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

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