2026 WV ACTE Summer Conference

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

10:00am EDT

From Classroom to Community: Embedding Innovation & Entrepreneurship in a Middle School Program

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT

2W22 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights how a rural West Virginia middle school program leverages community partnerships, state connections, and existing campus resources to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into student learning. Participants will explore practical, replicable strategies for building partnerships, designing student-driven projects, and transforming classroom assignments into real-world impact. Attendees will leave with a framework they can immediately implement in their own schools—regardless of size or funding.This session highlights how a rural West Virginia middle school program leverages community partnerships, state connections, and existing campus resources to embed innovation and entrepreneurship into student learning. Participants will explore practical, replicable strategies for building partnerships, designing student-driven projects, and transforming classroom assignments into real-world impact. Attendees will leave with a framework they can immediately implement in their own schools—regardless of size or funding.

Speakers

Jeremy Cantrell

CTE 7/Ag, Braxton County Middle School

Jeremy Cantrell is a West Virginia middle school educator and innovative program leader recognized for advancing environmental education and entrepreneurship in rural schools. A recipient of the 2026 WVDEP Environmental Teacher of the Year Award (6th-8th grade level) and honored with... Read More →

Alicia McPherson

CTE 8th, Braxton County Middle School

Mrs. McPherson is an 8th grade Career and Technical Education teacher whose collaborative leadership and forward-thinking mindset have helped expand innovation within the middle school program. Working alongside Jeremy, she has played a key role in designing hands-on, student-centered... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am EDT
2W22 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Best Practices, Middle School, Management & Entrepreneurship, Agriculture
global Y

11:00am EDT

From Ideas to Action: Sparking Student Innovation

LIMITED

Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT

Shawkey Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights how student-centered innovation, structured business partnerships, and authentic work-based learning experiences can strengthen student problem-solving, creativity, and career readiness. Participants will explore how Student Innovators and SparkWV integrate project-based learning, employability skills, CTSO alignment, and industry engagement into a cohesive pathway experience. Through real examples from West Virginia students and educators, participants will learn how students move from ideation to community-supported implementation.

This session will provide practical tools and replicable strategies that align with key elements of the ACTE High-Quality CTE Framework, including:
Engaging instruction and project-based learning
Business and community
Work-based learning
Student career development

Attendees will leave with implementation strategies to strengthen any programs of study while expanding student access, career-connected learning, and skill development.

Speakers

Kim Zirk

Program Manager, The EdVenture Group

Kim Zirk earned a Master’s in Secondary Education and a Bachelor’s in English from West Virginia University. With over a decade of experience spanning the K-16 continuum, she has worked extensively with youth, designing and implementing research-driven, differentiated curriculum... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am EDT
Shawkey Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Workshop

Area Management & Entrepreneurship, Best Practices
global Y

3:15pm EDT

Business, Marketing, Financial Services & Entrepreneurship Networking Session

LIMITED

Monday August 3, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

2W9 Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

This session is a dedicated networking meetup rather than a formal presentation. Educators across business, marketing, financial services, and entrepreneurship are encouraged to come together to share strategies, resources, and ideas that connect classroom learning to real-world applications.

Participants will engage in open conversation around project-based learning, student organizations, industry partnerships, and innovative instructional practices. Use this time to collaborate, exchange best practices, and build a network to support and strengthen your programs.

Monday August 3, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
2W9 Room Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Networking

Area Management & Entrepreneurship, Investing in the Future

11:00am EDT

Bringing Midcrosoft Certifications To Your Classroom

LIMITED

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

Shawkey Room @ Marshall University Student Memorial Center

Limited Capacity seats available

Skills have become the currency of the 21st Century and West Virginia teachers have access to the resources needed to teach these skills along with certifications to validate your student's skills. We will discuss what certifications are offered through the West Virginia Statewide Programs, how to deliver certifications to your students, best ways to prepare students for certifications and share ideas on how to get your students motivated and excited about the certification opportunities you are giving them.

Speakers

Diane Malachowski

Certification Deployment Manager, Certiport/Pearson

Diane Malachowski is a Certification Deployment Manager with Certiport. She currently is over the Statewide Microsoft Certification Initiative in West Virginia. She is excited to help teachers achieve their certification goals and find success in the classroom.

Portia Naze

Specialist, Pearson Career Ready

Portia Naze brings a unique blend of classroom, administrative, and industry experience to the world of Career and Technical Education. A former teacher and school administrator, she has dedicated her career to supporting educators and building programs that meet the real needs of both teac... Read More →

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

Workshop

Area Certifications, Management & Entrepreneurship
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