Breakout Sessions
Postsecondary, Adult Ed, Workforce Development
Faculty, Administrator, Employer
Re-Visioning the “I” in IET Career Pathway Programming: Creating Digitally Powered Career Pathways
Leveraging digital platforms and industry relationships, The Learning Source and its program partners have re-visioned innovative, digitally powered IET career pathways. Aimee Callahan, Chief Learning Officer, The Learning Source, Denver, CO; Josh Evans, CEO, The Learning Source, Denver, CO; Keith Thode, CEO and Chief Scientist, AdvanceNet Labs, Grapevine, TX
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
High-Quality CTE and WBL: Advancing Equity and Access
Could your workforce program benefit from a roadmap for aligning graduation requirements, connecting students to opportunities, and creating strong business partnerships to ensure CTE and WBL success? In this session, we’ll share how workforce programs are engaging students, businesses, and workforce leaders in defining career pathways and clear talent pipelines. Allison Grenney, VP of Customer Success, PAIRIN, Denver, CO; Amanda Daniels, Curriculum and Instructional Design Manager, GPSed, Waukesha, WI
Secondary
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Creating Synergy with STEM and CTE
Learn how to build a dynamic, STEMsational CTE program in your district. The presenters will show how two separate departments began working together to boost student outcomes, parent engagement, and teacher morale. Participants will use hands-on stations to showcase how one school district aligned two powerhouse departments. Aniska Douglas, Interim Executive Director of CTE, Grand Prairie ISD, Grand Prairie, TX; Kasie Roden, Director of STEM, Grand Prairie ISD, Grand Prairie, TX; Wendy Mathis, Director of CTE, Grand Prairie ISD, Grand Prairie, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Strategies for Managing Successful Employer Councils Across Multiple Programs and Disciplines
The National CTC’s successful “BILT model,” which formalizes co-leadership between business and educators to align curriculum with workforce needs, can be adapted to support multiple programs and disciplines in a single division. Attendees will learn key strategies and implementation tools for implementing the “BILT model” with their own programs. Ann Beheler, Principal Investigator, National Convergence Technology Center, Frisco, TX; Mark Dempsey, Assistant Director, National Convergence Technology Center, Frisco, TX
Secondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Use Employer-Vetted IT Job Skills to Give Students a Hiring Advantage
Supplement your state-approved curriculum and boost your students’ career options in IT. Led by 250+ IT/Cybersecurity employers nationally, the “IT Skills Standards” NSF grant recently produced a future-facing package of skill standards, SLOs, and employability skills for the most in-demand IT occupations. Ann Beheler, Principal Investigator, Collin College, Frisco, TX; Mark Dempsey, Assistant Director, Collin College, Frisco, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Employer
Future-Proofing Technicians by Teaching the Cross-Disciplinary STEM Core
What are the new skill sets that future STEM technicians need, and how do we integrate them into our existing courses? Come learn about the Framework for a Cross-Disciplinary STEM Core and how to use short, scenario-based instructional cards with student activities and instructor content to begin implementing the Framework. Ann-Claire Anderson, SVP, Center for Occupational Research and Development, Waco, TX; Marilyn Barger, Educational Advisor, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), Orlando, Florida; Hope Cotner, CEO, Center for Occupational Research and Development, Waco, TX
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Braiding Funding to Scale Successful Programs
You’ve created a successful program model but now need to sustain and scale it. Learn how Brazosport College grew a pilot project into a program with eleven strands that has been successfully operating for almost a decade at no cost to students. Anne Bartlett, VP, Industry and Community Resources, Brazosport College, Lake Jackson, TX
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Administrator, Staff, Employer
Adults for Industrial Development: Getting Adults Ready for Manufacturing and Skilled Trades
Learn how to set up an adult pre-apprenticeship for manufacturing and skilled trades, from developing a course with certifications, class instruction, and career exploration to working with employers and recruiting adults. Bettina Akukwe, Apprenticeship Implementer, Alamance Community College, Graham, NC; Justin Snyder, Dean, Applied Engineering, Agriculture, and Skilled Trades, Alamance Community College, Graham, North Carolina
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Building an Inclusive Micro-Credential Ecosystem
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Recruitment, Retention, and Expansion Through Pathway Mapping, Pre-Apprenticeship, and Inclusion
In this interactive session, participants will learn strategies for recruiting and retaining students in CTE programs, specifically through pathway mapping, pre-apprenticeships (internship/externship models), and creating inclusive program communities. Presenters will share successes, challenges, and lessons learned and provide specific strategies, timelines, and materials that contributed to expansion and growth. Brian Simpson, Supervisor of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Magnet Program, English, Art, Family and Consumer Science Departments, Freehold Regional High School District, Freehold, NJ; Brittney Henry, Supervisor of the Medical Sciences Magnet Program, Health Professions Pathway Program, Science, and World Languages Departments, The Freehold Regional High School District, Freehold, NJ
NSF ATE
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty
Crossroads: Classroom to Career in Biotechnology
To create a cohesive culture and the development of important skills bridging college to career readiness, project-based learning (PBL) proved to be tremendously useful. The pedagogy of PBL encourages students to learn and apply knowledge and skills through a guided and engaging experience. Chander Arora, Biotech Faculty, Los Angeles Mission College, Sylmar, CA
Secondary, Postsecondary
Faculty
The Changing Workforce and You: Implications for Your Personal Financial Future
Using the pandemic experience, we will explore how the workforce adapted and the economy changed in response to this unfamiliar shock and how those quick changes affect personal finances—then, now, and in the future. Free classroom-ready resources for teaching about careers, personal finance, the economy, and more will be shared. Claire Loup, Outreach Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, New Orleans Branch, New Orleans, LA; Jackie Morgan, Outreach Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Nashville Branch, Nashville, TN
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Learn and Earn Apprenticeship Program @ForsythTech: College Sponsored, Employer Driven
LEAP@ForsythTech is a nationally registered apprenticeship program. In this unique model, Forsyth Tech builds, registers, and tracks all aspects of the apprenticeship experience. Employer partners hire and train apprentices to meet their needs. This session will discuss the flexibility of this model, its benefits to all parties, and lessons learned in our first three years. Danielle Rose, Director, Experiential Learning, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston Salem, NC; David Dinkins, Department Chair, Advanced Manufacturing, Forsyth Tech Community College, Winston Salem, NC
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
CTECS Blends Intangible Employability Skills into Current Technical Programs to Add Value
Learn how to teach career exploration and workplace readiness skills within the context of your current programs. Through quick, meaningful activities, students can acquire insights into workplace behavioral expectations and how to become more promising job candidates and indispensable employees. Darren Morris, Instructional Designer, CTECS (Career and Technical Education Consortium of States), Decatur, GA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Enhancing Automotive Programs with Augmented and Virtual Reality
Discover how students at Gwinnett County Public Schools Office of Academies and Career Technical Education are using augmented and virtual reality as a part of their curriculum to prepare students for college and future automotive careers. Instructional coach Davelon Norris will share classroom-based successes and challenges of integrating AR/VR to enhance CTE instruction. Davelon Norris, Instructional Coach, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Suwanee, GA; Michael Carbenia, Senior Executive Director of Workforce, zSpace, San Jose, CA
Secondary, Workforce Development, Business
Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Taking Youth Apprenticeship to New Heights
Attendees will learn how to connect business and education to create robust work-based learning opportunities for students. This presentation is geared for educators, administrators, business leaders, and community organizations. Attendees will discover a model that can be replicated to ensure all students graduate career-, college-, and community-ready. Marci Waldron-Kuhn, Pupil Services Specialist, CESA 7, Green Bay, WI; Jennifer Johnson, Regional Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator, NEWYA, Green Bay, WI; Colleen Timm, CESA 7 Agency Administrator, CESA 7, Green Bay, WI; Eric VandenHeuvel, Vice President of Talent and Education, Greater Green Bay Chamber, Green Bay, WI; Mike Snowberry, Director of Learning Services, Luxemburg Casco School District, Luxemburg, WI
Postsecondary, Workforce Development
Faculty, Employer
Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity via an Equity Gap Analysis
This presentation will focus on River Parishes Community College’s use of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity’s (NAPE) 5-step Program Improvement Process (PIPE) as a means of increasing access for and the success of underrepresented groups in its CTE programs. Esperanza Zenon, Associate Professor, River Parishes Community College, Gonzales, LA
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Utilizing Technology to Empower Adult Learning with Career and Education Planning
Adult workforce programs require a unique approach to adult learning that combines empathy with professionalism and personalized education paths. Learn how a program in California is leveraging technology and personalized coaching to understand each individual’s desired career, and then chart their course to help them achieve it. Frank Gerdeman, Director of Adult Education, ADVANCE: Lake Tahoe Adult Education Consortium, South Lake Tahoe, CA; Allison Grenney, VP of Customer Success, PAIRIN
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Bringing Industry to the (Flying) Classroom
Here at the Flying Classroom we are always thinking about college, career, and beyond. Through our robust menu of customizable projects we expose students to STEM+ careers and industries. The custom projects we have done with middle school and high school students include our Aircraft Acquisition Program, our Solar GoKart Program, and the Floating Classroom. Gabrielle Fraenkel, Sales, Flying Classroom, Opa-Locka, FL; Rajeev Brown, VP of Programs and Customer Success, Flying Classroom, Opa-Locka, FL
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator
National Science Foundation ATE Grant Funding and Mentoring Opportunities
The National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF ATE) program has grant funding opportunities available to support technical program development, professional development, career pathways, curriculum development, and outreach activities in support of technician education. The new NSF ATE solicitation will be shared, along with helpful resources and information about mentoring opportunities. Greg Kepner, Principal Investigator, Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL; Mel Cossette, Executive Director and Principal Investigator, Edmonds College, Lynnwood, WA
Secondary, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator
Integrating Your Career Development and Work-Based Learning Strategies
Students benefit when schools integrate career development and work-based learning, instead of having them operate independently. In this session, attendees will learn about the key elements of both disciplines and will review tools that counselors, CTE administrators, and school leaders can use to create an integrated system. Hans Meeder, President, National Center for College and Career Transitions (NC3T), Columbia, MD; Tamarah Fields, Pathways Services Director, NC3T, Columbia, MD
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Start with the End Game in Mind: Connecting Student Passions to Success
We all desire success for our adult learners, but what is success from the adult learner’s perspective? How might this success connect to employment? In this session, educators will hear from workforce experts on how connecting adults to actionable employment goals creates an engaging and successful adult learning experience. Ike Bogard, Workforce Contracts Administrator, WFSDallas, Dallas, TX; Sharon Dehn, Workforce Education Manager, WFSDallas, Dallas, TX
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Administrator, Staff
Second Chance Offender Re-Entry Training
Starting in 2002, Blinn College established strategic partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and later the Brazos County Detention Center to reduce inmate recidivism in our service area. Come learn why this type of initiative is needed, along with details of Blinn College’s program, including results, lessons learned, and steps for replicating. Jay Anderson, Vice Chancellor Health Sciences, Technical Education and Community Programs, Blinn College, Bryan, TX; Charles Smith, Dean, Business and Mathematics, Blinn College, Bryan, TX; Marshall Rich, Assistant Dean, Business and Mathematics, Blinn College, Bryan, TX; Cody Stelter, Assistant Dean, Technical and Community Education, Blinn College, Bryan, TX
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Employer
The United States National Quantum Initiative: Workforce Development for QIST
This session outlines the Quantum Information and Technology Workforce Development National Strategic Plan and offers industry and academia recognized ecosystems for workforce development in QIST. JB Groves III, Instructor of Computer Science, Wharton County Junior College, Richmond, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
IT Career Pathways Designed and Piloted by an IT Employer
Learn about replicable employer-developed IT career pathways piloted for high school graduates, college graduates, and career changers who seek to enter IT careers. Participants with little to no IT experience receive six months of paid work experience, mentoring, access to and support for IT industry training and certifications, and jobs. Jean Schneider, Executive Director, Workforce Development, Pacxa, Honolulu, HI
Secondary, Postsecondary
Faculty, Counselor, Staff
Are Your Middle School Career Exploration Resources Fun, Engaging, and Techtastic?
As Wisconsin K-12 districts moved to a mandated Academic and Career Planning model in 2017, Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) ramped up its efforts to provide hands-on, minds-on career exploration experiences employing cool student technology and easy-to-use teacher and parent tools. Through this initiative FVTC connects with more than 12,000 students annually! Jennifer Fuerst Van-Thiel, Coordinator K-12 Partnerships, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI; Mary Hansen, Director, K-12 Partnerships, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education
Counselor, Administrator, Employer
Academic Esports: A Gateway to Student Credentials/Certifications
Industry leaders search for graduates who possess advanced technology acumen and skills such as communication, creativity, and analytical thinking. Technology pervades every aspect of the industrialized market, so advanced technology credentials are highly valued in high-wage, in-demand careers. Attendees will learn how to engage students in unique opportunities offered through courses that offer these benefits. Jill Ranucci, CTE Consultant, Leander, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Welding Education and Credentials: Exploring Strategies, Resources, and Solutions
Attendees will explore resources, strategies, and solutions for welding education and industry credentialing. Topics will include labor market trends for welding professions, American Welding Society (AWS) education resources and certifications, and scholarships and grants available from the AWS Foundation. Joe Young, Senior Manager Workforce Development, American Welding Society, Miami, FL
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Employer
Becoming a Resilient Leader
The lesson of 2020 is that to survive and thrive, you have to be resilient in the face of change. The pace of change has never been faster, and the need for an adaptable and resilient mindset has never been greater. Learn strategies that can help anyone grow in their ability to see, communicate, and adapt to change. Develop skills that will make you successful—no matter what the world throws at you next! Josh Davies, CEO, The Center for Work Ethic Development, Denver, CO
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Future Ready! The Wickliffe Ten-Year Plan
The Wickliffe City School District (WCSD) has been investing in a comprehensive approach to helping students become future ready. This involves both internal efforts to increase success in the 4Es (enrollment, enlistment, employment, entrepreneurship) and external efforts to collaborate with school districts and community agencies promoting these same outcomes in the surrounding region. Our 10-Year Plan details career and workforce development programming, college preparation, service learning, and student wellness initiatives, including a full-service Family Resource Center (FRC) that provides tutoring, financial literacy, early literacy, elder services, and more. The plan is designed to help our students graduate from high school ready for real-world success. Julie Ramos, Director of Strategic Innovation is, Wickliffe City Schools, Wickliffe, OH; Joseph Spiccia, Superintendent, Wickliffe City Schools, Wickliffe, OH
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Employer
Partnerships for Strengthening and Sustaining Advanced Manufacturing Programs
Partnerships provide resources and insights for ensuring that advanced manufacturing programs meet industry’s workforce needs. During this session, leadership from the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing will share models for partnership with industry and community organizations that have helped to make programs impactful. Attendees will learn new places to find partners. Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Executive Director, CT College of Technology, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington, CT; Wendy Robicheau, Assistant Director, College of Technology, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Farmington, CT
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Access and Equity with CTI
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
My Students Changed Themselves: A Soft Skills Revolution
This interactive session will focus on three game-changing tips to encourage students to re-imagine how they use social media and communicate with others. Attendees will participate in easily replicable hands-on activities that build employability skills vital to communication for team projects, positive relationships, and preparing students for the workplace. Kelli Lancaster, Work Based Learning Coordinator, Anderson Districts 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center, Williamston, SC; Ann Brown, Chief Operating Officer, Microburst Learning, Columbia, SC
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Developing Programs WITH Communities, Not FOR Communities
In this session attendees will learn how to authentically engage families, learners, and communities in program design. Audience members will learn the strategies of The Attainment Network, hear from our Learner Community of Practice participants, and leave with a tangible way to engage their own communities in career pathway program development and activation. Kelly Mitchell, Pathways Director, The Attainment Network, Erie, CO
Secondary
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
How to Support Disengaged Students
In our small rural school district, some high school seniors have already made their decisions about next steps. On the other hand, there are plenty of students who have not. See how we turned a 30-minute instructional focus (PUSH Period) into a power session of college- and career-readiness activities to motivate the most disengaged student. Kelvin Simmons, District Career Specialist/Workbased Learning Coordinator, Jasper County School District, Ridgeland, SC; Corey Burgess, Director of Secondary Programs, Jasper County School District, Ridgeland, South Carolina; Kelly Barr, Principal, Jasper County School District, Ridgeland, SC
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Addressing the Rural Dilemma: Creating a P-20 System Model for Postsecondary Outcomes
This interactive session will include multimedia resources, district readiness self-evaluation tools, and Q&A that will focus on the CEN P-20 Rural System model. Featuring student highlights from CEN network districts, research-based strategies will be shared to help rural districts address the loss of community human capital and determine ways to break generational poverty cycles. Kim Ale, CEO, Collegiate Edu-Nation, Roscoe, TX; Rachael McClain, Chief of Staff, Collegiate Edu-Nation, Roscoe, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Innovative Approach Provides High Schools Equitable Access to College Programming
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Staff, Employer
Apprenticeships: An Integrated Academic Cohort Model
Wayne Community College’s (WCC) integrated academic cohort apprenticeship model solves workforce development needs by creating opportunities for income mobility and increasing the educational attainment of incumbent workers while simultaneously attracting youth to careers where the workforce is aging. Kristie Sauls, Apprenticeship Coordinator, Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, NC
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Core Elements of a Regionally Responsive Degree: Human Capital Education and Development
This session will focus on core design elements of a new Bachelor of Science in Human Capital Education and Development that lead to regionally in-demand career pathways, transfer pathways, industry engagement, applied experiences, and curriculum. This interactive session will include networking activities, roundtable discussions, and collaborative mind mapping. Kristin Frady, Assistant Professor, Clemson University, Clemson, SC; Michelle Cook, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty Engagement, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Secondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Administrator, Staff, Employer
The Students We Serve and the Places They Can Go
“Continuum of Services” is a common phrase in Special Education, but is the concept also relevant in workforce development? Join us to learn how Eastern Suffolk BOCES created a continuum of workforce training programs and options for students “high school to adult” inclusive of students with specific learning needs. Learn how we built capacity and added internships, certifications, partnerships, and funding sources to support a diverse learning community. Leah Arnold, Director, Career Technical and Adult Education, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, Holtsville, NY
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Defining Digital Literacy
A basic level of digital literacy is essential for all job seekers. Join us to learn how we define digital literacy across all jobs, to hear from practitioners who are implementing statewide digital literacy frameworks, and to find out how you can help your clients improve their technology skills today. Lesa Norris, Implementation Consultant, WIN Learning, Kingston, TN; Martha Finch Anderson, JOBS Program Director, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Vincennes, Indiana; Andy Ridley, Workforce Program Manager, ACRC, Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Phoenix, AZ
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Administrator, Staff
CTE 101: Introducing Adults to High-Demand, High-Wage Careers
Learn how Adult Education and Workforce staff at Northwest-Shoals Community College developed CTE 101, a sixteen-week program providing participants with the opportunity to earn up to fourteen industry credentials leading to in-demand careers. Attendees will leave with example curriculum and suggestions for implementing similar programs on their campuses. Leslie Tomlinson, Assistant Dean of Workforce Development, Institutional Effectiveness, and Advancement, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, AL; Tara Branscome, Executive Director of Adult Education and Workforce Strategies, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, AL
Secondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Building a CTE Student Pipeline: Actions for Elementary and Middle Schools
In this session participants will learn tips for building a CTE pipeline in elementary schools and middle schools by focusing on schoolwide career awareness/exploration and emphasizing STEM thinking in all classrooms. Participants will also review curriculum materials that provide students an opportunity to “try on” various careers. When awareness and understanding of aptitudes and interests are built in, a pipeline for future CTE students emerges. Linda Floyd, TCTW Director, SREB, London, KY; Scott Warren, MSW Director, SREB, Atlanta, GA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator
Recruiting, Curriculum Development, and Industry Collaboration for Early Morning STEM Class
To develop our program, we examined current course rolls to identify students who were interested and successful. Students received a letter encouraging them to enroll. We learned about STEM requirements, worked on course development, attended a similar course, and met with technical education teachers for ideas and suggestions. Existing industry partnerships were used; after discussions additional industry partners and local universities were added. Luke Mandleco, Technology Education, Ben Lomond High and Ogden Weber Technical College, Ogden, UT; Mike Tolson, AM STEM Instructor, Ogden Weber Technical College, Ogden, UT
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Educator in the Workplace: Why and How to Make It Happen
We recognize work-based learning as the gold standard in career and workforce preparedness, yet most school educators know little about non-education fields and have had little opportunity to explore them in their job roles. The Partnership for Career Development (PCD) has provided Educator in the Workplace (EIW) programs successfully for over 25 years. Prior to the pandemic, PCD was the single largest recipient of awards from the PA Department of Labor and Industry, allowing PCD to expand its model to a larger region in a more comprehensive way. Lynda Morris, CEO, Partnership for Career Development, Enola, PA
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Administrator, Employer
Building Impactful WIOA Partnerships for Student Success
Signed into law in 2014, WIOA has offered the promise of collaboration that would lead to improved outcomes for Adult Education participants. Unfortunately, some programs have struggled to build meaningful partnerships for their students. Hear how one Indiana region built a workforce alliance of WIOA colleagues, local training providers, and employers that is making a difference in partner outcomes and student lives. Brainstorm how your program can build more effective WIOA partnerships. Marilyn Pitzulo, Associate Chief for Workforce Strategy and Design, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indianapolis, IN
Secondary
Faculty, Administrator, Employer
Using the Engineering Design Process to Design Elementary Engineering Curriculum
This presentation will showcase the engineering curriculum at D. L. Jamerson Elementary School and the engineering design process that underpins its schoolwide integrated curriculum. Learn how teachers and subject matter experts worked together using design processes to develop a strong engineering-themed school community and their engineering curriculum. Marilyn Barger, Educational Advisor, FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center), Tampa, FL; Richard Gilbert, Sr. Advisor, FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center), Tampa, FL
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Administrator, Employer
Innovation for Virtual Career Pathways and Workforce Board Collaborations
Putting together career pathways is a challenge but is not impossible. Learn about innovative and cost-effective ways to create virtual integrated education training (IET) programs in this interactive session. Administrators and practitioners can participate in the end-to-end data stories of successful adult learners for workforce collaborative efforts. Using virtual platforms, create a specific local solution to workforce development with adult education students. See the results in actual programs in which partnerships are filling talent pipelines. Melissa Sadler-Nitu, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, Economic Workforce Development, LearningMate, Seguin, TX
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Administrator, Staff, Employer
Future of Work: Disrupting Traditional Career Pathways with Fast-Paced Skills Training
XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling teams have scaled their solutions nationally to train workers in fast-growing, living-wage jobs. XPRIZE and finalist teams will share best practices in fast-paced skills training and discuss pandemic-related labor trends and how worker-centric design in creating AI and VR-based reskilling technology was leveraged in the competition. Monica Groves, Program Director, XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling, XPRIZE Foundation, Culver City, CA; Monique Golden, Technical Lead, XPRIZE Rapid Reskilling, XPRIZE Foundation, Culver City, CA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Teaching Generation G: Using Gamification to Drive Learner Engagement
Why are video games like Fortnite and Roblox so addicting? Educators often fail to understand why students are so disengaged, even when billions have been spent. This session will examine gamers’ minds and motivations and how games use achievements and peer engagement to keep their attention, building empathy and understanding. Nai Wang, Founder, KP Education Systems, Phoenix, AZ
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Work-Based Learning at Scale to Ensure Equitable Access to Employment for All Jobseekers
This session will look at the barriers that marginalized populations face when looking to access WBL. Attendees will learn how to negate these barriers and ensure equitable access for students, leading into employment. Giving jobseekers equal access to work-based learning opportunities will help them to establish pathways into careers. Bob Slaman, Sales Director, Jobspeaker, Inc., San Francisco, CA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Staff
Launch Your Career and Training with Indiana Career Explorer and Career Coaching
Meet the new Indiana Career Explorer, a free tool supporting students and job seekers of all ages with a customized experience designed to meet their specific needs. Indiana Career Coaching programs offer the latest in resources and best practices. Pam Warner, Director Career Exploration and Coaching, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indianapolis, IN; Jose Torres, Career Exploration and Coaching Coordinator, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indianapolis, IN
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio Works (ESCNEOWORKS): Stronger Pathways to Success
In this interactive session, participants will learn how the ESC of Northeast Ohio and its Business Advisory Council, business and industry leadership teams, and 42 aligned school districts are developing a regional workforce ecosystem and that unites business, higher education, non-profits, and community organizations to create a strong workforce pipeline. Paula Kucinic, Director of Professional Learning and Workforce Development, Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio, Independence, OH; Nadine Grimm, Coordinator of 21st Century Learning, ESC of Northeast Ohio, Independence, OH
Secondary
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Developing a Scholastic Esports Program with a Global Community
The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) provides opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire the communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and life. Join a NASEF Scholastic Fellow and learn how educators are connecting esports and learning in schools and out-of-school time/community-based organizations across the globe. PK Graff, Instructional Designer, STEM Content Specialist, Director of Gaming, Academies of Creative Education/Georgia Scholastic Esports Foundation, Brookhaven, GA
Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Inspiring, Training, and Equipping Next-Generation Leaders
Leadership Growth That’s Game Changing! In this session learn about customized solutions for your state or local program’s unique needs including Leadership Matters: Eight to Great, Pathways to Leadership, and Career Pathways Leadership. Reecie Stagnolia, CEO, Stagnolia Strategic Solutions, Lexington, KY; Kaye Sharbono, NCPN Consultant, NCPN, Delhi, LA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
From Career Advising to Career Navigation Systems
Preparing young people for a career requires a network of education, industry, workforce, and community leaders. Traditional career counseling approaches must be adapted to meet the needs of learners to support economic vitality. In this session, we will discuss approaches to career navigation systems and career advising challenges. Sarah Jenness, Senior Program Manager, Jobs for the Future, Boston, MA
Secondary, Postsecondary
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
Simple Strategies for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CTE
Too often discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion focus on research and provide few examples of strategies teachers and leaders can take to address the issue. This session will “flip the script” and focus on simple, concrete strategies teachers and leaders can take to address DEI. Scott Warren, Director Making Schools Work, Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Hear It From Your Peers: Maximizing the ASVAB Career Exploration Program
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) has built-in components that satisfy student-specific educational development plans. Users can generate an output of their career exploration via My Portfolio and My Education and Career Plans. Users can save careers, colleges, and career clusters and share these materials with mentors to refine their postsecondary plans. Find out how the most seasoned educators are utilizing these exciting no-cost resources to help their students get on the path to success after high school. Tabitha Jefferies, National Program Manager, ASVAB Career Exploration Program, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM), North Chicago, IL; Ted Hagert, Military Liaison, ASVAB Career Exploration Program, Written, LLC, Waldorf, MD; Jan Bayer, Lead Occupational Analyst, ASVAB Career Exploration Program, Written, LLC, Waldorf, MD; Jeraline Johnson, Director, Choice and Career Options, School District of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach, FL
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Integrate Bioscience Industry Employment Skills for Career Awareness and Success
Attendees will learn how to increase bioscience industry career awareness and readiness via integration of workplace competencies into instruction. The presenters will also provide an overview of the NSF ATE-funded Industry Recognized Credentialing System and illustrate free resources for career exploration and preparation for the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam. Tamara Mandell, Director, Biotility, University of Florida, Alachua, FL; Philip Gibson, PI, NSF ATE Implementing an Industry Recognized Credentialing System, BioEd Institute, a subsidiary of Center for Global Health Innovation, Atlanta, GA; Bridgette Kirkpatrick, Biotechnology Coordinator, Co-PI NSF ATE Implementing an Industry Recognized Credentialing System, Collin College, Plano, TX
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
I have devoted much of my academic career to the study of diversity, equity, leadership, and social justice. DEI always stayed at the center of my leadership. First, we have to identify diverse studentswho they are, where they are, and what hurdles and barriers they face. Equity is not about lowering the standards but removing barriers and providing equal access to and opportunity for advancement in careers. Generally, students lack support, assistance, help, guidance, and test taking skills; have test anxiety; and lack a sense of belonging. Rather than expecting students to adopt the college culture, we should accept their diverse cultures and give them time to blend in. All faculty should evaluate their teaching practices, materials, and activities to enhance diverse students’ sense of belonging. Tarlochan Dhillon, Professor, New Mexico State University Dona Ana Community College, El Paso, TX
Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Administrator, Staff
Creating Clear Pathways to In-Demand Jobs
The past couple years have seen a significant impact on the world of work due to COVID-19. The need to upskill and connect individuals to in-demand jobs is greater than ever. Attend this session to learn how the State of Colorado secured a grant to foster local talent pipeline development by connecting workers to in-demand jobs in the retail industry. Thomas Hartman, Senior Consultant, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Denver, CO; Allison Grenney, VP of Customer Success, PAIRIN, Denver, CO
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff
The Compass Initiative: Choose Your Path, the Time Is Now
The Compass Initiative is a new all-inclusive website developed by the Columbia County School District to provide students and parents with the information needed to select and implement a plan to reach their stated goal. It is a guide for assisting our students and families in selecting the path to success that is best for their future plans, which includes all CTE programming, academic courses, and scholarship opportunities offered at the high schools within our school district. Tiara Arline, Coordinator of College, Columbia County School District, Lake City, FL
Postsecondary, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Employer
Intertwining Activities: Cyber Up! Digital Forensics and Incident Response and GenCyber Girls
Coastline College collaborated with Fullerton College on two grant projects—Cyber Up! Digital Forensics and Incident Response and GenCyber Girls—to develop college-level curriculum and cybersecurity workshops for high school students. The synergy has helped increase female participation in the courses and build interest in cybersecurity careers among high school students. Tobi West, Professor / Department Chair, Coastline College, Garden Grove, CA; Anna Carlin, Professor, Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA
Secondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development
Faculty, Administrator, Staff
Industry-Recognized Visual Design Credentials for College, Workforce, and Entrepreneurship Success
Attendees will learn about Landstown Governor’s STEM Academy STEMarketing and Communications pathway, in which students interested in photography, videography, website design, and graphics attend three courses designed to build foundational student scaffolding in visual design. Each class is project-based and organized to prepare students for their professional certifications in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Animate, and Dreamweaver. Students also learn project management, networking, customer service, photography, videography, lighting, pre-production, production, and post-production. When students graduate, they are prepared to enter STEM college programs or start careers requiring professional-level certifications. Tyler Swartz, Career Technology Educator, Landstown Governor’s STEM Academy, Virginia Beach, VA
Secondary, Workforce Development
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Revitalizing STEM Education Through Manufacturing Apprenticeships
Hear about an innovative, exciting new approach to preparing high school students to love STEM and join the advanced manufacturing workforce of the future! Learn about the evolution of the ECEC program. The session will include quantitative data and engaging stories showing the success of the students as well as lessons learned. Valen Willis, Recruitment Manager, MAGNET, Cleveland, OH; Erika Eppinger, Education Coordinator, MAGNET, Cleveland, OH; Rahim Nichols, Internship Manager, MAGNET, Cleveland, OH
Secondary, Postsecondary, Adult Education, Workforce Development, Business
Faculty, Counselor, Administrator, Staff, Employer
Performance-Based Education
Attendees will learn about our approach to competency-based learning, PBE (performance-based education) offered at TSTC. We’ll examine best practices and lessons learned from our initial Tier 1 deployment. Yvonne Blackshear, Professor, Texas State Technical College, Brownwood, TX
