ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference 2026: Directory

Company Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Position Manager, Work Based Learning Programs

M

Santippica (Tippi)

Approaching my second year as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at Washburn Tech in Topeka, KS.

Facilitate campus-wide career readiness workshops, classroom workshops, and individual student appointments for resume writing, resume reviews, interviewing and networking skills.
Manage expanded engagement with employer partners, such as company presentations, Mock Interview Day, company tours, Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT), internships, and Interview Day.
Assist with preparing career fairs.

Company Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech)
Position Work-Based Learning Coordinator
Location Topeka, Kansas

GA

Gabriela Alaniz

Company Las Cruces Public Schools
Position Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

Elizabeth Alexander

Company North Pole High School
Position Language Arts Teacher
Location AK

Jeff Arnott

Company Lot 12 Education
Location Las Vegas, NV

LB

Laura Barker

Company USD 259
Position IPS and Learning Specialist

AB

Aretha Barnes

Company Richland Northeast High School
Position Work-basedLearningCoordinator
Location Aretha Barnes

JB

Mac Beaton

Company Henrico County Public Schools
Position Director of Workforce and Career Development
Location VA

Rebekah Beckett

I oversee and grow our WBL programs for middle school pre-interns, high school interns, and student apprentices in our IT division

Company Thompson School District
Position Client Services Coordinator
Location Loveland, CO

I am a 5-year veteran Physical Science teacher from Portsmouth, VA. I am a member of the city-wide curriculum writing team, where I get to ensure that all students have equitable learning opportunities, including many JASON activities. This year I joined the JASON Learning Teacher Advisory Panel; I love having input on the lessons offered so that they are relatable to a diverse group of students. Recently I joined the Remote Experience for Young Engineers and Scientists (REYES) teacher committee through Old Dominion University, and was chosen as a featured scientist for their international STEM-H... Read more

Company Portsmouth Public Schools, VA
Position Teacher & Curriculum Writer
Location Portsmouth, VA

Skylar Bell

Dr. Rod Belnap

Dr. Rod Belnap is the CTE Director in the Weber School District and is in his 31st year in education. He has a Bachelors Degree from Weber State University, his Masters degree from Utah State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Utah. He is a charismatic, energetic, passionate, visionary leader that loves education and cares about students. He was selected in 2023 as the National CTE Director of the Year. He taught Business/Marketing, English, and Driver Education in the secondary schools. He was also a head basketball coach and DECA advisor at Bonneville High School. He has... Read more

Company Weber School District
Position CTE Director

Jody Bennett

This allowed her to pursue her passion of helping students prepare for life after high school as a Business and Marketing teacher for 13 years. After seeing how Work-Based Learning changed the education experience for students in her classroom, she wanted to be at the forefront of helping to expand these opportunities for all students in BVSD.

Company Colorado Community College System
Position Program Director, BMEF
Location Colorado

Kelvin Bentley

Dr. Bentley has over 25 years of experience serving in various roles as a faculty member, administrator, and consultant within the field of higher education, supporting academic innovation initiatives at 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. Dr. Bentley currently serves as the inaugural Project Director for NASH's Community of Practice on Microcredentials, where he leads efforts to help public higher education systems and their campuses design, scale, and evaluate microcredential initiatives that improve learner and workforce outcomes. In this role, Dr. Bentley collaborates with academic leaders... Read more

Company National Association of Higher Education Systems
Position Director of Community of Practice on Microcredentials

David Berg

Company Big Picture Learning
Position Director of Technology
Location Greater Seattle Area

Dr. Maggi Bienvenu

Maggi connects the dots between employers, educators, and students to build stronger career pathways across Southwest Louisiana. At One Acadiana, she leads 1A ConnectEd, an employer-led workforce initiative focused on career-connected learning, educator engagement, and regional talent pipelines.

Her approach is shaped by experience in both education and Disney, where she learned the value of clear communication, strong systems, and memorable experiences that help people see what is possible.

Today, her work centers on making career pathways easier to understand, easier to access, and better alig...

Company One Acadiana
Position Director, Business & Education Connections
Location Lafayette, La

Sarah A. Black

Company Alexandria City Public Schools
Position Work-Based Learning Specialist
Location VA

Adam Blair

Company Seminole County Public Schools
Position Facilitator
Location Seminole County Florida

Maria Blanca

Company Baltimore city public schools
Position WBL specialist
Location Baltimore

Bozz Bossard

I’m the WBL Coordinator with Boone EDGE in Boone, Iowa. I am passionate about this work and love learning about how student’s interest plant these seeds of what’s to come next. I’m excited to learn more about AI, rural communities and internships, and would love to chat about authentic projects as a game changer in the world of work-based learning.

Company Boone EDGE
Position WBL Coordinator
Location Iowa

Rhodes Branding

Company Rhodes Branding
Position Marketing Strategy Director
Location Columbia, SC

MB

Michael Brix

Company Peoria Public Schools
Position Faculty/Teacher
Location IL

Jeff Brown

Company Sourcewell
Position Career Pathways Specialist
Location Staples, MN

TB

Tierra Brown

I am a first year teacher at UHS and I teach business classes. I am excited to learn everything CTE!

Company USD 116
Position Teacher

Tristan Brown

Company Maury County Public Schools
Position CTE College and Career Coordinator
Location Columbia, TN

Amber Burroughs

Company Truckee Meadows Community College
Position Associate Director of Workforce Development

Jason Butcher

Jason started working with Reach Higher Montana in May of 2020. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health Enhancement from Montana State University-Billings in 1991 and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, with a principal and superintendent endorsement in 1998 from Montana State University-Bozeman. He has 25 years of experience as a teacher, coach, activities director, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent in Montana schools. He was twice named the Central Montana Administrator of the Year and was honored to be named the state of Montana Superintendent of the Year in...

Company Reach Higher Montana
Position Outreach Director
Location MT

Paul Button

Company The Mount Academy
Position Administrator/Guidance
Location Esopus, NY

KE

KATHERINE E. CAHILL

Position TEACHER ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

Holly Camerano

Company Three Rivers EFE

MICHELLE CAMP

Company Pulaski County Special School District
Position Director of Career Education
Location Little Rock, Arkansas

Angie Carroll

Rachel Carter

Steve Casa

I became a member of the Ulster BOCES family in February of 2018 as its Workplace Learning Coordinator and became the Assistant Principal at the Career & Technical Center in July of 2022. I'm happy to announce that as of this writing, I've been appointed the Supervisor of Workplace Learning for the agency, leading a high performing team of five. I've been engaged in Career & Technical Education and Work Based Learning at both the local and national levels since 1990 and have a proven track record of success. Based on data, our team has made Ulster BOCES THE lead partner in workforce development... Read more

Company Ulster BOCES
Position Supervisor of Workplace Learning
Location New Paltz, NY

Toni Celestine

Company South Louisiana Community College
Position Associate Dean of Student Services
Location Lafayette, LA

Paula Chaon

Company Ford Next Generation Learning
Position Community & Partnerships Coach
Location Jacksonville Beach, FL

Erin Cherney

Company Milwaukee Public Schools
Position Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator
Location Milwaukee, WI

JC

Julie Childers

BC

Bill Christian

CTE
School Board Member
Project Lead the Way Instructor

Company CHSD 218
Position Director of Career and Technical Education
Location Oak Lawn Illinois

Delia Clayton-Fulcher

Company Fredericksburg City Schools
Position CTE DIstrict Coordinator
Location Fredericksburg

DC

Debora Cosen

Company Robinson High
Location Arkansas

Margie Creager

Company Kiamichi Tech
Position Career Connection
Location McAlester

Andrea Cummings

Company Florida State College at Jacksonville
Position EOC Director
Location Jacksonville, Florida

Kathryn Dacier

Kathryn Dacier is a Career Coordinator who specializes in connecting education to industry through results-driven career readiness programs. She leads initiatives that give high school students meaningful real-world experiences. Her work centers on workforce development, employability skills, and strong industry engagement.

She is known for building strong partnerships with companies such as General Dynamics Electric Boat, CVS Pharmacy, Tasca, and WaterFire Providence to name a few. She has expanded access to internships and creates systems that turn classroom learning into measurable postsec...

Company Davies Career & Technical High School
Position Career Coordinator
Location Lincoln, RI

Amanda Daniels

Amanda Daniels is Director of Work-Based Learning Strategy at GPS Education Partners, where she leads program design for high-quality WBL programs across the nation. With extensive experience coaching educational institutions to create rigorous college and career pathways, Amanda specializes in helping practitioners move beyond activity-driven programming to systematic, student-centered WBL design. She has developed coaching models and professional development frameworks that address both structural and pedagogical gaps in career readiness programming. Amanda is a contributing author to "Make School... Read more

Company GPS Education Partners
Position Director of Work-based Learning Strategy
Location WI

Nakesha M Dawson, Ed.D

Dr. Nakesha Merritt Dawson is an Assistant Professor of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Appalachian State University, in Boone, NC. Dr. Dawson has over two decades of experience in CTE. As an educator across multiple grade levels, curriculum writer, and advocate for experiential learning, she has dedicated herself to preparing students to thrive post graduation. She also has worked in many sectors to prepare future educators, while both challenging and enhancing current CTE programming. A National Board Certified teacher, Dr. Dawson's work has focused on creating engaging, practical... Read more

Company Appalachian State University
Position Assistant Professor of Career and Technical Education

David Dollar

Bobbie Jo Donovan

Company Rapid City Area Schools
Position CCR Manager
Location Rapid City, SD

Dr. Laura Ergle

Laura Ergle has dedicated her career in education to preparing students to be college and career ready. She began her career as a CTE educator, then moved onto the Georgia Department of Education as a Program Specialist serving CTE teachers across the state. Upon completing her doctoral degree in educational leadership, she went back out to work in a school system as CTE Director and Director of a Regional College and Career Academy. In 2023 Laura went back and joined the Georgia Department of Education, the Office of Rural Education & Innovation as the College and Career Readiness Specialist... Read more

Company Georgia Department of Education - Office of Rural Education & Innovation
Position College & Career Readiness Specialist

Sapph Espinoza

Company Cobb County School District
Position CTAE Program Coordinator
Location County ISC

Tami Evanow

I work at Kuna High School and Swan Falls High School as the Work Based Learning Coordinator. I am also the Business Liaison for the district. I have been working in Kuna for 22 years and love it here!

Company Kuna School District
Position Work Based Learning Coordinator
Location ID

Crystal Everett

Crystal Everett brings nearly 15 years of experience in education and community engagement. As the Program Leader for the Kauffman Foundation, Crystal is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for local communities, with a focus on access and real world learning. In her previous role as the Real World Learning Manager for Kansas City Public Schools, she was instrumental in bridging classroom learning with practical, hands-on experiences.

Company Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Position Program Leader - School Engagement

Alicia Fales

Alicia has been an educator for 32 years, 25 of which have been in work-based learning. After 17 years as a high school teacher, Alicia moved into system leadership as Supervisor of School to Career Transition for Baltimore County Public Schools. Currently, she serves as the Supervisor for Career Navigation for BCPS. Alicia has served on Workforce Development and Chambers of Commerce boards throughout her career and has collaborated on career development program implementation for the MD State Department of Education, including the development of the Career Research and Development program... Read more

Company Baltimore County Public Schools
Position Supervisor of Career Navigation
Location MD

HF

Heather Finley

Company Fannin County
Position Director (district-level)
Location School District Office Employee

NF

Nicole Flynn

Company ConVal High School Region 14 ATC
Position ELO/WBL Coordinator
Location Peterborough, NH

Jaylene Freeman

Jaylene Freeman holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a minor in Business from Kansas State University and a Master of Arts in Education from Baker University. She has spent her career dedicated to preparing students for life beyond the classroom through innovative, hands-on learning experiences.Throughout her teaching career, Jaylene taught nearly all of the business and technology course offerings, where she discovered a passion for real-world learning later in her career. This passion led her to found a student-run enterprise within the Marketing program and to collaborate... Read more

Company USD 231 Gardner Edgerton
Position CTE and RWL Coordinator
Location GEHS

Oscar Garcia

Eloy Garza

Eloy Garza is a passionate advocate for work-based learning. He is the founder and creator of the Career Bridge app, a powerful tool for facilitating work-based learning projects by empowering teachers, students, and business partners with a safe and secure space for collaboration. Additionally, he has served as the Dual Credit Marketing Instructor, DECA Advisor, and Shot Put & Discus Coach. He also serves on the Marketing Advisory Committee at South Texas College and is a member of the Business, Marketing, and Finance Advisory and Work-Based Learning Champions Group for The Texas Education... Read more

Company Career Bridge
Position Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Location Texas

Eloy Garza

Eloy Garza is the Founder and CEO of Career Bridge and a Marketing Lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship. He is the creator of the Student-Led Agency model, a universal engagement work-based learning framework that connects students with businesses to solve real-world challenges. Through this approach, Eloy has engaged thousands of secondary and postsecondary students with hundreds businesses, equipping students with critical 21st-century skills while delivering measurable value to local industries.

His leadership in ex... Read more

Company University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship
Position Marketing Lecturer

Jennifer Ghidiu

Jennifer Ghidiu serves as the National School Network Director at Big Picture Learning, a role that is a perfect fit for her own unconventional educational path. Disenchanted with traditional schooling despite a genuine love for learning, Jennifer found educational kinship with Big Picture, and resonance in its innovative approach. With a wealth of experience in school launch and alternative education, Jennifer's journey began as a founding teacher at Camden’s Big Picture Learning Academy. Her leadership extended to the establishment of el Centro de Estudiantes and several other pioneering programs... Read more

Company Big Picture Learning
Position National School Network Director
Location Rochester, NY

DG

Dorothy Gibson

Company Birmingham City Schools
Position Teacher
Location AL

Dawn Gilliatt

Ask me about our 40+ certificate and master's programs! Discover how Fitchburg State University can help you achieve your career goals. Ask about program costs, payment plans, and financial aid, classes, and academics, and learn how to submit an application for your program.
Let's chat about YOUR future!

Company Fitchburg State University - SGOCE
Position Asst. Director of Outreach and Recruitment
Location Fitchburg, Ma.

Lynette Gillson, PhD

I am passionate about business-education partnerships with the ultimate goal of building relationships that are beneficial to students, organizations, and, ultimately, the community. I am fortunate to work for a school district and in an area where there is an emphasis on equity and inclusion. All work is done with equity and inclusion in mind. Work Based Learning in our District actually started with our AVID program and has spread to CTE and ELD, as well as other programs.

Company Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District
Position Coordinator: Partnerships, WBL & AVID PEAK
Location Mountain View, CA

Cassandra Gonzales

Leah Good

Company USD 230 Spring Hill

LG

Leah Gorowicz

Cathy Gover

Company Altus High School
Position Class to Career Internship Coordinator/Instructor
Location Altus, OK

Popy Graham

Popy and her team have spent the past decade collaborating with work-based learning teachers. Their company, Charity Republic, started by supporting charities and non-profits, and naturally evolved into work-based learning through the development of their hour tracking and document e-signature platform. Over the last 10 years, work-based learning educators have played a key role in shaping Hour Republic, expanding to meet their needs. The team is committed to building software that is affordable, accessible, and user-friendly.

Company Hour Republic
Position WBL Specialist

SG

Sherri Greenberg

Company Hillsborough College
Position Internship Programming Manager

Ashley Grimball

Company West Ashley High School
Location South Carolina

Sarah Grossi

Sarah Grossi is the Careers in Education instructor at the Region 14 ATC at ConVal High School in Peterborough, New Hampshire, an Early Childhood Education adjunct professor at Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire, and a CAST National faculty member. Grossi's undergraduate degrees are in art, early childhood development, and K-8 education. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction with a reading concentration from Keene State College and a graduate certificate in behavior management from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Grossi is an Educators Rising... Read more

Company Region 14 ATC - ConVal High School
Position Careers in Education Instructor
Location Peterborough

Doryiane Gunter

Company Dekalb County Schools
Position CTAE Director
Location DeKalb County Schools, GA

Erin Hagmaier

Emily Hall

An experienced educator with over 24 years of experience. For the first 7 years of her career, Emily was a School Counselor. She then served as the Director of Counseling for 10 years. Emily was also recognized as Virginia’s Secondary School Counselor of the Year in 2010.
Driven by a passion for careers, Emily transitioned into a new role as a Career Development Counselor four years ago. She developed Work-Based Learning opportunities for students, supported the district's counselors with ACP development, and served the Spotsylvania Career and Tech Center as their school counselor. ...

Company Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Position Work-Based Learning Coordinator
Location VA

DH

Diane Haller

Chris Hamman

Company Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
Position EC-5 Work Based Learning Instructional Coach

KH

Kayla Hansen

Company Maine Township HS District
Position Manager of Business & Community Relations

Peter Harris

Company Ulster BOCES & NYSACTE
Position New York State ACTE President, Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Design - Career Pathways Program
Location New Paltz, NY

DH

Dorothy Hayes

Lakelya Bright Haynes

Company Lee College
Location Baytown, TX

EH

eric hedaa

Madison Hendrick

After years of working in nonprofit marketing and management, Madison has transitioned into the role of Partnership Manager, supporting the New Hampshire work-based learning network through Xello. By building connections with business partners across the state, Madi helps organizations engage with high school students through meaningful opportunities such as internships, job shadowing, career fair participation, and part-time roles aligned with career pathways.

Outside of work, Madi enjoys spending time on the lakes of New Hampshire or relaxing by the woodstove during the colder months with a g...

Company Xello
Position Partnership Manager, Work-Based Learning

KH

KRISTIN HERRING

Company Pulaski County Special School District
Position Teacher
Location Pulaski County AR

Wendy Hightower

Company Kiamichi Tech
Position Pre-ETS
Location Oklahoma

MH

Michelle Hoch

Location hochm

RH

Rochelle Hockett

Company State Fair Community College
Position Director, Career Services
Location Sedalia MO

Courtney Hundley

Courtney Hundley currently serves as a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for the West-MEC CTE School District, where she supports educators through instructional coaching, professional development, curriculum design, and program management. Her academic background includes advanced study in child growth and development, sociology, online teaching and learning, along with an Arizona Principal Certification, providing a strong foundation in instructional leadership, teacher preparation, and early childhood education. With multiple years of experience teaching Early Childhood Education at the... Read more

Company West-MEC
Position Program Specialist
Location Phoenix, AZ

DJ Jackon

Company Incline HS
Position Teacher
Location INCLINE HIGH SCHOOL

Jan Jardine

Jan is amazing. She does all the things.

Company Provo City School District
Position CAPS Director
Location UT

Annie Johnston

Annie Johnston is the Work-Based Learning Coordinator for the Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin. When she is not working with partners or students in district-wide workforce development, she is enjoying downtime with her partner and 3 cats trying new foods and planning her next traveling adventure.

Company Madison Metropolitan School District
Position Work-based Learning Coordinator
Location Madison, WI

Jenny Johnston

Company Verona Area School District
Position School to Career Coordinator

April Jones

I manage work-based learning programs in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, North Louisiana as well as manage a summer internship program for college students entitled Catalyst.

Company Ochsner Health
Position Associate Program Manager

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