WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference

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10:00am PDT

Building Opportunity: CTE Meets College in the High School in Workforce Training

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Join us for a discussion on how to use CTE and College in the High School (CHS) to prepare students for IRC’s, short certificates and college degrees. We will compare the CTE and CHS models, and how the two can prepare students to enter the workforce while earning dual credit towards high school and college completion.

Speakers

Jason Boatwright

Dean of Instruction, Healthcare Programs, Clover Park Technical College

Jason Boatwright has served as a student-focused educator for 20 years. He holds a Master of Science degree for Biology Teachers and an Educational Doctorate in Adult Higher Education at Oregon State University. In additional to teaching at a two-year college for a decade, his administrative... Read More →

Jessica Dempsey

Clover Park Technical College

I am the Associate Dean of Dual Credit Pathways at Clover Park Technical College and oversee our College in the High School efforts. Previous to that, I was the Running Start Counselor at CPTC for 11 years. I see dual credit opportunities as one of the best ways for high school students... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 3

Multiple Sections

11:00am PDT

Using Data to Improve Your District's CTE Course Catalog

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

Meeting Room # 3

CSTA Washington has launched public dashboards and reports to help districts analyze their CTE enrollments by career cluster, gender, race, income, ELL, and disability status. Attendees will learn to interpret this data to understand local enrollment trends and compare their performance against statewide, ESD, and peer district averages. Attendees will also learn to use these data dashboards and reports to identify participation gaps and drive data-informed program improvements to CTE course catalogs.

Speakers

Lawrence Tanimoto

VP Communications, CSTA Washington

VP Communications, CSTA Washington. Although now retired, Lawrence taught Computer Science as a CTE Teacher at Ingraham High School in north Seattle from 2014-2021. Prior to teaching, Lawrence worked for 28 years in the international computer industry - the last 18 with Microsoft... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 3

WACTA

12:00pm PDT

WA-CCER Board Meeting and Awards Luncheon

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Meeting Room # 3

Conduct WA-CCER annual summer conference board meeting and awards presentations during a group lunch.

Speakers

Nora Zollweg

Student Services Coordinator, West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton , Washington

Nora Zollweg is finishing her 15th year as Student Services Coordinator at West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton, WA. Nora earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Western Washington University, Master’s Degrees in Organizational Leadership and Human Resources... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 3

WA-CCER

2:00pm PDT

Teacher-Parent Toolbelt: EdTech Hacks for Life & Learning

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

Meeting Room # 3

Teaching and parenting often feel like juggling with fire, and then someone throws in a Chromebook! In this interactive session, explore the real-life challenges and hidden superpowers of being both an educator and a parent. Drawing on 20 years in education as a teacher, coach, and facilitator, and 12 years as a mom of three, I’ll share my “Teacher-Mom (Parent) Toolbelt,” a collection of strategies, reflections, and tech hacks that have helped me navigate teaching, leadership, graduate school, and life at home. Participants will discover practical, ready-to-implement tools for managing time, energy, and communication across school and home. We will explore tech hacks like digital organization shortcuts, time-blocking strategies, and simple routines that save time and energy. Leave with a personalized toolbelt of resources, reflective prompts for ongoing growth, and strategies you can use tomorrow to bring a little more joy and balance to your life.Learning outcome 1: Identify personal strengths and "superpowers" gained from being both an educator and a parent.Learning outcome 2: Identify practical strategies and tools to help streamline time management and reduce their mental load.Learning outcome 3: Create a personalized "Teacher-Parent Toolbelt" with actionable strategies and reflective prompts to support ongoing growth and well-being.

Speakers

Rena Clark

CTE STEM Facilitator, Renton School District

Rena Clark is currently a middle school CTE and STEM teacher and soon-to-be STEM Teaching and Learning Specialist in the Renton School District. She has nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, district facilitator, and STEM leader. Rena teaches Game Design... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 3

Multiple Sections

3:00pm PDT

CTE Office Hours

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Meeting Room # 3

Meet CTE program supervisors during office hours and get your questions answered directly related to CTE processes and requirements. Excited to see you there!

Speakers

Megan Benzing

CTE Program Supervisor, OSPI

Megan Benzing is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Supervisor at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), leading statewide efforts in construction, manufacturing, supply chain, and transportation pathways. She began her career in the classroom... Read More →

Krista Fox

Director of CTE, OSPI

Krista Fox, Ed.D. serves as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at OSPI, leading statewide efforts to strengthen CTE programs, career-connected learning, and student opportunities across Washington.

Kari Morgan

Associate Director of CTE

Kari Morgan is the Associate Director of Career Technical Education and has been in K-12 education for over 14 years. Kari has served as a skills center registrar, a CTE Business and Marketing teacher, and a district CTE Director. Prior to her career in education, she worked in the... Read More →

Courtney Peart

CTE Program Supervisor, OSPI

Courtney Peart is the Education, Health, Human and Public Services CTE Program Supervisor at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen career-connected learning and improve student outcomes. She brings expertise... Read More →

Tracy Powell

CTE Program Supervisor, OSPI/CTE

To be submitted later.

Holli Ryan-Kalaleh

Program Supervisor, Career Technical Education, Washington OSPI

Holli Kalaleh serves as a Program Supervisor at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). In partnership with Washington educators, CTSOs, and industry experts, her work focuses on transformative processes and programs that encourage innovation in career skills... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 3

Multiple Sections