Master’s in Gifted Education, Monica taught gifted children in all grades and provided professional learning opportunities for the districts. She is a member...
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11:00am CST
Phenomenal Phenomena: Using Discrepant Events To Trigger Inquiry In Science
Thursday December 5, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Speakers 
Science Dept. Chair, Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Matt Wells is a multiple award-winning teacher, Science department chair, AP consultant and workshop presenter based in Houston, TX. A Past-President of both the Science Teacher’s Association of Texas and the Texas Association of Biology Teachers, and a regular presenter at giftED...
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1:30pm CST
Puzzlerama: The Joy of Rigorous Puzzles and Games
Thursday December 5, 2024 1:30pm - 3:00pm CST
Speakers 
Gifted Specialist, Lockhart ISD
Sheila Mulbry currently serves as a Gifted Facilitator with Lockhart ISD. She is a constant advocate for gifted students and their special needs, and has presented staff development on gifted education for the past 20 years. She obtained BA degrees in Humanities (‘83) and Elementary...
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Co-Founder CEO, Silverquicken Education
Teacher, author, and curriculum developer, Chris Ryan is CEO and co-founder of Silverquicken. He spent 15+ years growing an education startup to the world’s largest provider of GMAT test-preparation services, after close to a decade of consulting and teaching high school chemistry/physics...
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Co-Founder, COO, Silverquicken Education, Inc.
Educator, curriculum designer, parent, and community builder, Leslie Kerner is the COO and co-founder of Silverquicken. She’s spent 20 years developing K-12 education products and services. At Amplify, she worked closely with teachers and administrators around the country to bring...
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3:15pm CST
8:00am CST
Elevating Math Learning: Low-Floor, High-Ceiling Activities to Build Fluency and Flexibility
Friday December 6, 2024 8:00am - 10:00am CST
Speakers 
GT Instructional Support Specialist, Northside ISD
Katie Hitchman has a passion for gifted education that has been developed and deepened over her 18 years in education. She now coordinates a total school clustering program for elementary schools as a district Instructional Support Teacher for the Advanced Academics Department in...
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Elementary Math Instructional Support Specialist, Northside ISD
In her 18 years as an educator, Kelly Cross has been privileged to work with students and teachers in a variety of K-5 settings. She has worked as a classroom teacher, gifted and talented teacher, and now Instructional Support Teacher for Northside ISD. Her passion is in creating...
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