WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference

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9:00am PDT

Beyond the Club: Embedding HOSA into Everyday Instruction

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Transform HOSA from an extracurricular activity into a powerful instructional tool. In this interactive session, educators will explore how to incorporate HOSA competitions, projects, and resources into daily classroom practice. Attendees will leave with practical examples, rubrics, and strategies to support student learning across health science pathways including sports medicine, nursing, and allied health.

Speakers

Whitney Champlin

CTE Instructor, Athletic Trainer, Union High School - Evergreen Public Schools

Whitney is a high school sports medicine and health sciences teacher and athletic trainer dedicated to preparing students for careers in healthcare. In addition to teaching, Whitney is an active advisor for HOSA, guiding students in developing essential skills and pursuing postsecondary... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 1

HSCTE

10:00am PDT

From BACE to Beyond: Industry-Aligned Biotech Credentials to Strengthen Career Pathways

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Meeting Room # 1

The Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE) serves as a base, with a framework supported by bioscience industry standards for career-ready talent. Building on the validated BACE credential, new credentials aligned with high-demand workforce needs have been developed to expand bioscience career options. This session will share credential design strategies and provide industry insights on technician-level talent. We invite educators, administrators, counselors, and industry partners to explore how industry hiring needs and credentialing models intersect to shape career pathway ecosystems.

Speakers

Tamara Mandell

Director, University of Florida, Biotility

Tamara Mandell, M.Ed., serves as Director of Biotility at the University of Florida (UF Biotility), where she leads national efforts to build a skilled, future ready bioscience workforce. Applying more than a decade of combined academic research and industrial biotechnology experience... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 1

WITEA

11:00am PDT

Effect of vocational retraining alignment on injured workers’ motivation and well-being, and its application to Career and Technical Education in Washington State

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT

Meeting Room # 1

This session explores the impact of choice in vocational retraining on the motivation and well-being of injured workers who are forced to switch careers due to a workplace injury. Research conducted on the subject will be presented along with the findings. The results and data will then be generalized to what role choice can have in the motivation and well-being of students with Washington state Career and Technical Education programs, and how this consideration can be used in future curriculum and program planning.

Speakers

Dr. Jantz Garza

Teacher, Kennewick School District

Jantz Garza is a middle school teacher in Kennewick, Washington, who teaches STEM Exploration. Jantz has completed Concordia University Wisconsin’s Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement program. His research explored the motivation and well-being... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 1

WA-CCER, CCDEI