The ABCs for Intentional Engagement at LFTX

In anticipation of the upcoming Learning Forward Texas Summer Conference, we’re turning the spotlight toward what makes this event truly extraordinary: the people.

Again and again, conference attendees tell us that the connections they make—new colleagues, long-time collaborators, surprise lunch-table conversations—are the highlight of their experience.

This year, we’re encouraging attendees to lean into those moments with a focus on intentional engagement throughout the conference. Whether you’re attending solo or with a team, we invite you to embrace the ABCs of Conference Engagement:

• Amplify the voices, ideas, and learning that resonate with you.

• Build meaningful takeaways and professional learning plans.

• Connect with people—old friends and new faces alike—who inspire and challenge you.

If you’re someone who likes to plan ahead, revisit last year’s post for tips on getting the most out of your learning before, during, and after the event. And if you’re looking for a space to capture insights and next steps during #LFTX25, we’ve updated our Google Doc template to support your reflection and planning. (Select "USE TEMPLATE" to make a private copy, which adds the Doc to your Google Drive.)

New this year: we’re introducing a playful and purposeful LFTX Bingo Board—filled with quick prompts to help you engage with presenters, connect with fellow attendees, and explore resources. Pick up a copy of a bingo board when you register (or download a copy here.) 

LFTX Conference Bingo Cards.pdf

Download PDF • 1.56MB

Turn in your completed board at the closing session for a chance to win a prize—and maybe take a few of the ideas back to your own summer sessions, too.

We’ll share tips and inspiration for each of the three ABC categories below, along with a few low-pressure nudges to help you fully engage with all that the Learning Forward Texas Conference has to offer.

A is for Amplifying 🎤

Amplifying isn’t just about tweeting a great quote (though we love a good quote card!)—it’s about choosing to share the learning, ideas, and people who inspire you. When you amplify others, you extend the impact of the conference beyond the room—and you build your own professional presence along the way.

Whether you’re posting on social media, quoting a presenter during a team debrief, or recommending a breakout session to a new colleague, amplification signals curiosity, generosity, and purpose.

Here are a few ways to amplify learning during #LFTX25:

• Share a favorite quote or aha moment from a presenter (and tag them if possible).

• Promote a session you’re excited about and invite someone to join you.

• Compliment someone “behind their back” by telling a colleague or team, “You’ve got to hear what they shared!”

• Give credit when referencing a resource, strategy, or speaker.

• Ask a thoughtful follow-up question in a session to help elevate the conversation.

• Celebrate LFTX sponsors or vendors when you find something genuinely useful—highlighting their contributions helps sustain future events.

• Add to the conversation in the conference app by reacting to others’ insights.

• (And be sure to follow and tag Learning Forward Texas on Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook as you share!)

You’ll also find a few Amplify-themed squares on the LFTX Bingo Board, like:

🔲 Amplify an LFTX presenter by sharing their work with a colleague.

🔲 Share a session quote or insight on social media using #LFTX25.

🔲 Compliment a colleague or presenter (even behind their back!).

Amplification isn’t self-promotion—it’s a form of contribution. As Adam Grant recently noted, “Elevating others elevates you.”

B is for Building 🛠️

Conferences are packed with energy, ideas, and inspiration—but the real magic happens when you begin to build from what you’ve learned. That might mean building connections, building your toolkit of strategies, or building momentum for the year ahead.

“I realized the power of professional learning comes from the ability to have important conversations, reflect on our own questions and concerns, and to share ideas.”

—Rich Czyz, The Four O’Clock Faculty

As you move through your #LFTX25 experience, look for opportunities to:

• Build your PLN by introducing yourself to someone from a different district or role.

• Build a running list of ideas you want to try back at your campus.

• Build bridges by connecting an idea from one session to something you heard earlier.

• Build an action plan—even a rough draft—to take the first step from learning to implementation.

• Build curiosity by following up on a resource, book, or speaker that sparked your interest.

• Build energy by giving yourself permission to feel excited about the work ahead.

A few Build-themed squares from the LFTX Bingo Board include:

🔲 Build a list of three strategies you want to try after the conference.

🔲 Build a bridge of ideas between two different sessions or speakers.

🔲 Build a connection with someone new outside your district or role.

Building is about more than collecting—it’s about making connections and setting intentions. Let your learning scaffold upward into action, insight, and momentum.

C is for Connecting 🤝

The Learning Forward Texas Summer Conference brings together educators from across the state and beyond, many of whom only see each other once a year. The most lasting takeaways often come not from a slide deck—but from a hallway conversation, a shared lunch table, or a quick exchange before a session begins.

So here’s your invitation: Start the conversation.

Sit with someone you don’t know. Ask what brought them to the session. Thank a presenter afterward. Invite a first-time attendee to join your table. Each of these small moments strengthens our professional community—and makes #LFTX25 more meaningful for everyone.

If you need a little help getting started, try the Pac-Man Rule: when standing or sitting in a group, leave a physical gap to signal that others are welcome to join. That open space—shaped like a wedge out of a circle—is a powerful visual cue that says, “We have room for you here.”

A few Connect-themed squares from the LFTX Bingo Board include:

🔲 Connect with a first-time attendee.

🔲 Connect with someone over a meal.

🔲 Thank a presenter after their session.

🔲 Find someone outside your usual circle and learn about their role.

These small acts of connection ripple outward—building relationships, fostering understanding, and reminding us that we’re better when we learn together.

Don’t miss these opportunities to connect at #LFTX25!

Beyond the sessions themselves, the conference is filled with moments designed to help you meet new people, spark conversations, and build your professional network. Mark your calendar for these opportunities:

• Daily Lunches Provided – No need to leave the building—use this time to sit with someone new and chat about what you’ve learned so far.

• Kick-Up Reception – Monday, June 16, 4:00–5:30 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn – Unwind, mingle, and kick off the conference with light bites and casual conversation.

• Breaks & Exhibitor Connections – Visit the exhibitor area between sessions to explore new resources and meet sponsors supporting professional learning.

• Exhibitor Reception (🎪 Carnival Style!) – Tuesday, June 17, 4:15 PM – Grab a snack, play a few games, and connect with colleagues in a fun, informal setting.

• Final Thoughts & Future Focus – Wednesday, June 18, 2:30 PM – Wrap up your #LFTX25 experience with a short closing session designed for reflection, conversation, and setting intentions for the year ahead.

Each of these events is an open door—step through, say hello, and see where the conversation leads.

The ABCs of Conference Engagement—Amplifying, Building, and Connecting—are rooted in a broader strategy we’ve explored before: the power of purposeful -ING words to guide learning design and reflection. (If you missed it, check out The -ING Effect: A Strategy for Purposeful Planning.) Whether you explore one of these ABCs or try all three, we hope they help you engage more meaningfully during #LFTX25. And can you refine this idea for your own back-to-school or other learning experiences?

We can’t wait to see you at the conference!

Special thanks to Crisha Lewis, Professional Learning Coordinator in Frisco ISD, for designing the #LFTX25 Bingo Board and contributing her insight to the development of this post. Crisha’s thoughtful design and feedback helped shape the ABCs into a playful, purposeful tool to spark conversation and connection throughout the conference.

LaCrisha Lewis, has 16 years of experience in secondary education, instructional coaching, and now serving as a district administrator, brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a professional learning coordinator. She earned her Master’s of Science in Cognition and Neuroscience, specializing in adolescent learning and language development, from the University of Texas at Dallas.

In her capacity as a professional learning coordinator, LaCrisha actively collaborates with various departments within Frisco ISD. This includes working closely with content coordinators, instructional, digital, and language coaches, as well as collaborating with transportation, special education, campus leaders, and teachers.  Notably, in 2024, the FISD professional learning department won the Outstanding Professional Learning Award from Learning Forward Texas.

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Kathryn Laster brings over 30 years of education expertise as a math teacher, instructional coach, and digital learning consultant. Now, as an independent consultant, Kathryn creates and facilitates transformative learning experiences through intentional, human-centered, tech-infused design. Connect with Kathryn here and at Refined Learning Design.