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WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference
Venue: Cedar Ballroom clear filter
Saturday, August 1
 

8:00am PDT

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

Speakers
avatar for Shani Watkins

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
 
Sunday, August 2
 

10:00am PDT

WA ACTE New Member Meet & Greet
Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
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
avatar for Jodi Jacobs

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

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
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
avatar for Dr. Renee Sunday

Dr. Renee Sunday

Physician, Founder and Workplace Performance Consultant, DRS Global
Dr. Renee Sunday, M.D., is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 26 years of experience practicing in high-stakes clinical environments where precision, decision-making, and regulatory compliance are essential. She is also a Certified AI Consultant and Certified Behavioral... Read More →
Sunday August 2, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Cedar Ballroom

1:00pm PDT

CTE Bootcamp: A Crash Course for the New-to-CTE Family
Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
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
avatar for Megan Benzing

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 →
KF

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.
KM

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 →
avatar for Courtney Peart

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 →
TP

Tracy Powell

CTE Program Supervisor, OSPI/CTE
To be submitted later.
avatar for Holli Ryan-Kalaleh

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
 
Monday, August 3
 

11:00am PDT

OSPI HOT Updates in Mini-Sessions
Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
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
avatar for Holli Ryan-Kalaleh

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

1:00pm PDT

Building Tenacity: A Deeper Dive into The Energy Map
Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
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
avatar for Niki Spears

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

3:00pm PDT

New CTE Director Resources
Monday August 3, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
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
KF

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.
KM

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

4:00pm PDT

OSPI Statewide Update: Policy, Priorities, and What's Ahead
Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
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
CL

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. 
avatar for Becky Wallace

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
 
Tuesday, August 4
 

9:00am PDT

Learning Standards Review and Revision Project Updates
Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
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
avatar for Angela Allen

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

10:00am PDT

Google Forms Tips and Tricks for Efficiency & Engagement.
Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Design smarter Google Forms that save time and boost participation. This hands-on workshop covers branching questions, short answer response validation (without case sensitivity!), formatting strategies, analyzing response data in Sheets, creating forms automatically with AI, and essential settings that improve workflow, accuracy, and engagement. Leave with practical techniques you can use immediately.
Speakers
avatar for Davin Perry

Davin Perry

CTE Teacher, Medical Lake High School
I've been a CTE Digital Arts & Business teacher at Medical Lake High School for nine years.   My industry experience includes work video/media work in collegiate athletics, freelance videography, and work as an electrical engineer.  
Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Cedar Ballroom

12:00pm PDT

WA-FACSE Awards Luncheon
Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Awards Luncheon
Speakers
CM

Cassie Mueller

Career Counselor, Puyallup School District
WA-FACS members
Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

2:00pm PDT

Financial Education Learning Standards Update and Input Opportunity
Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Attend this session to see the changes and updates to the WA State K-12 Learning Standards for Financial Education.  Participants will review changes, have the opportunity to provide input on the standards before final adoption and look at the implications for implementation in your system.
Speakers
avatar for Angela Allen

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 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom

3:00pm PDT

Unlocking Safety
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Unlocking Safety is an interactive workshop grounded in the CASE Safety curriculum, designed to help educators effectively integrate safety into CTE programs. Participants will explore safety through the lens of education, evaluation, and enforcement while engaging in hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities. The session highlights key areas including lab, shop, and experiential learning safety, and provides practical tools to foster student responsibility, risk awareness, and a strong, sustainable culture of safety across diverse learning environments.
Speakers
avatar for Joshua Krieg

Joshua Krieg

Teacher and CTE Director, Goldendale
Joshua Krieg has taught agricultural education for 18 years, working with students in grades 9–12 across Washington state. A certified agricultural educator with a strong background in applied science, he is dedicated to preparing students for careers in agriculture and related... Read More →
avatar for Randi Krieg

Randi Krieg

Teacher, Goldendale
Randi has taught for 18‑years in grades 7–12 in Goldendale, Mabton, and Elma. A Certified Agricultural Teacher with a science endorsement, she has been National Board Certified since 2013. Randi was honored as the ESD 105 Teacher of the Year and is currently serving as the President... Read More →
Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom
 
Wednesday, August 5
 

10:00am PDT

The Safe-to-Fail Lab: Resilience over Perfection
Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Cross-Curricular Seminar / Interactive Workshop for any CTE lab — whether you teach welding, culinary, math, or anything in between. We know the fear of making a mistake can shut down creativity. This session shows how to create a high-accountability, low-anxiety space where students learn to pivot when things go wrong and build real on-the-job resilience. Let’s embrace a bit of mess while keeping everyone safe and supported.
Key points:
The "Red Line" vs. the "Gray Zone": Clear safety rules that are non-negotiable (Red) and separate areas where students are encouraged to experiment and learn from failure (Gray).
Grading the Recovery: Shift the emphasis from just the finished product to how a student diagnoses an error and adapts — rewarding problem-solving and growth.
Psychological Safety: Using a "Wall of First Tries" to normalize the learning curve. Let students showcase early attempts and failures as milestones, not shameful moments.
Designed Micro-Failures: Intentionally provide low-stakes situations where things go wrong so students can practice troubleshooting in real time.
Takeaway: You’ll leave with a Recovery Rubric and a set of Growth Mindset scripts to replace high-pressure lab language — practical tools to make your CTE space safer, braver, and more creative - increasing achievement and growth from all students.
Speakers
avatar for Meloni Courtway

Meloni Courtway

Lead Culinary Instructor, Bainbridge Island School District
Meloni Courtway believes that the kitchen is the ultimate classroom for life. An experienced private chef, writer, and CTE educator, Meloni spent years honing her craft across the U.S. - from Hawaii to Washington - before transitioning into secondary education 10 years ago. Her accolades... Read More →
Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Cedar Ballroom
 
WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference
From $21.37
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