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Type: Roundtable Session clear filter
Thursday, April 30
 

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 1: Let’s Go Fish! Cast for the Right Partners and Opportunities
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Ready to reel in amazing community and industry partners? In this fast-paced, 25-minute session, we’ll show you how to cast your line with confidence—cold calling, connecting, and marketing your school or program’s needs to attract the right collaborators. Using a “catch and release” approach, you’ll see examples, learn best practices, and explore proven strategies for establishing authentic connections, then have a moment to try out your ideas in real time. You’ll leave with a toolkit packed with cold call/email scripts, a partnership prospecting “fishing map,” tips for establishing relationships, and curated resources to keep your network growing. This session is perfect for educators, work-based learning coordinators, and administrators ready to hook meaningful partnerships that expand student career exploration and skill development.
Speakers
avatar for Miranda Ziegler

Miranda Ziegler

Work-Based Learning Specialist, Jeffco Pubic Schools
Miranda Ziegler is a Work-Based Learning Specialist for Jeffco Public Schools, where she manages industry and community partnerships, trains and supports educators, and develops systems and planning to expand access to career-connected learning. Her work was highlighted in Hans Meeder’s... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 2: Dare to Dream: A coordinated, systemized Career Week for Elementary Schools
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
This session will showcase a fun, age-appropriate way to introduce elementary students to careers during a Career Week.  Participates will explore how we took our career week from 1 school to 34 schools in just 3 short years, with a team of 1!
The focus will be on showcasing the Dare to Dream Career week which is a developmentally appropriate, interactive, and inspiring career exploration activity for all elementary schools.


This session is appropriate for anyone who oversees Elementary career exploration or work-based learning, or helps to make decisions around Elementary content.


The Dare to Dream Career Week model, takes a structured format that can be applied in a variety of elementary settings from counselors, media specialists, or classroom teachers.  In this session, we will share how different schools applied Career Week in different structures.  Participants will leave with concrete strategies to make Career Week more impactful from structured classroom lessons and center activities to school-wide events.  


This session will blend discussion, modeling of activities and resources for attendees to create their own tooklit for career week.


Resources Provided:
- Slide deck with sample activities and best practices
- Printable student worksheets and handouts
- Planning templates
- A curated list of resources
Speakers
avatar for Jody Bennett

Jody Bennett

Program Director, BMEF, Colorado Community College System
 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... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 3: Optimizing Pathways for Student Success Through Aligned Experiences: Strategies for Educators
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
"Improving Alignment of Pathways and Courses to Available Student Experiences" will guide teachers, administrators, and coordinators in aligning student experiences with pathway courses to maximize impact beyond the classroom. Are opportunities reaching the right students at the right time? Together, we’ll explore strategies to reduce repetition, strengthen course alignment, and intentionally plan experiences that provide clarity, relevance, and improved student outcomes.
Speakers
avatar for Ashley DeVore

Ashley DeVore

Coordinator of Career and Technical Education, Springfield Public Schools
Ashley DeVore currently serves as Coordinator of Career and Technical Education for Springfield Public Schools. Through this role, Ashley works alongside middle school and high school CTE teachers to plan for and provide engaging educational experiences connected to state and national... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Vandergrift

Amanda Vandergrift

Coordinator of Work Based Learning and Student Experiences, Springfield Public Schools
Amanda Vandergrift currently serves as the Work-Based Learning and Student Experiences Coordinator for Springfield Public Schools. Through this role, Amanda collaborates with schools, community partners, and industry leaders to design and coordinate experiences that provide opportunities... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 4: MAP-IT: Using Technology Tools to Support Career Exploration and Planning
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
The MAP-IT framework provides a structured approach for using technology tools to support student career exploration and planning. By guiding students through matching their interests, analyzing opportunities, creating plans, implementing actions, and tracking progress, MAP-IT ensures all students graduate with a clear and actionable career pathway. This process leverages technology’s strengths—such as career assessments, labor market insights, and digital portfolios—to make planning both meaningful and future-focused. This roundable unpacks the MAP-IT framework, how it supports career planning through advisory periods and other spaces, and how educators can use technology tools effectively. 
Speakers
avatar for T.J. Vari

T.J. Vari

Senior Director of Product Strategy, MaiaLearning

Dr. T.J. Vari is the Senior Director of Product Strategy at MaiaLearning with a focus on postsecondary planning for students worldwide. Dr. Vari is a former deputy superintendent, middle school assistant principal and principal, and high school English teacher. Dr. Vari is an
... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 5: Partner up and Propel CTE into the Future
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Strong partnerships are key in advancing Career and Technical Education. This session explores how educators can build and sustain effective collaboration with industry, postsecondary, and community partners, all to enrich student experiences while strengthening CTE pathways. Designed for classroom teachers, administrators, and program leaders, this session will provide practical strategies and tools that will help identify, engage, and grow partnerships that align with local workforce needs. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use resources, including a partnership planning template. If you are building a new program or enhancing an existing one, this session offers actionable insights to move your CTE efforts forward. 
Speakers
avatar for Nakesha M Dawson, Ed.D

Nakesha M Dawson, Ed.D

Assistant Professor of Career and Technical Education, Appalachian State University
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... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Session 6: An Invention and Entrepreneurship Research-Focused Internship Program Model
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

This session reveals a model for how WBL coordinators can work with WBL mentors/hosts to facilitate students' autonomy and teamwork in designing and developing solutions to problems or challenges of their own choice, resulting in real products for real audiences. These internship strategies align with the Buck Insititute Gold Standard for PBL and are a great match for post-secondary institutions, government agencies and other large employers willing to tke on a larger number of students. 
Speakers
avatar for Jim Egenrieder

Jim Egenrieder

Director, Technical Education and Workforce Development, Virginia Tech, Greater Washington, D.C. Area
Jim Egenrieder is a long-time CTE/TVET and science teacher, a research professor in Engineering and Education, and a teaching professor in Natural Resources and Energy.  He began facilitating internships in 1998 and now he nd his staff host over 50 high school science and engineering... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Rotunda 1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI
 
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