2026 K-ACTE Career Tech Summit

2026 K-ACTE Career Tech Summit

Welcome to the K-ACTE Career Tech Summit 2026: Shaping the Next Generation of Workers!

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

2:00pm CDT

Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) Kick off Meeting RC 145Brandie Disberger

4:00pm CDT

K-ACTE Executive Board Meeting RC 270Laurali Masterson • Jamie Manhart • Linda Chase

6:00pm CDT

KAAE Executive Board Meeting RC 175Mary Beth Fulk

KATFACS Executive Council Meeting RC 270Janet Holden

KHSIA Executive Board Meeting RC 145Kevin Stalsberg

KTIEA Opening Business Meeting and Social RC 157Jeremiah Harmon

7:00am CDT

Registration NMOCA Atrium

7:15am CDT

Breakfast RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference Center

8:00am CDT

Welcome & Awards Ceremony RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference Center

8:45am CDT

Keynote RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference CenterAndrea Caspari

9:45am CDT

K-ACTE House of Delegates NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumLaurali Masterson • Jamie Manhart • Linda Chase

Work-based Learning Fundamentals RC 183Anthony Meals

Exhibitor Browsing NMOCA Atrium

10:45am CDT

AI 201 | Designing Instruction in an AI Enhanced Classroom RC 175Dyane Smokorowski

Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Advancing CAD Education RC 234Kim Stewart • Heather Cleveland • Eric Deneault

CTE Coordinator Information and Updates NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumNatalie Clark

New Class but NO Curriculum? RC 145Shanta' Kemp

Pitching with Purpose: Bringing Client-Connected Projects into Any Classroom RC 270Jaylene Freeman

Rooted in Purpose: Growing Leaders the Kansas FCCLA Way RC 221Shandi Andres

The Student Who Struggles: Why CTE is the Perfect Intervention RC 232Stacey Jones

Tips and Tricks for Successful Fundraising RC 157Jacob Larison

Why Is Career Exploration so Critical Today? RC 181Kristin Brighton

11:40am CDT

KAAE Committee Meetings & Luncheon RC 175Lacie Harshbarger

KHSIA Awards Luncheon RC 157Kevin Stalsberg

KATFACS Awards Luncheon RC 270Janet Holden

Lunch RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference Center

1:00pm CDT

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure: Exploring what can go wrong in a work-based learning experience and preparing students to navigate those pitfalls RC 157Kevin Stalsberg

Constructing Excellence: How to Build a Program That Produces Industry-Ready Professionals RC 145Nathan Howard

From Rubric to Results: Workshopping Strong SAE Grant Applications RC 183Mary Lonker

From Vision to Reality: Creating a Mental and Behavioral Health Pathway RC 221Cathy Mong • Aubry Weigel

Individual Plans of Study, Course Selection, and Future Goals and Plans RC 234Dr. Lindsay King

KATFACS Business Meeting RC 270Janet Holden

Perkins FY26-27: Reporting, Spending, and Reserve Grant Opportunities NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumDenise Lauber

Real-World Personal Finance: Helping Students Navigate Today’s Money Culture RC 175Ryan Wood

Stronger Together: Turning ACTE & Kansas ACTE Membership into Meaningful Impact RC 181Kelli Diemer • Linda Chase • Laurali Masterson

Teaching Tomorrow’s Tech: Preparing Students for Cyber, Cloud & AI Careers RC 232Hondo Tamez

2:00pm CDT

A Clear Path to Success: Using the IPS Model for Student-Driven Enrollment RC 181Dana Daugharrthy

AI as a Teaching Tool: Practical Applications for Every CTE Program RC 183Hondo Tamez

Be Future Ready: Empowering Tomorrow’s Financial Leaders RC 175Gigi Wolf Neil

Beyond the Credential: How the "Whole-Scholar" Model Achieves a 75% Persistence Rate RC 234Macenzie Tucker • Alex Shaw

Comparisons and differences between works of fine art and works of design in the age of AI. RC 232Jim Lane

CTE Pathways Student Data Management Reporting Training NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumJenna Giordano

Including Culture in Health Care RC 157Danielle Espinosa • Paige Tillotson • Jill Pelz

Leveling Up Your Labs with iCEV RC 270Dr. Calee McElwain

Recruiting and Supporting Special Populations in CTE RC 145Dr. Lindsay King • Andy Ewing

The Value of ACT WorkKeys and the NCRC RC 221Michael Monson

Olathe Innovations Campus Olathe Innovation CampusBarbra Gonzales

Tour of JCCC's Center for Sustainability's Open Petal Farm Open Petal FarmClaire Zimmermann

Welding Test for Excel in CTE TBAJeremiah Harmon • Grant Von Lunen

2:30pm CDT

Pathways to Creative Careers: A Look Inside the JCCC Fashion & Interior Design Departments GEB 353-AJoy Rhodes • Dr. Heather Carlile Carter

6:00pm CDT

KATFACS Social Nick & Jake'sJanet Holden KHSIA Social Firebirds Wood Fired GrillKevin Stalsberg KLCTE Social TBAAdam Wessel

7:30am CDT

Breakfast RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference Center Registration NMOCA Atrium

8:45am CDT

Beyond the Card: Bringing OSHA 10 & Employability Skills to Life in Your Classroom RC 145Justin Williamson

Breaking Cycles, Building Futures: How Educators Create Workforce-Ready Students Through Intentionality, Mentorship, and High Expectations RC 183Justin Pickens

Elevate Your Teaching: AI for the Busy Educators, Work Smarter and Level Up Your Lessons NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumNicole Linenberger

KLCTE Annual Meeting and Roundtable RC 270Chris Holborn

Reality U: Innovative, Hands-On Financial Learning RC 175Patrick Sehl

Reimagining Nutrition & Dietetics: Classroom-Ready Strategies for Kansas FCS RC 181Janet Holden

Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline Through Youth Apprenticeship RC 232Laura Nichols

What is HOSA - Future Health Professionals? RC 157Tina Garetson

9:45am CDT

AI 101 | Teaching and Thinking in an AI World RC 270Dyane Smokorowski

CTE & Career Exploration for Middle Grades NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumDr. Calee McElwain

CTE and ADHD: A "Perfect" Match - Why Hands-On Learning is the Key to Neurodiverse Success RC 232Dr. Chris Foster

CTE Lesson Planning is Hard or izzit? RC 183Mark Turrentine

Discover Sorghum: Linking Kansas Farms, Classrooms, and Cafeterias RC 145Maddy Meier

Exploring Health Professions Careers: An Interactive Overview of U-CHaMP and the KU School of Health Professions RC 157Laneshia Neely

From Handshakes to Internships: Building Business Partnerships that Work RC 175Dr. Ceresa Schaffer

NCCER - CTE Trades & Industry and Agriculture Technology Curriculum/Credentials for Kansas Educators and Students ---FREE through AGC and Build Up Kansas RC 181PJ Reilly

What's new in FACS? RC 234Heather Campbell

10:35am CDT

Exhibitor Browsing NMOCA Atrium

11:00am CDT

Carpenters Apprenticeship. Earn while you Learn RC 232Mike Himes

CTE Meet Literacy: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Do It Tomorrow RC 181Mary Lonker

Don’t Know Where to Start? A Workshop for Turning Ideas into Impact NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumBecky Hickert

Dr. Kelly Hoelting presentation (TBD) RC 175Dr. Kelly Hoelting

Electronic Portfolios for Measuring & Reflecting on Student Learning RC 183Kevin Bronson

Mastering Money RC 145Kelly Main • Jillian Miller

Maximizing CTE Impact with Eduthings Data Management Solution RC 270Dr. Calee McElwain

STEM & Health Science Pathway Review and Alignment RC 157Brian Swaim

Youth Registered Apprenticeship WORKS for CTE! RC 234Eryn Knecht

11:50am CDT

Lunch RC 101 - Capital Federal Conference Center

1:30pm CDT

Agricultural Education Program Updates RC 145Anthony Meals

Cluster & Pathway Specific Updates: Energy; Manufacturing; Construction & Design; Vehicle Maintenance & Repair; Corrections, Security, Law & Law Enforcement Services; and Emergency & Fire Management Services RC 181Kevin Bronson

Design Essentials Unlocked: Bringing Fashion Principles to Life in the Classroom GEB 353-AJoy Rhodes • Audrey Michaelis

Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted: Olathe Public Schools' 2 Year Academy Approach to WBL NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumAmy Nail • Sara Cockrum • Dr. Chris Bergen

From Compliance to Collaboration: Building Advisory Boards That Actually Drive CTE Programs RC 157Sara Sutton

Kansas Secondary Schools OCR/MOA Audits - Everything you need to know! RC 270Andy Ewing

Organizing Your Digital World RC 175Shanta' Kemp

The Client‑Connected Blueprint: Turning Industry Partnerships Into Powerful Projects RC 183Adam Wessel

Work Based Learning Organization & Collaboration RC 232Jill Robinson • Dani McEwen

Youth Teacher Apprentice Program and the Teacher/Training CTE Pathway RC 234Joel Gillaspie

2:30pm CDT

ADA Requirements for Kansas Schools RC 145Andy Ewing

Building Rural Health Science Pathways: New Funding, Certifications & Pre-Apprenticeships for Kansas Schools RC 157Jaron Caffrey

Integration of AI to Elevate CTE Pathways RC 234Dr. Bryce Johnson • Angela Schankenberg

KSDE Business Cluster Update RC 181ChapLynn Askins

KTIEA Closing Business Meeting RC 232Jeremiah Harmon

Making core classes relevant to CTE students RC 270Glenna Burden

Modernizing CTE in Kansas: A Panel Showcase of 2025-26 Reserve Grant Innovations. NMOCA 217 Hudson AuditoriumDenise Lauber

OSHA 10: The Credential of Value for CTE Students Entering the Workforce RC 183Justin Williamson

Toy Box Leadership: Leadership Lessons from the Toys You Loved as a Child RC 175Cathy Caylor

3:30pm CDT

Conference Committee Debrief RC 270Barbra Gonzales

2026 K-ACTE Career Tech Summit