Kansas FCS teachers are invited to explore the newly revised Nutrition & Dietetics course (formerly Nutrition & Wellness, 19253). This session will provide an overview of the updated curriculum developed through the Kansas Center for Career & Technical Education (KCCTE), highlighting increased rigor, stronger alignment to healthcare pathways, and enhanced career readiness opportunities. Participants will view student samples, classroom-ready activities, and practical implementation strategies designed to support science integration and real-world application in diverse teaching settings.
Janet Holden is a high school FCS Teacher/FCCLA adviser at St. Mary's Colgan in Pittsburg, KS. She is in her 14th year teaching and is an active member of KATFACS, currently serving as the 2025-2026 KATFACS President.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:45am - 9:35am CDT RC 18111190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Looking for practical classroom resources that save planning time without sacrificing quality? This session introduces educators to ready-to-use CTE lesson plans and classroom resources available through izzit.org. Designed around sound instructional practices, these materials help reduce planning time while supporting student engagement. An educator with 20 years of experience using the resources will demonstrate how to access them at no cost, including 45-minute lessons, daily current events articles with discussion questions, and classroom activities, and will share practical strategies for integrating them into existing courses to enhance instruction and streamline preparation.
District Coordinator - Career & Technical Education, Blue Valley Schools
Mark started his career in business after graduating with a degree from Western Michigan University. He spent the next 20 years working in the corporate world and also receiving his MBA from Kansas University. He also started an income tax preparation company with his brother that... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:45am - 10:35am CDT RC 18311190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Kansas schools have a unique opportunity to connect agriculture and consumer education by incorporating locally grown ingredients into school meal programs. This session explores how grain sorghum, one of Kansas’ most resilient and versatile crops, can serve as a nutritious, Kansas-raised ingredient in school cafeterias while supporting agricultural literacy and local supply chains.
Participants will learn about sorghum’s nutritional benefits and why this Kansas-grown grain is a strong fit for school meal programs. The session will highlight the many forms sorghum can take—from whole grain, milled into flour, or even popped—and examples of outreach initiatives that show how schools can introduce sorghum to students through food service, classroom learning, and partnerships across the local food system.
Attendees will leave with practical ideas for incorporating a value-added grain into school meals, strategies for connecting students to Kansas agriculture, and resources to support farm-to-school efforts in their own communities.
Senior Director of Communications, Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
Maddy Meier is the Senior Director of Communications for Kansas Sorghum, where she leads storytelling and engagement efforts that elevate the voice of Kansas sorghum producers and promote market development for the crop. From working alongside her family’s row crop and cattle operation... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:45am - 10:35am CDT RC 14511190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Please join me to find out more about Pathway Changes for 26/27 School year, upcoming professional development opportunities, and upcoming cluster and pathway reviews.
Family and Consumer Science Program Consultant, KSDE
Family and Consumer Science Program Consultant at Kansas State Education Department. I was a Facs instructor for 20 years prior to my role at KSDE. My experience includes a small rural school, a large city school and suburban districts. I live in Topeka with my husband and my... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:45am - 10:35am CDT RC 23411190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Literacy is already happening in your CTE classroom—this session helps you make it intentional and impactful. Explore how key ELA standards naturally align with CTE tasks and learn simple, high-leverage strategies to support students in reading technical texts, writing with purpose, and communicating their thinking. Through real examples and quick application, you’ll walk away with practical tools and a ready-to-use plan you can implement tomorrow—no extra prep required.
ELA Program Manager, Kansas State Department of Education
Mary Lonker has spent 30 years in English Language Arts education, teaching both middle and high school students. She taught 8th grade English as well as over 20 years of high school English, including a decade in AP Language and Composition, and is certified to teach AP Seminar... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT RC 18111190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
NOTE: This session will be held in GEB. Join the Fashion Merchandising and Design faculty from Johnson County Community College for a hands-on workshop and learn creative ways to apply the Principles and Elements of Design in fashion assortment planning and product development. We will explore classroom project ideas in a creative learning environment using easy to find tools and materials. Learn more about the academic pathways at JCCC and how you can prepare your students for a successful career in the fashion industry.
Department Chair - Fashion Design and Merchandising, Johnson County Community College
Joy Rhodes is the current Department Chair of the Fashion Merchandising and Design department at Johnson County Community College. In addition to her Chair role, Joy has been teaching in the Fashion department for over 20 years. Joy has over 15 years of previous apparel industry... Read More →
Associate Professor - Fashion Merchandising and Design, Johnson County Community College
Audrey Michaelis is a Professor in the Fashion Merchandising and Design department at Johnson County Community College with over 15 years of experience as a fashion educator. Audrey is a passionate educator with a “real-world” approach to learning and brings industry knowledge... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT GEB 353-A12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Advisory boards are required for most CTE programs—but too often they function as compliance checkboxes rather than strategic workforce partners. This session will explore how secondary and postsecondary CTE leaders can transform advisory boards from routine meetings into meaningful collaborations that drive program innovation, strengthen workforce alignment, and create direct student opportunities.
Drawing from practical experience in rural community college CTE leadership and high school level CTE programs, participants will learn how to recruit the right members, structure high-impact meetings, leverage labor market data, and turn advisory conversations into actionable outcomes. The session will provide ready-to-use strategies, templates, and implementation ideas that can be adapted to both high school and community college programs.
If your advisory board feels stagnant—or if you're ready to elevate it to the next level—this session will provide practical, replicable tools to make it happen.
Agriculture Division Chair, Perkins Co-Coordinator, Faculty, Fort Scott Community College
Sara Sutton is the Agriculture Department Chair, Perkins Co-Coordinator, and faculty member at Fort Scott Community College. A proud graduate of Fort Scott Community College, she also earned her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Kansas State University, a master’s degree in... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm CDT RC 15711190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Industry-recognized credentials are becoming increasingly important in Career and Technical Education programs as schools work to better prepare students for employment after graduation. This session will explore the value of the OSHA 10-Hour safety credential as a foundational certification for students entering a wide range of career pathways.
Participants will learn how OSHA 10 helps students develop a strong understanding of workplace safety while also reinforcing professional habits that employers expect. The session will highlight how safety training supports workforce readiness, increases student confidence, and provides students with a credential that is recognized across multiple industries including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.
Attendees will leave with practical ideas for implementing OSHA 10 within their programs and strategies for connecting safety training to broader workforce preparation goals.
Justin Williamson is a Sales Executive with CareerSafe, where he works with school districts, technical colleges, and workforce development programs across the country to expand access to OSHA safety training and workforce readiness credentials. With 17 years of experience in ed... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT RC 18311190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Take a nostalgic look back into your childhood toy box to revisit the valuable leadership and life lessons. How do Lego bricks teach students about building their leadership skills through making connections? How can Slinky Dog demonstrate the value of patience? How does Lite Brite light your leadership message?
Leadership strategy from the Little Green Army Men and many more playful and insightful lessons. Whether you still feel young at heart or your childhood seems to be a distant memory, Toy Box Leadership will bring you back to the place where all important life lessons began to reinvigorate your ability to influence and lead others in the playground of life.
Engaging lessons for your students in the Leadership Service in Action course.
Cathy and Michael Caylor have been married for 30 years. They live in the small rural town of Buffalo. She has three children, Michael, Jon, Ashley and son in law Dylan. Michael and Cathy have two grandchildren - Madelyn, 4, and Crew, 2 years old. Cathy has had a very active life... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm CDT RC 17511190 Quivira Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210
