9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Keynote: Dr. Alisha Hyslop, Senior Director of Public Policy at the Associations of Career and Technical Education
                National CTE Policy Update

Putting the Pieces Together: Transition in Action  
Alicia Reinhard, DPI
Wilderness Ballroom

2017 WI Act 178 requires state agencies including the DPI to collaborate, in the development of a joint plan to increase Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) outcomes for youth with disabilities. The Transition Action Guide (TAG), updated in 2022, operationalizes the process by which youth with disabilities transition from high school. As CTE has become a growing evidenced based practice to impact both employment and graduation rates for students with disabilities, it is critical CTE educators are knowledgeable of the TAG. In this session, members of the WI CIE workgroup will review the TAG and provide resources and support for the inclusion of students with disabilities in CTE during high school. 

Developing Partnerships to Create a Comprehensive Healthcare Academy
Michael Snowberry, Luxembourg-Casco School District
Glacier A

When you mix the right ingredients together you can create a successful program that impacts students.  Learn how Bellin Health, Bellin College and the Luxemburg-Casco School District collaborated to create a Healthcare Academy where students explore careers, work in the Youth Apprenticeship, have mentors and earn up to 42 college credits in high school. The Academy model can be replicated in any career cluster if you have a business, college and school district.  

Resources for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
Kerri Herrild, De Pere High School
Glacier B

You will learn about high quality curriculum and professional development resources that will help you fulfill the new Personal Finance graduation requirement.  With the growing number of states implementing this requirement, many companies are developing products to help teachers implement the course.  We will sort through some of the best resources that are available completely for free. This session will benefit administrators and teachers who are wading through all of the "stuff" that is out there to determine what will actually work best. 

Embedded Agriculture: Farm to Classroom: Partnering Environmental Education and Culinary (Presentation)
Mollie Haubenschild, School District of Waukesha
Glacier C

Learn about the School District of Waukesha’s journey to embed agriculture education within Family and Consumer Science classes in partnership with our Environmental Education Program. The focus of this presentation will be how hydroponic units and farm to classroom education were embedded into our culinary classes. We will share our mission, goals, processes and procedures that were built and put in place; the curriculum and instructional plan; the lessons we learned and things to celebrate; and future goals and plans. Time will be devoted within and at the end of the session to ask questions and engage in collaborative discussion. 

Create your Playlist for CTE Success
Tania Kilpatrick, CESA 6
Glacier D

Get ready to groove with us as we showcase a curated playlist of CTE innovations from talented artists across our region! From Amped Up Algebra, Career Academies in Action, Girls Breaking Barriers in YA, ACP in Action and Rockstar Future Educator Prep Programs.  Let's groove toward CTE excellence together. 

Bridging Academic and Career Plans with Transition Planning: Providing CTE Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
Pam Jenson, TIG
Wilderness Ballroom

Research indicates that youth with disabilities often encounter challenges in achieving positive postschool outcomes compared to their peers without disabilities. Career and Technical Education (CTE) has emerged as an evidence-based practice in employment and a research-based practice in education, offering promising avenues for the success of students with disabilities after high school.  Join our session as we explore the crucial intersection between Academic and Career Plans and transition planning aimed at empowering students with disabilities to engage with CTE opportunities.  Hear about a learning opportunity to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by leveraging the framework of CTE.

Middle School Academies and Career Exploration 6-8
Alex DeBaker, Racine Unified School District
Glacier A

Attendees will hear how programming was developed and implemented for the middle school academies.  They will also learn how hands on exploration at the middle school level has impacted our students and how the Academy structure has changed the culture and climate of the RUSD middle schools. 

Sharing Doesn't End at Kindergarten-Districts  Sharing Courses for Dual Credit
Jesse Brinkmann, Algoma School District
Scott Fritz, Kewaunee School District
Jo-Ellen Fairbanks, Luxembourg-Casco School District
Glacier B

The presentation highlights the work between School Districts in Kewaunee County.  We have developed several programs where students can share courses that are considered dual credits.  Examples of pathways include Rising Phoenix, Anahpee Automotive and Diesel, Bellin Health Academy, Firefighter Courses 1 & 2, and our Agriculture Education Program. 

Creating ACP Culture with Industry Based Staff In-Service
Cyndi Pavelski, CESA 6
Glacier C

Learn how to foster an academic and career planning culture within your school district, supporting staff for enhanced student success. Explore strategies to integrate ACP into daily practices, empowering educators to guide students toward their academic and career goals. Gain practical tools and insights to create a supportive environment where every staff member plays a role in nurturing student aspirations. Join us to transform your school district into a hub of academic and career planning excellence.

Unlocking Tomorrow's Workforce: CTE Practices with Instructional Technology
Debbie Stanislawski, UW -Stout
Glacier D

This session explores innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) approaches to leverage instructional technology. Participants will delve into strategies for integrating cutting-edge tech. From developing digital cut lists and logbooks for technology education, considering the role of fab labs across CTE disciplines, to utilizing the latest software to enhance engagement and formative assessment in presentations across all CTE disciplines.  Also, creative ideas for improving students' use of Generative AI. Join us for this fast-paced session on how instructional technology can revolutionize CTE practices. 

Work Based Learning
Jessie Sloan, DPI
Wilderness Ballroom

Personal Finance
Jen Jackson, DPI
Glacier A

Successful Strategies and Resources for New CTE Teachers
Dani Lewandowski, CESA 11 & Tom Martin, CESA 3
Glacier B

CTE Listening Session # 1
Michael Selover, UW-Stout
Glacier C

CTE Listening Session # 2
Deanna Schultz,  UW-Stout
Glacier D

Why is Registered Apprenticeship Such a Mystery?
Elizabeth Roddy, ABC WI
Wilderness Ballroom

Registered Apprenticeships are this golden little egg that people are excited about, but when you really dig into it, there are more questions than answers.  Unfortunately, this session won’t unlock all the secrets, but we will delve into the diverse registered apprenticeship programs, their distinctions, and provide resources to simplify the understanding for both schools and students. 

The Power of Experiential Learning
Bob Hall, School District of Elmbrook
Glacier A

The ability to build uniquely human skills is paramount to student success in careers.  This is accomplished through education-industry collaboration.  LAUNCH provides over 300 projects annually and has a strategy for this collaboration and intentional human skill development and confidence. 

Combining SEL with WBL
Michelle McGlynn, Waunakee Community School District
Glacier B

Social and emotional learning is already naturally weaved into employability or transferable skills. This session will demonstrate how the Waunakee Work Based Learning Programs use SEL to engage student learning and support their career success. 

What Counts as WBL? How to Collect the Data
Jessie Sloan, DPI
Glacier C

This session will cover technical assistance to follow DPI's reporting rules for WBL. DPI will present the difference between Perkins V and report cards for WBL, organization method to collecting WBL data elements, review of submitted data in WISEdata Portal and WISEdash for District. 

Introducing Pathways in Middle School
Amanda Popovich, CESA 12
Glacier D

During their 8th grade year, students will begin creating their first high school schedule for the fall of their freshmen year.  Do they know what pathways are available and/or what electives they should be considering in high school?

Measuring the Success of Your Career Readiness Programs through Redefining Ready
Dennis McCarthy, Beloit School District
Michael McMahon, Grafton School District
Kelli Kwiatkowski, New Berlin School District
Wilderness Ballroom

Building an Industry-Driven Culinary Program with ProStart
Alex Vernon, WI Restaurant Association
Glacier A

How do you scale the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment across several districts and large geographical areas? This session will help create efficiencies and make sense of large data sets while ensuring all required stakeholders have a seat at the table. 

CTSOs: Increasing Access, Participation, and Capacity!
Christina Patrin, DPI
Noah Mutter-Schulz, Wisconsin HOSA State Director
Glacier B

As CTE Leaders, we are often flying solo in our individual districts in the work that we are doing.  From CTE Supervision and Promotion, CTE Program Evaluation, Work Based Learning, Community Engagement, Budgets, Credentials, ACP, and Perkins (CLNA, LMI Data, Business Outreach), the list is often never-ending. A group of CTE Leaders in Dane County have been meeting for several years to support each other in our work at our individual districts, and the benefit of our PLC is immeasurable. Learn from group members what these meetings look like, the work that is being accomplished, how to increase accuracy in your work, and how to justify the time with your district administration.    

Grow Your Own with Educators Rising
Molly Kauffmann, Educators Rising
Gwen Janke, CESA 10
Glacier C

Educator shortages impact many districts, yet we know that 60% of teachers return to teach within 20 miles of where they attended high school. Career exploration in the field of education in middle and high school is essential to ensure we expose students to careers that will benefit your district. This session provides participants with resources, exemplars, and strategies to implement Educators Rising, a Grow Your Own program, in your community. 

Crafting and Amplifying Your CTE Story Through Social Media
Tracy Heinbuch, Plymouth High School
Glacier D

Continuing the discussion around leveraging AI in the classroom and the world of work.

Keynote: Vision for Wisconsin CTE, Sharon Wendt, Director of Career & Technical Education, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Leveraging the Power of Employers and Industry Partners to Grow Career Pathway Offerings
Beth Kaminski, Pathways WI
Wilderness Ballroom

Career pathways support K-12 student career exploration.  An approved career pathway requires a sequence of at least two aligned CTE courses and at least two of the following:

• Approved industry-recognized credential

• Dual college credit opportunity

• Work-based learning opportunity

• Career and Technical Student Organizations (OTSO)

During this next school year, the work of career pathways will be focused on supporting and expanding career-based learning  (CBLEs) and work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.  Learn about the 2024-2025 state goals related to this work and how your company/industry organization can support CBLEs and WBL, feeding the talent pipeline to support your organization.

Unpacking the New Health Science Standards- A Comprehensive Review
Christina Patrin, DPI
Glacier AB

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Health Science standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards. 

Unpacking the New Technology Education Standards-A Comprehensive Review
Jake Mihm, DPI
Glacier C

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Technology and Engineering standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards.   

Unpacking the New Family & Consumer Sciences Standards-A Comprehensive Review
Julie Anderson
Glacier D

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Family and Consumer Science standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards. 

Unpacking the New Agriculture Standards-A Comprehensive Review
Sally Ladsten, DPI
Tundra A/B

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards. 

Unpacking the New Business and Information Technology Standards- A Comprehensive Review
Jen Jackson, DPI
Tundra C

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Business and Information Technology standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards.

Unpacking the New Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship Standards- A Comprehensive Review
Tim Fandek
Tundra D

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship standards to now, evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards. You will also have some time to begin looking at the crosswalk of the current curriculum with the new standards. 

Increasing Graduation Rates of Students with IEPs through CTE
Jennifer Hilgendorf, TIG (Transition Improvement Grant)
Wilderness Ballroom

The National Dropout Prevention Center’s meta-analysis cites CTE as an evidence-based intervention having the largest impact for students at risk of dropping out of high school. The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition the Collaborative also cites it in several of its post-school success predictors for youth with disabilities.

This session will focus on one school’s continuous improvement journey to increase CTE enrollment. The school developed an action plan using the Wisconsin Graduation Rate Improvement Planning tool and engaged in professional development and coaching to increase CTE involvement for youth with IEPs, particularly those at risk of not graduating.  

Unpacking the New Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards- A Comprehensive Review
Karin Smith, DPI
Glacier AB

In this session, you will review the differences between the 2013 Wisconsin Common Career Technical standards and the new Wisconsin Career Readiness standards (WCRS), evaluate the updates that have been made, get to know the structure and coding of the new standards, and dive deeper into the breakdown of the standards using suggested “I Can” and “We Will” statements. You will also have some time to begin looking at a crosswalk that shows the connection between WCRS and other state level statute, standards and competencies such as Academic and Career Planning, Personal Financial Literacy, Information and Technology Literacy, Social Emotional Learning, Global Competencies and more! .  

Carl Perkins V Grant 101
Christine Lenske, DPI
Glacier C

The federal Carl Perkins V grant implementation began in 2020 under the new Strengthening CTE for the 21st Century Act. The purpose of the Act is to develop more fully academic knowledge and technical skills of secondary education students who elect to enroll in career and technical education career pathways. This session will include a high-level review of the requirements of the Act, and how the requirements connect to the Perkins grant application and support for local initiatives. 

CTE Power-Up: Prepare Educators to Support Critical Shortages in CTE Classrooms
Leah Bruess, CESA 6
Glacier D

Dive into the evolving landscape of CTE education, focusing on recruitment, retention, and professional development for educators. Explore alternative licensure pathways to address shortages and foster growth. Gain insights into tailored mentorship programs and the role of ongoing professional development in teacher effectiveness. Equip yourself with tools to create a supportive learning environment. Join us to chart pathways to excellence in CTE education.

How Did They Find Us? Student Stories of Finding CTE
Matt Simoneau, UW-Stout
Tundra A/B

It is increasingly important to understand the culturally significant factors that influence a students decision to attend postsecondary CTE programs. Attendees will learn about the cultural, socioeconomic, and viewpoint diversity that influence the choices of underrepresented populations. This session will also explore the perceptions of "college" and how one defines college as a barrier to postsecondary choices. The influencers on Native American and rural populations will be explored through student voices and those that advise and mentor them. Attendees will discuss strategies to better comprehend the barriers and influencers of underrepresented populations in order to effectively serve and support them. 

SecureFutures (Money Path Program, Career & Financial Planning Tool)
Patrick Armstrong, SecureFutures
Tundra C

Want to give your students the most comprehensive look at life after graduation? Want to learn about Act 60 and how it can enhance Academic and Career Planning? We'll provide an in-depth look at the personal finance landscape, along with practical strategies for schools to tie together Career Readiness and PFL curriculum.

Money Path not only aligns with state standards but also enriches students' academic and career readiness.

You’ll hear from educators about how they use this program and others to develop creative and meaningful ACP plans that include CBLEs, advising, parent engagement, and more. Don't miss this timely session! 

How to Customize the Energy Career Pathway for Your District.
Samara Hamze, KEEP
Tundra D

Come to this session ready to network and work on your region’s Energy Career Pathway. This session will kick off with a panel discussion including Milwaukee 7 (M7) RCP coordinator and energy industry partners. They will share their collaboration journey. Then, attendees will separate into groups to brainstorm industry and education partners who are needed in your network to successfully customize the Energy Career Pathway for your RCP. Panelists will be available to jump-start your networking. We will end with a share-out to visualize statewide progress towards comprehensive adoption of this pathway across all regions.