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

Area Middle School, Best Practices
global Y

1:00pm EDT

Your opportunity awaits! FREE Economics programs at WVU for Teachers and High School Students

LIMITED

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

2W16 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

Did you know there is an outreach via West Virginia University that can offer a no cost Masters of Science in Economics degree for Wv educators and free dual credit economics classes for West Virginia students? In this fun and informative session, representatives from the Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at WVU will be here to fill you in on all the details. The Kendrick Center is breaking new ground in what business ethics means in a business college. Come be part of the mission and goal of providing an economist to every community across the State!

Speakers

Eric Benson

Secondary Schools Liaison, Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy at West Virginia University

In addition to teaching Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship, Eric “Doc” Benson is an internationally published writer, actor, four-time Best Director, Society for Human Resources Management ‘Certified Professional’ (SHRM-CP) and Secondary Schools Liaison with the WVU... Read More →

Cathleen Johnson

Kendrick Chair of Economics, Director of the Center for an Ethical Economy, Kendrick Center for an Ethical Economy at West Virginia University

Cathleen Johnson is the Assistant Chair in the Economics Department at West Virginia University. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech in 2000. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship with Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith in 2001. Her specialty after network theory is running... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
2W16 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Management & Entrepreneurship, Investing in the Future, Post-Secondary Credit
global Y

2:00pm EDT

Aviation for All

LIMITED

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

2W16 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will explore innovative strategies for developing and expanding aviation education programs that prepare students for high-demand careers in the aviation industry. Participants will learn how to begin building a local pipeline of future aviators by introducing students to aviation pathways early and providing meaningful, hands-on learning experiences throughout high school.

The session will highlight a vision for growing programs into a comprehensive aviation-focused high school environment—modeled after successful programs across the country—where students can graduate with a competitive advantage. Attendees will gain insight into program design, industry partnerships, credentialing opportunities, and strategies for aligning instruction to workforce needs.

Aligned to the Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Career Cluster, this session will provide practical ideas and inspiration for educators and leaders looking to expand opportunities and prepare students for careers in aviation right here at home.

Speakers

Joseph Jervis

Director of Maintenance and Flight Operations, Aviation Instructor for SVHSCTE, Appalachian Flight Services & Spring Valley High School CTE

I am interested in this proposal so that I may have an opportunity to share my successes as the first real hands-on aviation program in the state where students are actively working through a business partnership with Appalachian Flight Services to maintain airworthiness of actual... Read More →

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

Workshop