2026 WV ACTE Summer Conference

Name: The Power of the Pack: Building a Rigorous, Student-Centered Middle School Career Exploration Program
Start: 2026-08-04T11:00:00-0400
End: 2026-08-04T11:45:00-0400

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

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

2W16 Room

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

The Power of the Pack: Building a Rigorous, Student-Centered Middle School Career Exploration Program, Warm Springs Middle School/Morgan County Schools WV

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

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2026 WV ACTE Summer Conference

Jamie Harris

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Jamie Harris

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