WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference: Full Schedule

10:00am PDT

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

This session is meant to be interactive not just an information presentation. Kimberly and her students will share some different strategies used in the veterinary assisting program to build community and set expectations that allow for more self-management by students.

Speakers

Kimberly Coleman

Veterinary Assisting Instructor, Spokane Public Schools

Kimberly has been a CTE instructor at NEWTech Prep since 2019 and she has been working in veterinary medicine since 1996.

Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 5

WAAE

11:00am PDT

Leveraging SchooLinks Potential to Support CTE Programs & Industry Connections

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

Meeting Room # 5

SchooLinks is the key to elevating CTE programs. This session shares real-world strategies to utilize the new state-wide HSBP platform to its full potential. Drawing from a pilot district experience, participants will learn how to deepen career research, track work-based learning and volunteer hours, and use the Course Planner to support CTE pathways. The session will also cover managing worksite tours and college and career visits, building financial awareness, and using the Opportunity Board to connect students with job shadows and internships.

Speakers

Melissa Dilling

Post-Secondary School Planning Specialist, Lake Stevens School District

Melissa Dilling is an experienced educator and emerging leader in program management, career development, and work-based learning. With a background in teaching and professional development, she specializes in designing engaging learning experiences, building systems that support... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 5

Multiple Sections, Leadership

1:00pm PDT

Robotics! Mechatronics!

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

Meeting Room # 5

TBD

Speakers

Faith Taylor

Educational Consultant, Southern Educational Consulting and Training

At Southern Educational Consulting & Training, our focus is on providing access to world-class educational technology in the areas of automated manufacturing, industrial maintenance, engineering, robotics, workforce development, CTAE and STEM-related curriculum. Our team of educational... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 5

WITEA

3:00pm PDT

Preparing CTE Educators: Accessible Certification Pathways Through CWU

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

Meeting Room # 5

Discover the CTE certification options available through CWU and how they prepare educators for careers in CTE classrooms. This session provides an overview of our Plan 2, BME, and FACSE pathways and explains who each option is best suited for. We will highlight flexible, online and individually paced coursework, year-round start options, and recent program and course updates that make certification more accessible for busy professionals. Learn how these pathways equip teachers with practical tools to address today’s educational challenges and deliver high-quality instruction in CTE programs.

Speakers

Ashley Hanby

Program Manager, Central Washington University

CWU has several pathways to CTE certification. Talk to our staff to get started today!

Kaylee Loyd

Program Assistant, Central Washington University

Kaylee Loyd supports CWU’s Business & Industry Route Teacher Preparation Program and FCSE IDEA program. With a background in college recruitment, she helps candidates understand their options, navigate admission and certification steps, and stay on track as they move through CTE... Read More →

Jodi Musser

Faculty Program Coordinator, Central Washington University

Jodi Musser graduated from Central Washington University in 1998 with a degree in Business Education and minors in Administrative Management and Spanish. She later completed a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Technology and earned her CTE Director Certification.Jodi... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 5

Multiple Sections

9:00am PDT

Support Staff: Behind the Scenes of Success -How WBL Support Staff Empower CTE Programs

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

Meeting Room # 5

Join three Work-Based Learning Support Staff members as they share their unique perspectives on supporting high school CTE programs and Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). While each serves in the same role, they support programs in different ways and bring their own experiences, strategies, and successes to the table.
In this session, you'll learn how they collaborate with teachers, students, industry partners, and CTSO advisors to strengthen programs, increase student engagement, and create meaningful opportunities for student growth. Hear firsthand why they are passionate about their work, how they help programs thrive behind the scenes, and the innovative approaches they use to expand student involvement and participation.

Speakers

DeAngelo Friends

WBL Support Specialist, Renton School District

Hanna Grove

WBL Support Specialist, Renton School District

Amie Mitchell

WBL Support Specialist, Renton School District

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 5

Support Staff

global Y

10:00am PDT

Support Staff: Navigating General & Program Advisory Committees A Support Staff Road Map

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

Meeting Room # 5

Join us as we share how the Renton School District streamlined and enhanced our General and Program Advisory process by combining our Fall and Spring advisory meetings into a single community-focused event. In this session, we will discuss key planning considerations, including selecting the right location, utilizing support staff as advisory scribes, partnering with our local Chamber of Commerce to increase community engagement, and developing a standardized PowerPoint template to create consistency across all program advisories. We will also reflect on lessons learned, successes, challenges, and improvements that will help make future advisory events even more effective and efficient

Speakers

Kelly Wildey

CTE Administrative Assistant, Renton School District

Kelly Wildey is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) professional dedicated to supporting educators, students, and community partnerships. Originally from California, I have been with the Renton School District for over seven years, where she has built strong relationships with... Read More →

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

Support Staff

global Y

11:00am PDT

Support Staff Connections: Collaborate, Learn, and Network (Support Staff only)

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

Meeting Room # 5

Join fellow support staff from districts across the state for an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build your professional network. This support staff-only session is designed to provide a welcoming space to share ideas, discuss challenges, exchange best practices, and learn from one another's experiences. Whether you're new to your role or a seasoned professional, you'll leave with valuable connections, fresh perspectives, and practical strategies to support your work and your programs. Come ready to engage in meaningful conversations and strengthen the support staff community!

Speakers

Kelly Wildey

CTE Administrative Assistant, Renton School District

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room # 5

Support Staff

global Y

2:00pm PDT

Targeted by Design: Using SchooLinks to Build Intentional Work-Based Learning Programs

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

Meeting Room # 5

How do you connect the best students to work-based learning opportunities that actually align with their goals? In this live SchooLinks demo, Spokane Public School’s CTE coordinator shares how she uses SchooLinks reporting & filters, career assessment data, and eligibility criteria to intentionally match students to exploratory and preparatory opportunities inside of their district. Both SchooLinks core platform and the WBL suite will be showcased.

Speakers

Suzanne Gretch

CTE Coordinator, Spokane Public Schools

Suzanne Gretch is the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator for Spokane Public Schools and a proud graduate of the Eastern Washington University CTE Director Program. With 22 years of experience in education — including the last 15 dedicated exclusively to CTE — Suzanne... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 5

WA-CCER, Leadership

3:00pm PDT

Honoring Every Pathway: How Data Reshaped College and Career Center Programming

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

Meeting Room # 5

Over the course of five years, Issaquah School District transformed its college and career centers from a reactive, college-focused model into a forward-thinking system built on data and tiered student support. In this session, explore the data sources driving smarter decisions, how programming has evolved to honor all post-secondary pathways, and how High School and Beyond Plans are used to intentionally connect students to events, speakers, and activities aligned with their individual goals.

Speakers

Lisa Neighbours

Director of CTE, Issaquah School District

Lisa Neighbours is the Director of Career and Technical Education for the Issaquah School District, where she has spent 15 years working alongside students, teachers, and school communities to make career and college readiness more than just a buzzword. After nearly a decade as a... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Meeting Room # 5

Multiple Sections

9:00am PDT

Longitudinal Career Exposure: Supporting Students from Middle School to Graduation

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

Meeting Room # 5

This session will focus on why early and sustained intervention matters and how to implement it. We will walk through the K12/University partnership between Washington State University's Health Science Campus and a rural district in Washington. This presentation will cover novel research about the benefits of career exposure from the student, K12 school administrator, and college student perspective. We will also discuss the keys and barriers to success of partnerships of this nature.

Speakers

Rachel KW Larson

Interim Director of Pre-Clerkship Assessment, Washington State University

Dr. Rachel Larson is a small animal veterinarian by training, but has transitioned away from clinical practice and into education. She is finishing her PhD work in Math and Science Education at Washington State University and has a particular passion for K12/University partnerships... Read More →

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

HSCTE

10:00am PDT

Responsible AI in Action: Interdisciplinary AI Toolkit

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

Meeting Room # 5

This working session invites Career and Technical Education professionals to transform statewide research data into actionable recommendations for stakeholders in Washington’s career pathways systems. Participants will explore data from a recent HarrisX survey of Washington students, parents, employers, and career navigators – and use a design thinking framework to co-create practical, stakeholder-informed solutions based on their responses. Come ready to collaborate, think boldly, and help shape a more equitable path forward for Washington's workforce pipeline.

Speakers

Denise Thompson

CTE STEM and computer science teacher, Computer Science Teachers Association Responsible AI Fellow

Denise’s career began as an algebra and physical science teacher in 2003. In 2012, Denise served as an Albert Einstein STEM Educator Fellow in a senatorial congressional office. During her time as a fellow, Denise facilitated the Senate STEM Education and Workforce caucus during... Read More →

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

Multiple Sections

10:00am PDT

11:00am PDT

1:00pm PDT

3:00pm PDT

9:00am PDT

10:00am PDT

11:00am PDT

2:00pm PDT

3:00pm PDT

9:00am PDT

10:00am PDT

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