WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference

10:00am PDT

Bringing Business, Personal Finance, and Career Readiness Together

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

AP Business with Personal Finance helps schools expand access to rigorous, relevant, career-connected learning and is included on Washington’s state industry-recognized credential list. This session will highlight practical strategies for using the course to build financial literacy, business knowledge, and real-world decision-making. Through interactive discussion and practical examples, attendees will leave with concrete strategies for integrating AP into CTE programs and engaging districts, schools, and partners to support student success across college and career pathways.

Speakers

Mikael Taylor

Director, K-12, College Board

Mikael Taylor is a K–12 education strategist at College Board, where he partners with districts and state agencies across Washington and Utah to expand access to Advanced Placement coursework. Over the past six years, he has worked alongside school and district leaders to grow AP... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 4

WE-BAM

11:00am PDT

Ideas for a Student Ran Enterprise

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

Meeting Room # 4

A student-run enterprise is a business or operational project created, managed, and operated by students as part of their education. It functions as a real-world business within a school or community setting, allowing students to apply classroom learning to practical, hands-on scenarios. I will highlight successful programs and give ideas to how to start your own.

Artists

Andrew Hill

President, Northwest Technical Products Inc

After graduating from the University of Washington with a BS in Mechanical Engineering I was employed by Northwest Technical Products as the field service technician in 1996. In 2011 I took over ownership. In the last 29 years I have worked with all aspects of skills based training... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 4

WE-BAM

1:00pm PDT

Professionalizing AI Use in the Classroom: From Prompts to Workflows

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

Meeting Room # 4

You've used Claude or ChatGPT. Now build systems. This hands-on workshop takes you from "asking questions" to "building repeatable workflows" that actually save time and respect student privacy. We'll work through three real scenarios: structuring effective prompts through role and context, using Projects to maintain consistency, anonymizing student data safely, and automating common tasks like grading and report generation. Bring a laptop and a Claude or ChatGPT account - you'll leave with working code templates and configured tools you can use immediately in your classroom.

Speakers

Eric Ogden

CTE Computer Science Teacher, Hanford High School

Eric is a second-year CS teacher at Hanford High School in Richland, WA, where he teaches AP Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Video Game Design, and coaches a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team. Before the classroom, he spent over twelve years as a software engineer writing JavaScript... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 4

Multiple Sections

3:00pm PDT

Future‑Ready STEM Starts Here: Why PLTW Leads the Way

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

Meeting Room # 4

Collaborate and learn why Project Lead The Way remains the top choice for engaging students in STEM through engineering, biomedical science, and computer science pathways. Explore new courses—Advanced Manufacturing, Building for the Future & Skilled Trades, and Principles of AI. Discover how PLTW prepares students with industry credentials and college credit opportunities. Hear from WA PLTW teachers and CTE Directors and learn about grants to launch or expand programs. Let’s build future‑ready STEM pathways that actually stick!

Speakers

Diane Lashinsky

Director of School Success, Project Lead The Way

Diane Lashinsky is the PLTW Director of School Success in WA State. Diane has 30-years of experience in K-12 education as a teacher and administrator and has been working with Project Lead The Way for 10 years. Her primary role is to advise and support WA school districts and... Read More →

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

WITEA, STEM

2:00pm PDT

Solve the Case: The Healthcare Roles Your Students Are Missing

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

Meeting Room # 4

A simple, classroom-ready lesson that expands how students see healthcare careers.Students can name nurse, doctor, EMT, but what about everyone else? In this interactive session, participants “solve the case” of a real-world health scenario to uncover the full team behind a single incident, including roles students rarely consider. Through a guided, hands-on activity, attendees will see firsthand how limited career awareness can be and how to expand it. Walk away with a ready-to-use approach that connects classroom learning to real-world pathways and higher education opportunities.

Speakers

Dawn McReynolds

Outreach and Recruitment Manager for the College of Education and Professional Studies at Central Washington University, Central Washington University

Dawn McReynolds has over 25 years of experience in higher education, including advising, admissions, and outreach, and is also a WA state certified teacher. She currently serves as the Outreach and Recruitment Manager for the College of Education and Professional Studies at Central... Read More →

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

HSCTE

3:00pm PDT

CTElink Framework Builder: Create, Review, and Export OSPI-Ready Course Frameworks

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

Meeting Room # 4

Introducing CTElink’s Framework Builder: a centralized district system for creating, reviewing, storing, and exporting CTE course frameworks. Maintain a shared framework library with section-by-section editing, version history, standards-grounded AI review, and OSPI-ready export. Built around Washington State Learning Standards, OSPI framework resources, CIP/course data, and industry standards, the system supports meaningful alignment rather than generic AI output. We’ll also demo CTE Advisor updates for CLNA, program planning, grants, and continuous improvement.

Speakers

Taylor Smith

Director of Data and Analytics, NuMetrics

Taylor brings over 20 years of experience in data analysis, programming, and software development, with expertise in education data systems and workforce analytics. He serves as the Director of Data and Analytics at NuMetrics and is the lead developer of the CTElink Dashboard, a platform... Read More →

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

WACTA

4:00pm PDT

Running a T-Shirt Student Based Enterprise

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Meeting Room # 4

This session will cover tips and resources to set up a t-shirt student based enterprise as a fundraising business for any club. Resources such as a startup shopping list, web sites, and business services/templates will be shared. Additionally, there will be a hands on portion where for $5.00 people will get to make their own WA-ACTE t-shirt so that you can experience making your own product.

Speakers

Adam Smith

Teacher, Spokane Valley Tech/Central Valley School District

Adam Smith been teaching at Spokane Valley Tech in Spokane Valley, WA since 2024 and previously taught at Cheney High School for 26 years. He currently teaches Microsoft Office, Cyber Security, AP CS P, AP CS A, Computer Repair, and Cisco Network Engineering. He is a FBLA Advisor... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Meeting Room # 4

WE-BAM

9:00am PDT

Equity in Arts Education: Data-Driven Insights

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

Meeting Room # 4

The intersection of CTE and Arts Education looked very different in 2009 when Washington last collected statewide data on arts education access.In 2019, OSPI, ArtsEd Washington, Inspire Washington, ArtsWA, and The Creative Advantage identified the need for a statewide focus on arts education and equity, and informally began building the Arts4All coalition. In 2025, Arts4All distributed a long-overdue “State of the Arts” survey which was completed by nearly 300 Washington State principals. This session will explore trends, strengths, and gaps according to statewide data sets, including the 2025 “State of the Arts” survey. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss potential next steps, and explore arts-focused resources with leaders at the helm of arts education advocacy--ArtsEd Washington, Inspire Washington, and the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA). Together, we will find "Hope, Optimism and Tenacity" in the recent data surrounding CTE and Arts Education!

Speakers

Miranda Leigh Hein

Executive Director, ArtsEd Washington

After growing up in Moses Lake and moving to Spokane as a first-gen college student, Miranda earned a Bachelors, Masters, and National Board Certification. She became a teacher to provide confidence-building arts experiences for students that might not otherwise have arts access... Read More →

Tamar Krames

Arts in Education (AIE) Program Manager, Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA)

Tamar Krames is an arts administrator, a practicing multimedia artist, and a National Board-Certified teacher. As Arts in Education (AIE) Program Manager, she oversees grants and collaborative projects that support the creative practices of youth and educators with a focus on equitable... Read More →

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

Multiple Sections

11:00am PDT

SchooLinks for the CTE Classroom

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

Meeting Room # 4

Did you know SchooLinks—Washington's statewide High School and Beyond Plan platform—includes powerful career exploration tools you can use directly in your CTE classroom? This hands-on session will show you how to leverage SchooLinks to lead engaging career and college research activities that deepen student learning and connect to your curriculum. You'll leave with ready-to-use strategies, sample lessons, and confidence to maximize this free resource in your classroom.

Speakers

Marcy Proctor

Career Connected Learning Coordinator, Tumwater School District

Hey folks, I’m Marcy, and I care about helping other people succeed. I love my career as a college and career readiness professional, and I am deeply passionate about providing opportunities for young people to explore and plan pathways to family wage careers. My winding career... Read More →

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

Multiple Sections

2:00pm PDT

Building a Careers in Education Pathway: From Classroom to College Credit

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

Meeting Room # 4

This session offers a practical, experience-based look at designing and sustaining a Careers in Education (Teaching Academy) course within a public high school setting. The presentation walks through the essential components of creating an engaging and sustainable program that prepares students for future roles in education.Attendees will explore how to structure a semester-long course that blends teaching theory with hands-on experience. Key topics include building a relevant and student-centered curriculum, aligning with state CTE standards, and scaffolding skills such as lesson planning, classroom management, and professionalism.One focus of the session will be establishing meaningful partnerships with higher education institutions, including how to collaborate with Central Washington University to offer dual credit opportunities. Personal experience will be shared on navigating articulation agreements, aligning coursework with college expectations, and supporting students through the credit-earning process.The presentation will cover how to develop and manage student practicums. This includes strategies for placing students in elementary and intermediate school classrooms, coordinating with mentor teachers, setting clear expectations, and ensuring that field experiences are both structured and impactful.In addition, participants will gain insight into common challenges and proven strategies through a candid discussion of “dos and don’ts.” Topics include recruitment for the class, managing logistics, building strong school partnerships, and avoiding pitfalls such as inconsistent placements or unclear communication with stakeholders.

Speakers

Shawn C Gaspaire

CTE Instructor: Coaching Academy - Teaching Academy - Family Health - Psychology, Curtis High School / UPSD 83

With over two decades of experience in education, coaching, and entrepreneurship, I bring a well-rounded, real-world perspective to everything I do. I spent 23 years teaching high school students, leading courses in English (grades 10–12), Creative Writing, Journalism, Public Speaking... Read More →

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

WA-FACSE

3:00pm PDT

The Coaching Academy: Building a Careers in Education Course for Coaches

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT

Meeting Room # 4

This session provides a practical, experience-based guide to designing and implementing a Coaching Academy course within a public high school setting., the presentation focuses on creating a dynamic program that prepares students for future roles in coaching, leadership, and sports management.Participants will explore how to structure a semester course that blends foundational coaching theory with real-world application. The session will highlight key curriculum components such as leadership development, communication skills, practice planning, sports psychology basics, ethics in coaching, and injury prevention. Emphasis will be placed on helping students understand the “why” behind effective coaching, not just the “how.”The session will also address how to build a sustainable program within the school system working collaboratively with athletic departments, and creating opportunities for students to take on leadership roles within their school community. And, how to utilize industry certifications to help build coaching knowledge. In addition, participants will benefit from a candid discussion of “dos and don’ts” when running a Coaching Academy. Topics include maintaining professionalism in student placements, avoiding liability issues, ensuring equitable opportunities across sports, and setting clear boundaries between student coaches and athletes.The presentation will conclude with an interactive “group think” segment, allowing attendees to collaborate, share ideas, and troubleshoot real-world challenges. A dedicated Q&A portion will provide time for participants to ask questions and walk away with actionable strategies tailored to their own programs.

Speakers

Shawn C Gaspaire

CTE Instructor: Coaching Academy - Teaching Academy - Family Health - Psychology, Curtis High School / UPSD 83

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm PDT
Meeting Room # 4

Multiple Sections

10:00am PDT

Aligning Industry, CTE, and Academics: A Replicable Model for Multi‑Credit Courses

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

Meeting Room # 4

This session introduces a practical, replicable model for designing cross‑credited CTE courses that are both industry‑authentic and academically rigorous. Using the open-source REVIT program as an example, participants will see how industry competencies, CTE frameworks, and academic standards can be aligned to create coherent, multi‑credit courses. The session highlights strategies for finding natural academic connections and designing tasks where technical and academic learning reinforce one another. Attendees will leave with tools, examples, and a clear process they can adapt to any pathway.

Speakers

Hanna Jaramillo

Career-Connected STEM Education Designer & Consultant, Teater-Crocker

Hanna Jaramillo has deep experience as a Teaching and Learning Associate Director and secondary teacher. This is the foundation of her work designing equitable, future-ready learning experiences. Her work centers on empowering educators, aligning curricula with standards and sustainability... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 4

Multiple Sections, Leadership

11:00am PDT

REVIT: Preparing Students for the Clean‑Energy Workforce

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

Meeting Room # 4

This session explores the development of the Renewable Energy Vehicle and Infrastructure Technician (REVIT) program, a future‑ready clean energy pathway co‑designed with industry and educators to prepare students for careers in renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, and sustainable infrastructure. Learn how REVIT blends project‑based learning, NGSS, and CTE standards to create a coherent, multi‑credit sequence that builds real‑world problem‑solving and workforce skills. Participants will leave with curriculum, resources, and practical insights to adapt this work in their own contexts.

Speakers