WA-ACTE 2026 Summer Conference

10:00am PDT

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

Give vocabulary the boost it deserves! This session features a collection of fun, effective, and hands-on vocabulary activities designed to help students internalize essential terms in personal finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and more. Participants will experience individual tasks, partner activities, and team-based challenges that promote active learning, reinforce key concepts, and support long-term retention. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and ideas to make vocabulary instruction more engaging, collaborative, and impactful—no flashcards required.

Speakers

Robin Palmer

Education Specialist, Take Charge Today

Robin Palmer is passionate about providing high quality professional development for teachers and helping students develop skills that they will use far beyond high school. As an Arizona educator, Robin shared her passions by teaching Entrepreneurship and Financial Math, classes that... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections

11:00am PDT

Money Decisions Start Early: Engaging Activities for Middle School CTE

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

Meeting Room #10

In today’s consumer-driven world, students are constantly encouraged to spend but rarely taught how to make wise financial decisions. This interactive session equips middle school CTE teachers with ready-to-use activities that introduce essential money concepts through real-world scenarios which can be integrated into exploratory or life-skills courses. Participants will walk away with practical tools and strategies to help students build a strong foundation for financial responsibility long before their first paycheck.

Speakers

Robin Palmer

Education Specialist, Take Charge Today

Sunday August 2, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections

1:00pm PDT

Voices in Policy: WA-ACTE Legislative Review & Priority Setting

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

Meeting Room #10

What happened in Olympia this year, and where do we go next? Join us for an update on WA-ACTE’s legislative focus and recent policy outcomes impacting CTE. Following the brief overview, participants will engage in a feedback session to share local needs, identify policy barriers, and help establish WA-ACTE’s advocacy goals for the upcoming legislative session. Your input is vital in shaping our platform in Olympia!

Speakers

Jesse Taylor

Government Relations and Lobbyist, WA-ACTE

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WA-ACTE Sessions

2:00pm PDT

Empowering the Community: A Student-Centered Approach to IRCs & WBL

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

Meeting Room #10

Managing CTE goes beyond compliance—it empowers communities. By keeping students as the focal point, we seamlessly guide them from classroom to career. Discover how WA districts are strengthening their communities by: Validating skills with 60+ OSPI-approved IRCs valued by local and national employers. Automating Work-Based Learning (WBL) tracking, eSignatures, and employer matching. Connecting education to industry to build robust local talent pipelines. Using aptitude data to help students build high-integrity, purpose-driven pathways.

Speakers

Alex Iund

Regional Director, YouScience

Alex Iund has spent over a decade partnering with educators across the country, with a deep and consistent focus on supporting Washington State. Currently serving as a Regional Director at YouScience, Alex is known for his genuine, relationship-first approach. He acts as both an... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections

3:00pm PDT

Boost CTE Enrollment & Build Your Community Talent Pipeline

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

Meeting Room #10

Want to boost CTE enrollment, align student talents with local workforce needs, build meaningful HSBPs alongside the state platform, and guide students from education to career? Discover how districts do just that by: Using performance-based aptitudes, not just self-reported surveys. Matching students to best-fit careers to drive CTE enrollment. Delivering 60+ OSPI-approved IRCs for Perkins and Grad Pathways Easily track Work-Based Learning. Connecting with local employers to build a thriving workforce. We’ll explore strategies that benefit everyone: empowering students, saving educators time, and providing local employers with certified, entry-ready talent. CTE Directors & Teachers, WBL Coordinators, School Counselors, HSBP/Graduation Pathway Coordinators, District Administrators, Post-Secondary Partners, Local Employers, Economic Development & Chamber Members, and any educator focused on building strong community talent pipelines.

Speakers

Alex Iund

Regional Director, YouScience

Sunday August 2, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections

4:00pm PDT

Skate4Concrete Certification an Example of Implementation

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

Meeting Room #10

This presentation will review the Skate4Concrete Certification and share an example(s) of how it was implemented in the classroom within Washington Schools. Teachers will share their experience and provide insight on how best to utilize the program within the classroom. We will also cover the Statewide MiniConcrete Skatepark Competition for the 2026/27 School Year to be hosted by the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA).

Speakers

Crystal Howard

Executive Director, Project Cornerstone

Crystal Howard is the Executive Director of Project Cornerstone and creator of the Skate4Concrete Certification. All Skate4Concrete programs are part of the Project Cornerstone education and workforce development umbrella. Ms. Howard has been in the concrete and construction materials... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WITEA

9:00am PDT

FBLA 2027 Kick Start

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

Meeting Room #10

This session is for people exploring starting FBLA to veteran FBLA advisors. I will cover important dates, updates, and timelines for setting up a great 2026-27 FBLA year. I will also incorporate an Officer Training guideline that I use with my chapter officers as well as an event/activities schedule to help advisers make FBLA about more than competing, but a true leadership experience. Come to get some ideas as well as hopefully share ideas that will grow our FBLA team.

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 →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WE-BAM

10:00am PDT

STEM Camp/STEM Night Activities

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

Meeting Room #10

A powerful way to boost program recruitment and club involvement is by hosting STEM events and camps for middle and elementary students. This interactive session is designed as a “get one, share one” experience. I will share 10+ engaging, ready-to-use STEM activities for CS, IT, Cyber Security, and Robotics. Participants will be encouraged to contribute their own ideas. Expect a hands-on session—bring a computer, your creativity, and any STEM tools or activities you’re willing to share. Leave with practical ideas you can implement right away.

Speakers

Adam Smith

Teacher, Spokane Valley Tech/Central Valley School District

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WE-BAM, STEM

11:00am PDT

Upskilling Your Students and Learning Stipends

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

Meeting Room #10

Future jobs and careers for our CTE students is a concern for every district. Help your students gain essential skills to enter and transition to today’s workforce in careers that are changing and challenging with technological advances. Funding is available now that enable students to take courses and certifications that will lead them to industry recognized certifications and entry level jobs, internships and apprenticeships. Students deserve opportunities beyond what is often feasible for each district and this session will discuss federal initiatives that help students throughout the country. The convergence of industry partnerships and how funds are available will be discussed.

Speakers

Jill Ranucci, Ph.D.

CTE Consultant, Jill Ranucci, Ph.D., CTE Consultant

Dr. Jill Ranucci is a College and Career Readiness advocate and has an extensive background in Career and Technical Education (CTE) as an administrator and teacher. Dr. Ranucci has held district positions in CTE in Arizona and Texas. Jill consults for several companies to help them... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WITEA, .

2:00pm PDT

Synergizing Success: A Deeper Dive Into Academic Integration

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

Meeting Room #10

It is time for CTE and academic subject teachers to stop working in silos and start collaborating to help students. Creating links between academic courses and CTE is the most effective way to create a school-wide curriculum that equips students for a demanding world after high school. All parties involved in schooling benefit from teaching for both academic rigor and CTE relevance. Students perform better, gain certifications and adjust to evolving careers and/or post-secondary education. There are numerous ways for educators to collaborate and build relationships. The optimal collaboration model prepares high school leaders to link academics and the mastery of technological skills.

Speakers

Jill Ranucci, Ph.D.

CTE Consultant, Jill Ranucci, Ph.D., CTE Consultant

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections, Leadership

3:00pm PDT

Financial Literacy FUNdamentals: Free Resources to Engage Students

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

Meeting Room #10

Financial literacy lessons don’t have to be dry and boring—discover the Fed’s free interactive resources for personal finance, including hands-on lessons, videos and online modules, podcasts, infographics and more. Participate in two hands-on lessons on entrepreneurship and saving and investing and learn where to access free curricula for teaching financial literacy topics. All attendees will receive a set of ten personal finance infographic posters.

Speakers

Lesley Mace

Senior Outreach Advisor, Federal Reserve Education

Lesley Mace is a Senior Outreach Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Birmingham Branch. Prior to joining the Fed in 2010, she was an Instructor of Economics and Director of the Center for Economic Education at Auburn University Montgomery and a high school economics... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

WE-BAM

9:00am PDT

From Data to Decisions: Teacher-Driven AI Workflows That Save Time and Improve Results

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

Meeting Room #10

This session introduces a practical system that combines district data analysis with teacher-driven AI workflows to reduce guesswork, save time, and improve instructional decisions. Participants will learn how to identify real problems using data, apply structured prompt templates and workflows, and use pre/post approaches to measure what’s working. Attendees will leave with usable templates and a clear process they can apply immediately. Please bring a computer for hands-on portions.

Speakers

Rick Hamilton

Teacher & Instructional Systems Developer, Instructional Partner | Newport School District

Rick Hamilton is a high school educator and instructional systems developer with experience in biology, agriculture, computer science, and CTE programs. His work focuses on helping teachers and schools use data more effectively while reducing time spent on repetitive tasks and unclear... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Meeting Room #10 Second Floor Davenport Grand

Multiple Sections