WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference

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10:00am PDT

Building Professional Communication Skills for Students

Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am PDT

This session focuses on intentional scaffolding strategies and repeated opportunities for communication that help students grow over time. Participants will explore practical ways to teach and reinforce communication skills through structured discussions, mock interviews, pitches, presentations, project check-ins, role plays, and peer feedback routines. The session will highlight simple speaking and listening strategies students can practice repeatedly, along with approaches for embedding communication instruction into everyday classroom experiences. Teachers will leave with adaptable ideas and planning tools they can apply to their pathways, schedules, and teaching styles.

Speakers

Aaron Tomyn

Director of Career and College Readiness, Sumner-Bonney Lake School District

Aaron Tomyn is the Director of Career and College Readiness for the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. With experience as a director, teacher, coach, and TOSA since 2007, he now leads efforts to prepare students for life after high school. His focus is connecting students with industry... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 3

Multiple Sections

1:00pm PDT

Ignite Learning with Laser Precision: Empowering Classrooms with xTool P2S

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Meeting Room # 3

In this session, we will demo the P2S 55W Desktop CO2 Laser Cutter. We will also compare the P2S with the latest model P3. Bring a file (SVG/DXF/JPG/JPEG/PNG/BMP/TIF) to see if you are chosen as a demo for either laser cutting or laser engraving in this session.

Speakers

Faith Taylor

Educational Consultant, Southern Educational Consulting and Training

Faith Taylor is an educational consultant at Southern Educational Consulting and Training. At Southern Educational Consulting & Training, our focus is on providing access to world-class educational technology in the areas of automated manufacturing, industrial maintenance, engineering... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 3

WITEA

2:00pm PDT

Agri-Tech Infrastructure: Engineering Sustainable Workforce Labs with the Garden Caterpillar

Sunday August 2, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Meeting Room # 3

Empower Washington’s future workforce with resilient agri-tech infrastructure. In this hands-on session, Farming The Future introduces the Garden Caterpillar—a modular, sustainable alternative to traditional beds designed for high-use in living labs. Attendees will engineer their own caterpillar system and master rapid-production microgreen techniques. Leave with a mini caterpillar and student microgreen kit, ready to implement a professional-grade, student-led agricultural program that aligns with CTE and STEM learning goals.First 20 participants receive hands-on materials for workshop, unlimited number can attend. They get a personal size (small and portable, can fit on plane) garden caterpillar bed, soil and all, that they will plant seeds in to grow everything needed for a personal salad in 8 weeks. They will also get a individual microgreen kit.

Speakers

Michele Madison

CEO, Farming The Future

Founder of Farming The Future and agri-tech innovator specializing in workforce-ready STEM education. Starting off her career in 21st century agricultural system design and production she is an expert in industry as well as serving 8 years in K-12 program implementation. Her work... Read More →