Discover how intentional partnerships with community organizations and industry leaders can transform CTE programs. This session shares a practical framework for identifying, selecting, and sustaining meaningful collaborations that enhance student learning, promote equity, and create real-world opportunities through internships, service projects, and experiential learning.
Prepare students for long-term success by teaching the durable skills (leadership, communication, adaptability) employers demand. This session provides educators with actionable strategies to embed these essential competencies directly into CTE pathways, cultivating future-ready professionals who can thrive in a rapidly changing workforce.
Join first- and second-year Region V ACTE Fellows as they explore how The Leadership Challenge’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership inspire growth in CTE. Through reflection and discussion, participants will connect leadership principles to modern CTE challenges. Participants will learn how they can become the next Region V Fellow!
Learn how AP Career Kickstart courses in Business and Cybersecurity can support CTE leaders in expanding career-connected pathways in high-demand fields. This session will highlight a regional approach to bringing together educators, employers, and system leaders to strengthen work-based learning opportunities, align academic and career readiness, and build scalable partnerships that can be adapted across counties and states.
Lasers come in a variety of class designations including Class 1 through Class 4. We will provide practical guidance for educators on safe operation, student protocols, ventilation, materials, and risk reduction for school laser labs and makerspaces
What does it take to build a sustainable CTE program? This session introduces a practical calculator and planning framework to help you project course sections, retain students across levels, and protect long-term program viability. Featuring real examples from engineering and welding pathways, plus tools you can adapt for your school.
Explore protein science through a hands-on lesson and live mozzarella cheese-making demo. Investigate amino acids, complete vs. incomplete proteins, and observe milk proteins (whey and casein) in action.
After speaking to thousands of students, Wysocki’s second book on career readiness focuses on the student’s workforce preparation. Wysocki asks students 30+ questions about career readiness. Wysocki uncovers a myriad of issues with questions such as “Have you ever shadowed someone for a day at their place of work?”
Speaker & Author of Career Readiness, Careers By the People
After 30+ years in technology sales, Wysocki published the five-time award-winning book on career readiness, Careers By the People, and has spoken to students, educators and organizations from Massachusetts to Maui. Plus, produced 130+ YouTube videos on career readiness.
If you came to this conference looking for a workshop that is anything but boring — this is it. Come in take a seat and get ready to laugh, potentially cry, smile, and rediscover why you became a teacher in the first place. This high-energy, no…. session dives into how students interpret our attention, tone, and effort. You’ll walk away with practical, powerful strategies to reach EVERY student and make your classroom/shop/or lab the highlight of their day — not because of the content, but because of the connection. -----Walk in curious. Walk out changed.
Soft skills and AI work together to create stronger, more effective outcomes in school, work, and daily life. While AI can handle technical, repetitive, and data-heavy tasks, it still relies on human abilities like communication, critical thinking, creativity, and empathy to guide it. Strong soft skills help people write better prompts, evaluate AI responses, and apply the results responsibly. As AI becomes more common, these human-centered skills become even more valuable, making the combination of AI and soft skills essential for success in modern learning and careers.
Cherry Creek's registered Future Educator Pathway partners with Community College of Aurora, enabling students to earn college credit while working as paid apprentices 2-3 days weekly. Learn how this youth apprenticeship aligns with the adult apprenticeship and gain insights on program structure, partnerships, and leveraging registered apprenticeships for teacher shortages.
Shalyn Drake and “Baron” Wesemann will lead a presentation focusing on innovated approaches to aviation and UAS education. Highlighting scalable, FAA-compliant models for technical education that integrate policy, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration, the session will blend a dynamic presentation with a format for peer exchange and strategic planning.
I serve as the UAS Program Lead, Aviation CE Coordinator, and Lecturer in Aviation Technology at Utah State University, specifically housed at USU Eastern, where I oversee statewide curriculum development, program expansion, and credentialing in unmanned aircraft systems. My work... Read More →
Transform your Family and Consumer Sciences classroom into an inclusive space. Explore practical methods, from teaching authentic cultural dishes and creating heritage month displays to creating projects based on student cultures, that celebrate and empower all students. Discover how to include culturally rich and relevant materials into your curriculum.
The Career Impact Academy is a new $30M CTE center serving the Grand Forks region. Learn about the development of the center, which opened Fall, 2025 and how Industry Partnerships were leveraged in both the creation and operation of the new facility.
Learn how a community-driven vision fuels Weld RE-5J’s recipe for retaining great teachers. This session highlights how culture, collaboration, and innovation—paired with The Big Three: industry credentials, concurrent enrollment, and high-quality WBL—create meaningful, future-ready learning and a workplace where educators feel valued, supported, and inspired to stay.
High schools and technical schools play a critical role in addressing the growing technician shortage impacting the automotive and heavy‑duty industries. In this session, industry leaders from ASE, AutoNetTV, and Wrenchway will share insight into what employers are looking for today and how educational institutions can better align curriculum, certification pathways, and training methods to meet those needs. Administrators will learn how modern credentials, video‑based instruction, and industry partnerships can improve student engagement, career readiness, placement rates, and long‑term success while strengthening connections between education and the workforce.
Why AutoNetTV as a Content Partner?
AutoNetTV brings over two decades of experience creating innovative, multimedia content for the automotive industry. Through our partnership with ASE Connects schools can gain access to AutoNetTV’s extensive library of educational videos, interactive modules, and digital signage... Read More →
Dave Johnson leads ASE, the industry’s credentialing body for automotive service professionals. Previously, he held global leadership roles at Ford, overseeing service engineering, EV support, and technical operations. A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Dave has worked across service... Read More →
Outreach Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
I am passionate about education. I was a high school teacher for 11 years and now my job is to help educators. I work in a team of educators for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in Miami, Florida. Together we create, publish and deliver FREE resources including professional development... Read More →
Friday April 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT Sun Valley
Built by private and public funding, the Willamette Career Academy is Oregon's only truly regional CTE center, serving 19 schools including public, private, online, and homeschool students. Learn from our journey, including program successes and struggles, and consider how regional CTE might foster student success in your area.
Team challenges boost motivation and problem-solving. In this session, you’ll design learning activities that fit a fast-paced “Great Race” format, then experience a simulated race yourself. Gain practical ideas and confidence to bring energetic, collaborative competitions to your classroom—and inspire teamwork, engagement, and enthusiasm in your students.
I am a 30-year Arizona CTE educator who specializes in entrepreneurship and financial math. I love bringing real-life skills to students. I was a DECA Advisor for over 20 years, developed curriculum for local, state, and national organizations, and was nominated as Arizona Teacher... Read More →
Learn about the innovative connections to future careers the Puyallup School District is implementing to support expanded student learning. Early exposure to CTE pathways, creative ways to combine funding supports, and direct industry connection to our local community. Innovation in culinary arts, STEAM, and urban farming.
Explore an innovative model delivering authentic professional development to youth apprentices pursuing education careers while strengthening host classroom instruction. Lab site experiences enable apprentices to observe, practice, and reflect on teaching strategies, creating three powerful benefits: preparing future educators, enhancing mentor teacher practice, and improving student learning outcomes across participating schools.
Join us in a deep dive into our certification programs, including Python Institute, our free courses, and our test delivery system for schools. All the attendees will receive FREE certification exam vouchers of their choice.
Rangeland management traditionally focuses on ecological properties, plant ID, and grazing. But what about the people? Combining role play and case study, students take the perspective of owners, extension agents, college grads, and parents as they develop a land management plan. Reflecting on the experience students noted the challenge and benefits of taking on different perspectives. This innovative exercise opens the door for deeper conversations about working with family, government representatives, and others as we manage the land.
As technology accelerates, workplaces are demanding more than technical expertise, they require human skills that machines cannot replace. Emotional Intelligence (EI) has become a defining factor in adaptability, leadership, collaboration, and long-term workforce success. Yet, these skills have often been undervalued because they are difficult to measure and teach with precision.
This session introduces a new approach to strengthening and measuring these critical human capabilities through AI-powered Durable Skills Assessment.Participants will explore how emotional intelligence, adaptability, communication, and self-awareness can be both developed and measured using intelligent tools that provide actionable insights. This session bridges the gap between human-centered skill development and cutting-edge assessment technology to better prepare individuals for the future of work.
Pilots Baron Wesemann and Shalyn Drake will present their early sparks in aviation that has led to their professions in education and teaching CTE courses. They will inspire you with their own journeys, challenges to triumphs and how to find your own WHY to keep you going towards your dream!
I serve as the UAS Program Lead, Aviation CE Coordinator, and Lecturer in Aviation Technology at Utah State University, specifically housed at USU Eastern, where I oversee statewide curriculum development, program expansion, and credentialing in unmanned aircraft systems. My work... Read More →
Preparing students for a Work-Based Learning environment is critical to their success or failure. In this session, we will discuss the significants of a "boot camp" in the preparation of students to go into a clinical or WBL environment.
Health Science/Sports Medicine Teacher, USD 512 Shawnee Mission School District
Kevin has finished his eight year in the classroom, where he teaches sports medicine and a couple of work-based learning courses. His emphasis on preparation for the work-based learning and his relationships with preceptors allow for a smooth transition for students into the clinical... Read More →
Explore practical, classroom-tested strategies for implementing blended learning in Family and Consumer Sciences. Presenters from Brigham Young University demonstrate how blending technology and hands-on learning enhances engagement, aligns with the 2025 AAFCS Body of Knowledge, and supports the development of innovative, career-ready educators.
In this session, I will share the AI Prompt Engineering Hub, a Google Site I created and will demonstrate how the Hub scaffolds learning from simple to advanced AI prompts. Participants will leave with AI marketing projects and strategies to integrate AI prompts into their own classroom. Bring your laptop!
In a world of constant change, technical knowledge alone is no longer enough to lead effectively. The leaders who create lasting impact are those who lead with authenticity, self-awareness, and empathy. When leaders model these human skills, they don’t just manage people, they unlock potential, build trust, and create environments where teams feel safe enough to think boldly, take risks, and grow.
This session explores leadership as a behavior, not a position. Participants experience real tools used inside IMAGO’s Building Better Leaders framework, including reflective practices and interactive structures that move professional development from passive learning to meaningful transformation. This session invites leaders to rethink how they show up, how they connect, and how their daily behaviors shape the culture of their teams and classrooms.
Many districts do not allow github for student privacy concerns. Ensuring that our students still learn to manage Git is vital. Learn how to self host a git management platform from out of your classroom.
This presentation would be great for computer programming, video game development, and even 3D animation teachers.
As CTE educators, you are one of your program’s most valuable resources. This session will explore practical strategies to manage stress, protect mental health, and build resilience through self-care. With reflection, humor, and real-life tools, learn how to fuel yourself so you can keep fueling your students.
CTE is more than just a pathway into the workforce. It also strengthens students’ academic performance, social-emotional competencies, and postsecondary success. Learn the specific conditions that contribute to these success stories and see how they can be applied to any grade level and content area for replicable results.
I am currently a district-level coordinator of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and I continue to consult on MTSS implementation, academic interventions, and literacy. As a writer for Capstone Publishing, I contribute to teacher's guides and lesson development for phonics... Read More →
Examine how CTE supports all learners, including special populations, in developing occupational identity and achieving both credential and postsecondary success through inclusive recruitment, Universal Design for Learning, credentialing accommodations, and collaborative partnerships with business, industry, and community agencies. Together, we will build a plan preparing ALL students for what’s next.
Director of Exceptional Student Services, West-MEC
Shelly Thome is a national leader in Career and Technical Education at West-MEC, where she supports innovative programs and student access. As an ACTE mentor for CTE for ALL, she focuses on expanding opportunities for special populations through practical strategies, partnerships... Read More →
