2026 WV ACTE Summer Conference

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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10:00am EDT

Big Opportunities, Small Towns: Career Exploration Strategies for Rural Middle Schools

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT

2W16 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

Rural middle schools play a critical role in helping students begin to see possibilities for their future. Yet many schools face challenges such as limited access to industry partners, transportation barriers, and fewer opportunities for career exposure. This session will explore why career exploration in the middle grades matters and how educators can expand students’ awareness of careers—even without leaving the classroom.

Participants will learn practical, low-cost strategies that rural schools can implement immediately, including virtual industry tours, career-focused project-based learning, and using real labor market data for career research. Attendees will leave with concrete ideas and resources to help rural students discover big opportunities beyond their small towns.

Speakers

Judy Frank

Director of State and District Partnerships, Southern Regional Education Board

Judy Frank is the SREB West Virgina State Director. She joined SREB in 2015, bringing more than 33 years of experience working on issues of education policy and practice in the public education sector. Judy has led numerous school, district, state and national workshops advocating... Read More →

Daniel Rock

Senior Instructional Coach, Southern Region Education Board

Daniel Rock is an instructional coach with the Southern Regional Education Board who works with schools across multiple states to strengthen literacy and instructional practices across content areas, including career and technical education programs. His work focuses on helping teachers... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
2W16 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Middle School, Best Practices
global Y

10:00am EDT

From Classroom to Career: Engaging Students Through AP Business with Personal Finance

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT

Shawkey Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

What does high-quality, career-connected business education look like in action?
In this interactive session, participants will experience AP Business with Personal Finance firsthand through hands-on, project-based challenges modeled after real classroom experiences. Designed to align with the ACTE High-Quality CTE Framework, this course integrates entrepreneurship, financial literacy, employer-endorsed credentials, and CTSO-aligned learning to prepare students for both college credit and high-demand careers.
Participants will explore how students develop decision-making skills using real-world case studies, apply the PACED model to personal and business financial decisions, and build an entrepreneurial venture through the AP Business Canvas project. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to expand access to rigorous business pathways, strengthen industry connections, and implement engaging, workforce-aligned programs that empower West Virginia students to own their futures.

Speakers

Andrea Holzwarth

Career Strategy and Engagement, College Board

Andrea Holzwarth is the Director of Career Strategy and Engagement at the College Board and brings more than a decade of experience across K–12 education, higher education, and workforce development. She is passionate about strengthening operations, improving the customer experience... Read More →

Zach Riffle

State and District Partnerships, College Board

Zach Riffle works in the State and District Partnerships of College Board. He brings more than a decade of experience in the k12 space. Prior to coming on to College Board in September 2024, Zach was a high school science teacher for ten years, spending four years in Southeast... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
Shawkey Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Investing in the Future, Best Practices, Post-Secondary Credit
global Y

11:00am EDT

The Power of the Pack: Building a Rigorous, Student-Centered Middle School Career Exploration Program

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT

2W16 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

The Power of the Pack: Building a Rigorous, Student-Centered Middle School Career Exploration & CTE Program
What does it look like when an entire middle school rallies together to build a culture where every student can see—and start becoming—their future self? In this session, participants will explore how Warm Springs Middle School has transformed Career Exploration into a cohesive, student-centered, and community‑driven initiative that strengthens engagement, academic relevance, and postsecondary awareness across grades 6–8.
This session will spotlight how WSMS redesigned its systems using career clusters, student voice, intentional teaming, and community partnerships to create a comprehensive middle‑grades CTE pipeline. Participants will examine the school’s Career Exploration Club model—28 clubs aligned with CTE pathways—and learn how this model naturally complements programs like Discovering Your Futures, Project Lead The Way (PLTW), and other exploratory curricula.
Attendees will discover practical strategies for:
• Building a career-connected culture in the middle grades
Through weekly exploratory rotations, interest‑based clubs, and cross‑curricular collaboration, WSMS increased student agency and intrinsic motivation that extends into classrooms, athletics, intramurals, and schoolwide leadership opportunities.
• Designing sustainable, student-driven CTE experiences
Learn how WSMS integrates hands‑on STEM experiences, agriculture, technical skills, and real-world problem solving through PLTW modules, student-selected pathways, and community mentorships.
• Leveraging Discovering Your Futures to promote early career identity development
See how the framework supports students in identifying strengths, exploring clusters, and developing personal goals—while giving teachers an easy-to-implement structure.
• Writing grants that bring your vision to life
Participants will see real examples from WSMS’s successful grant projects—such as greenhouse construction, agriculture expansion, and new technology programs—and walk away with replicable grant-writing tips to secure funding for high-impact student experiences.
• Partnering with local businesses & industry—at a middle school level
Explore how WSMS built meaningful partnerships with local employers, colleges, and community organizations to strengthen relevance, boost student engagement, and ignite early workforce curiosity.
By the end of the session, participants will leave with:
✓ A strategic roadmap for launching or expanding middle‑grade CTE
✓ Templates for student interest surveys, teaming structures, and club design
✓ Ideas for integrating PLTW and Discovering Your Futures into daily schedules
✓ Grant-writing language and models they can adapt immediately
✓ Concrete, actionable steps to create a schoolwide culture of exploration, belonging, and future readiness
Join us to discover how The Power of the Pack can reshape your school—and empower every student to explore boldly, think deeply, and dream confidently about who they can become.

Speakers

Jamie Harris

Principal, Warm Springs Middle School/Morgan County Schools

Jamie Harris is a visionary, student‑centered leader who serves as Principal of Warm Springs Middle School, where he has spearheaded one of the most transformative periods of growth and innovation in the school’s recent history. Known for his visible, hands-on leadership style... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
2W16 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Middle School, Best Practices
global Y

1:00pm EDT

Answering the Call: Creating an EMS Career Pathway from High School to Workforce

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

John Marshall Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

Across West Virginia, communities are facing a growing shortage of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals. To help address this challenge, BridgeValley Community & Technical College partnered with Clay County Schools to develop an innovative EMS career pathway that allows high school students to begin preparing for emergency services careers while still in school.

This session will showcase how the EMS Pathway Program at Clay County High School integrates career and technical education, dual enrollment, hands-on skills training, and simulation-based learning to introduce students to the EMS profession and create a direct pipeline into EMT and paramedic education.
Presenters will discuss how the program was developed through collaboration between secondary education, higher education, and local EMS agencies, and how the model can be adapted and implemented in other schools and communities across West Virginia.

Participants will learn how this pathway can be replicated or customized to fit the needs of their own schools, allowing districts to build sustainable healthcare workforce pipelines while giving students meaningful opportunities to enter high-demand careers.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for starting or expanding similar programs, including strategies for partnerships, curriculum alignment, equipment needs, and student recruitment.

Speakers

Jon Fannin

EMS Program Director, BridgeValley CTC

Jonathan Fannin, BA, NRP, FP-C, MCCP is the Program Director for Emergency Medical Services at BridgeValley Community & Technical College in South Charleston, West Virginia. With more than 20 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services, Jonathan has served in a variety of roles including ground EMS, critical care... Read More →

Jennifer Hurt

Dean of High School Students, BridgeValley CTC

Jennifer Hurt, MA, EdS serves as the Dean of High School Programs at BridgeValley Community & Technical College, where she leads the college’s dual enrollment initiatives and High School Programs. With more than 30 years of experience in education and curriculum development, she has dedicated her career to helping students access meaningful college and career pathways while still in high s... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
John Marshall Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Healthcare & Human Services, Best Practices, Law & Public Safety

2:00pm EDT

Turning Plans into Action: Aligning Student Follow-Through with High-Quality CTE Frameworks

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT

2W22 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

In today’s rapidly evolving economy, aligning student readiness initiatives with actual workforce needs is a critical priority for CTE leaders. This session explores how districts and state agencies can bridge the gap between classroom planning and real-world follow-through by integrating digital readiness tools with existing school frameworks.

Drawing on lessons from successful statewide partnerships, we will discuss practical strategies for embedding college, career, and life readiness into the student experience.

This session specifically aligns with the ACTE High-Quality CTE Framework by addressing Standards-aligned and Integrated Curriculum, Prepared and Effective Program Staff, and Access and Equity. Participants will learn how to leverage evidence-based guidance to create a holistic, accessible pathway for all learners - from middle school career exploration to post-secondary transition.

Speakers

Stephen Guillette

Senior Director, Partnerships, Level All

Stephen Guillette is the Senior Director of Partnerships at Level All, where he collaborates with education agencies and districts to embed college, career, and life readiness into the student experience. A specialist in strategic alignment, Stephen supports leaders in integratin... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
2W22 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Best Practices, Post-Secondary Credit
global Y

11:00pm EDT

Stukent CTE - Courses, Simternships, Certification Prep, & Certifications

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00pm - 11:20pm EDT

Don Morris Room - Table 2 @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Stukent CTE provides access to world-class courseware, simulations, cert prep, and certifications.
Business Content Areas: Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance, & Accounting
Agriculture Content Areas: Intro to Ag, AgBiz, Plant Science, Animal Science, Ag Mechanics, & Floral Design
Hospitality Content Areas: Principles of Hospitality and Tourism Management, & Culinary Arts
All CTE: Generative AI, Personal Finance, Career Readiness, & Public Speaking

Courseware (Learn): Standards-based, interactive curriculum with full-year courses. The courses include lessons based on standards, video content from a group of young, diverse professionals, formative & summative assessments, projects, discussions, & exams (auto-graded). The platform also includes a bellringer video resource based on current events and case studies.
Simternships (Simulate): Stukent CTE offers 15+ cutting-edge simulations, called Simternships, which give students hands-on learning, work-based experience, and robust application.
Cert Prep (Practice): The platform also aligns with third-party Cert Prep offerings from Certiport and iCEV.
Certifications (Certify): Stukent CTE offers 10+ Industry-Recognized Certifications that help teachers certify student understanding.

The Teacher Dashboard provides real-time measurement and monitoring tools, standards-based analytics, group management, tracking of student leader efficacy, and custom rubrics.
The platform is fully integrated with Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and MS Teams.

Speakers

Hayley Johnson

Teacher Success Manager, Stukent CTE

Hayley serves as a Teacher Success Manager with Stukent CTE, where she is dedicated to making curriculum both effective and easy to implement. She especially enjoys partnering with educators to customize the platform to meet the unique and ever-evolving needs of their classrooms... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00pm - 11:20pm EDT
Don Morris Room - Table 2 Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Speed Networking Session

Area Certifications, Best Practices, Simulations and/or Internships

11:25pm EDT

Stukent CTE - Courses, Simternships, Certification Prep, & Certifications

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:25pm - 11:45pm EDT

Don Morris Room - Table 2 @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Courseware (Learn): Standards-based, interactive curriculum with full-year courses. The courses include lessons based on standards, video content from a group of young, diverse professionals, formative & summative assessments, projects, discussions, & exams (auto-graded). The platform also includes a bellringer video resource based on current events and case studies.
Simternships (Simulate): Stukent CTE offers 15+ cutting-edge simulations, called Simternships, which give students hands-on learning, work-based experience, and robust application.
Cert Prep (Practice): The platform also aligns with third-party Cert Prep offerings from Certiport and iCEV.
Certifications (Certify): Stukent CTE offers 10+ Industry-Recognized Certifications that help teachers certify student understanding.

Speakers