WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference: Full Schedule

8:00am PDT

Saturday August 1, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT

Speakers

Shani Watkins

CTE Director, Puyallup School District

Shani Watkins is entering her twenty‑ninth year in education, bringing extensive experience as a 9–12 classroom teacher, instructional facilitator, university program director, assistant CTE director, principal, technical center director, and currently the Director of Career and... Read More →

Saturday August 1, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

WA-ACTE Sessions

10:00am PDT

WA ACTE New Member Meet & Greet

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

Cedar Ballroom

Welcome & “Who We Are” Overview
We’ll kick off with a warm welcome from WA ACTE leadership and provide a brief introduction to the organization’s mission, purpose, and role in supporting CTE educators. You’ll learn how WA ACTE advocates for high‑quality Career and Technical Education and promotes professional development statewide.
Meet the Sections
Each WA ACTE section will introduce itself and share what makes their group unique. Sections may include areas such as Agricultural Education, Business & Marketing, FCS, Health Sciences, STEM, Skilled & Technical Sciences, Counseling & Career Development, and more.
You’ll gain insight into:

The focus of each section
Opportunities to connect with colleagues in your specialty
Events, resources, and leadership pathways within each section

How to Use the WA ACTE App
A brief guided walkthrough will show you how to navigate the conference or membership app. We’ll highlight how to:

Access schedules and session details
Connect with other members
Receive updates and announcements
Customize your conference experience

Agenda Review & What Comes Next
We’ll wrap up with a quick review of the conference or meeting agenda so you know what to expect throughout the rest of your time with WA ACTE. This includes key sessions, networking opportunities, and must‑see events.
Participants will also have time for questions and informal conversation with WA ACTE leaders and peers.

Speakers

Jodi Jacobs

CTE Program Facilitator, Everett Public School

Jodi Jacobs, CTE Program Facilitator at Everett Public Schools, offers 20+ years' expertise spanning Business, Marketing, IT, and Family Sciences. Engaged with WAME and WA-ACTE, she champions CTE development. Armed with BS degrees in Administrative Management and Business Education... Read More →

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

WA-ACTE Sessions

11:00am PDT

Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor: Protecting Decision Quality and Ethical Practice in Professional Settings

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

Cedar Ballroom

High-performing professionals often maintain output while their decision quality quietly declines. This session introduces the REST Framework, a structured approach to recognize early stress signals, maintain clarity under pressure, and support sound, ethical decision-making. Participants will learn practical methods to reduce cognitive overload, strengthen focus, and apply consistent decision strategies that improve outcomes in their organizations, classrooms, and communities.

Speakers

Renee Sunday

Workforce Performance Consultant, DRS Global, LLC.

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

Multiple Sections, Leadership

1:00pm PDT

CTE Bootcamp: A Crash Course for the New-to-CTE Family

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

Cedar Ballroom

New to Career Technical Education? This is your jumpstart. In just three hours, we'll cover the essentials you need to hit the ground running — no prior CTE experience required, just a hopeful attitude and the tenacity to dive into a lot of new acronyms.

We'll walk through the course approval process, how to build strong relationships with Advisory committees, and practical ways to connect with industry partners. You'll learn the ins and outs of Work-Based Learning, including the often-confused difference between Work-Based Learning and Cooperative Worksite Learning. We'll also introduce you to Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) and finally demystify those mysterious V-Codes, CIP codes and IRCs that seem to follow you everywhere in CTE

To round things out, you'll leave with practical, CTE-specific tools to support strong teaching practices and classroom management — because great instruction is just as important as understanding the processes.

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 CTE

Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs support local middle and high school programs that provide 21st-century, academic and technical skills for all students. Teachers participate in the professional development of curricula and instruction, standards and assessment, and academic... Read More →

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 →

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections

11:00am PDT

OSPI HOT Updates in Mini-Sessions

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

Cedar Ballroom

Join the OSPI Program Supervisors for a fast-paced mini-session covering the latest OSPI updates that impact your CTE programs. Whether you're a CTE veteran or new to the field, these sessions are designed to get you up to speed quickly and confidently. Same great content with discussion on improved Verification Reports, Career Clusters & CIP codes, plus a roundup of improved resources and support tools available to you.

Come with questions, leave with answers (and maybe a few action items for Monday morning). Hope you're optimistic about all the updates — because staying current takes a little tenacity, and we've got you covered.

Speakers

Holli Ryan-Kalaleh

Program Supervisor, Career Technical Education, Washington OSPI

Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections

1:00pm PDT

Building Tenacity: A Deeper Dive into The Energy Map

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Cedar Ballroom

The breakout session provides an applied and interactive deep dive into The Energy Map introduced in Monday’s keynote. Participants will explore the five energy levels in greater depth, learning how to recognize patterns of helplessness, tension, ownership, servant leadership, and collective commitment within themselves and their organizations. Through guided reflection and collaborative discussion, attendees will examine real-world leadership scenarios and practice shifting from reactive responses to intentional ownership. This session moves beyond inspiration into practical strategy, equipping leaders with concrete tools to sustain momentum, navigate pressure, and build cultures rooted in accountability and resilience. Participants will leave with clarity, confidence, and actionable steps to strengthen tenacity within their teams and institutions.

Speakers

Niki Spears

Business Owner, Culture Cre8ion

Niki Spears is an educator, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and culture strategist passionate about helping people and organizations transform the way they think, lead, and work together. A former school principal and the founder of Culture Cre8ion, Niki has spent years empowering educators, leaders, and teams through powerful conversations centered on mindset, self-awareness, ownership, and culture transformation.Known for her high-energy storytelling and practical leadership strategies, Niki challenges audiences to recognize... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections

3:00pm PDT

New CTE Director Resources

Monday August 3, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Cedar Ballroom

Welcome new CTE Administrators! This session introduces you to the CTE team, key agency contacts, and essential resources to support your leadership journey. We'll wrap up with a Q&A to answer your questions and help you get connected.

Speakers

Krista Fox

Director of CTE, OSPI CTE

Kari Morgan

Associate Director of CTE

Monday August 3, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections

4:00pm PDT

OSPI Statewide Update: Policy, Priorities, and What's Ahead

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

Cedar Ballroom

Join OSPI staff for a high-level update on agency priorities, initiatives, and topics relevant to Career and Technical Education and our K12 system. This session will provide opportunities for questions, discussion, and feedback, allowing participants to share how OSPI can best support CTE programs and the broader education system through effective communication, technical assistance, and customer service.

Speakers

Clarisse Leong

Director of Operations, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Clarisse serves as the Director of Operations in the Pathway and Preparation Division at OSPI.

Becky Wallace

Assistant Superintendent, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Becky serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Pathway Preparation and Title Programs at OSPI. The Pathway Preparation and Title Programs division supports providing students with access to challenging coursework, a tailored secondary educational experience, and pathways to graduation... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections

9:00am PDT

Learning Standards Review and Revision Project Updates

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Cedar Ballroom

Get the latest updates on the learning standards review and revision project, including the final adoption of the Mathematics and English Language Arts Learning Standards and important timeline dates.
The session will focus on the implementation of the learning standards, technical supports being created and developed for districts, schools, educators and families to build a comprehensive and collaborative K-12 instructional system.
Examples of support for implementation, sample resources, and activities will be provided, along with activities and opportunities with our educational partners.

Speakers

Angela Allen

Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Angela has been in K-12 education for 26 years and is currently the Executive Director for Educator Effectiveness at OSPI. In her career, Angela has been a high school teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant High School Principal, Middle School Principal, Director of Secondary and... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Cedar Ballroom

Multiple Sections