Bring'em Back Kats! To the Moon & Beyond: Supporting Bearkat Teachers every step of the way October 23, 2026 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
SHSU College of Education Maverick Conference Center, Lone Star College Montgomery The Woodlands, TX 77384
Novice Teacher Professional Development 1
Table of Contents 2026 BBK COE Committee Members ...........................................................2 BBK Sponsors, Vendors & Exhibitors............................................................2 Schedule At a Glance.......................................................................................3 Morning Breakout Session Schedules.............................................................4 Keynote Speaker Information......................................................................... 5 Afternoon Breakout Session Schedules..................................................... 6 - 7
MISSION CONTROL BBK 2026 Planning Committee, College of Education Dr. Andrea Foster: Committee Chair Dr. Susan Harte, Program Co-Chair Dr. Katie Moses, Program Co-Chair Dr. Bill Calderhead Outreach Dr. Tina Valenzuela, Vendors Dr. Tershundrea Branch, Exhibitors Dr. Clare Resilla, Speakers
Dr. Kristina Vargo Dr. Helen Berg Dr. Angie Taylor Dr. Brian Brown Amy McCormick, Event Planner
BBK 2026 Sponsors, Vendors, and Exhibitors Lakeshore Learning Store The Bag Ladies Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) Crust Pizza Co. Willis NASA /Dr. Lisa Brown
School of Teaching and Learning Graduate Programs Counseling Higher Education & Leadership Curriculum & Instruction Library Science Instructional Systems Design and Technology
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BBK 2026 Annual Meeting Schedule At a Glance Report to Launch Registration / Check In: MCC Ballroom A&B Countdown to Lift Off! Introductions and Welcome: MCC Ballroom A&B Igniting your Mission - "K-12 Leadership: A Practical Guide to Leading with Purpose, Clarity, and Joy," MCC Ballroom A&B Breakout Session #1
8:30am – 3:00pm
10:00am – 10:50am
Breakout Session #2
11:00am – 11:50am
Refueling and Reconnect Lunch MCC Ballroom A&B
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Brian Greeney, Chief of Schools, Klein ISD MCC Ballroom A&B Breakout Session #3
12:15pm – 12:45pm
8:45am – 9:00am 9:00am – 9:50am
1:10pm – 2:00pm
Breakout Session #4
2:10pm – 3:00pm
Re-entry, Mission Debrief & Over the Moon Celebrations! Closing/ Door Prizes/ Exit Tickets
3:05pm – 3:30pm
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Countdown to Lift Off! Introduction and Welcome Session: MCC Ballroom A&B Dr. Andrea Foster, Chair of the BBK Committee, Dr. Abbie Strunc, Interim Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Helen Berg, Associate Dean for Student Success and Partnerships, Dr. Kristina Vargo, Interim Associate Dean of Academic Administration and Enrollment Breakout Session #1: 10am-10:50am Location MCC 120
MCC 122
MCC 124
MCC 126
Presentation Details Sword Fighting for the Classroom Dr. Jennifer Morrison Want to get students engaged with texts? Teach them to sword fight and integrate their choreography into Shakespearean plays, Readers' Theatre, and historical document interpretations. This is a hands-on, active workshop where you will get up and MOVE! Using Curriculum-based Assessment (CBA) to Plan Instruction Dr. William Calderhead CBA is a brief, standardized test used to measure a student's academic progress and response to instruction. Students will work in pairs to administer a one-minute reading fluency probe. One reads aloud from grade-level text taken directly from the school curriculum while the other counts the words read correctly. The Power of Pause: Understanding, Regulating, and Responding to Classroom Behavior Lydia Davis, M.Ed., LPC The Power of Pause examines how educators can better understand classroom behavior, regulate their own responses, and intentionally respond to the needs of students. Participants will acquire practical, counseling-informed strategies for reducing escalation, strengthening connection, and creating more supportive, productive classroom environments. From CLASS Observation to Action: Using Texas CLASS Data to Strengthen Concept and Language Development Dr. Hatice Inan Building strong teacher-child relationships is essential, yet many Head Start teachers struggle to provide high-quality CLASS Instructional Support, particularly in Concept Development and Language Modeling. This interactive STEAM workshop helps teachers strengthen higher-order thinking, conceptual understanding, language development, and meaningful teacher-child interactions through integrated, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. 4
Location MCC 120
MCC 122
MCC 124
Breakout Session #2: 11:00am-11:50am Presentation Details From Coverage to What Counts: Using the FREEDOM Framework to Design Curriculum That Matters Dr. Salandra Grice-Johnson Participants will apply the FREEDOM Framework to evaluate existing lessons and identify opportunities for greater representation, inquiry, and student engagement. T-TESS Ready: Making the Teacher Evaluation Tool Work for You Dr. Clare Resilla In this interactive session, participants will deepen their understanding of T-TESS Domain 1: Planning and Domain 2: Instruction. They will examine the evidence appraisers seek, reflect on their current practices, and set meaningful professional growth goals. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen instruction and consistently improve student learning outcomes. From NASA to Your Classroom Tomorrow: Free Resources for Engaging, Inquiry-Based Learning Dr. Lisa Brown Bring NASA into your classroom without spending a dime! Explore free, classroom-ready NASA resources that spark curiosity, promote higherorder thinking, and engage diverse learners. Leave with practical activities, questioning strategies, and resources you can use with your students the very next day.
Refueling & Reconnect! Lunch and Keynote Speaker 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: MCC Ballroom A&B
Keynote Speaker Dr. Brian Greeney, Chief of Schools, Klein ISD 12:00pm – 12:30pm Location: MCC Ballroom A&B
Location
Breakout Session #3: 1:10pm-2:00pm Presentation Details 5
MCC 120
Launch Strong: Five Professional Differentiators That Accelerate Early-Career Teacher Growth Dr. Craig Toney, Superintendent, SHSU Charter Schools Early-career teachers don't have to wait years to become exceptional educators. This interactive session explores five Professional Differentiators—Presence, Preparation, Professionalism, Passion, and Productivity—that help teachers intentionally accelerate their growth, strengthen their professional impact, and build habits that shape long-term career trajectories.
MCC 124
Writing for the Reading Center Dr. Melinda Miller Dr. Jolene Reed When students write their own stories, they feel a greater sense of ownership, which helps to build confidence in their ability to decode and comprehend text. When they share these texts in the book center, they feel a sense of pride as their classmates read and enjoy their books. Breakout Session #4: 2:10pm-3:00pm
Location MCC 120
MCC 122
Presentation Details Are We Having Fun Yet? Linda Wilmoth The beginning of the school year is so hard! The students are learning new routines and expectations, and so are you! With so many responsibilities, it's easy to be overwhelmed. This workshop will focus on DAP and the importance of including all the essential domains while teaching. It will also include a look at the value of PLAY in your classroom, and how you can use it to reduce student anxiety, increase participation and enjoyment, as well as comprehension and academic success. And maybe this workshop will help you find your smile again! Mission Control: Monitoring Student Participation and Performance in Science Dr. Tina Valenzuela Beginning teachers are excited to engage students in science experiences, but knowing whether students are participating, understanding the content, and progressing toward the learning objective is needed. Using space exploration, this session will demonstrate strategies beginning teachers can use to monitor student participation and performance during science instruction.
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MCC 124
More Than a Message: Building Stronger Parent Partnerships Mrs. Carlie Mauldin Building strong parent relationships doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This session will share practical, easy-to-use strategies for communicating with families through ParentSquare, phone calls, notes, home, and weekly updates. Learn how consistent, positive communication can build trust, prevent misunderstandings, and create stronger home-school partnerships. Over the Moon Celebrations & Re-entry Closing Remarks/ Door Prizes/ Exit Ticket 3:05 – 3:30pm Location: MCC Ballroom A&B
Celebrating our 10th annual mission, Bring’em Back Kats connects, equips, and inspires novice teachers through practical professional learning, meaningful collaboration, and a supportive Bearkat community—empowering them to launch confidently, navigate challenges, and help every learner reach for the stars.
One small step at BBK, One giant leap for your teaching journey!
Sam Houston State University College of Education 2026
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