ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference 2026: Full Schedule

3:30pm EDT

WBL 101

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

General Session

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Thursday April 30, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT

Ballroom A-E

Generously sponsored by:

Thursday April 30, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Meals

8:00am EDT

Opening General Session

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am EDT

Ballroom A-E

Hosted by Matt Kirchner of the Tech Ed Podcast, this panel brings together perspectives from education, industry, and student leadership. Kathryn Dacier of Davies Career & Technical High School, William Barber of General Dynamics Electric Boat, and Kadence Agin, Rhode Island SkillsUSA State Officer President, share how work-based learning builds career-ready pipelines — and what it looks like from the classroom, the shop floor, and the student's seat.

Speakers

Katherine Sutton

Matt Kirchner

President

Matt Kirchner (pronounced “Kirk-ner”) is an international speaker, author and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and private employers. On a mission to secure the American Dream for the next generation of STEM and Workforce talent, Kirchner hosts... Read More →

Kathryn Dacier

Career Coordinator, Davies Career & Technical High School

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... Read More →

Kadence Agin

Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

General Session

9:45am EDT

Reimagining Internships: Virtual Models for Equitable Work-Based Learning Programs

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am EDT

Ballroom A-E

This session explores the development and impact of national, industry-based virtual internships. Student stories will highlight how virtual internships provide meaningful, authentic experiences, while also overcoming common challenges rural and urban districts face. The session highlights strategies for reimagining traditional internship models through use of virtual platforms, expanding access and equity in WBL programs. The session combines storytelling, interactive discussion, and practical resources to equip attendees with actionable approaches to overcome challenges and build sustainable industry partnerships. Ideal for educators, administrators, and industry leaders, this presentation should support developing or expanding your internship programs.

Speakers

Amber Adams

Nicole Pizzato

K12 Liaison - Kansas City Metro, CAPS Network

Nicole Pizzato works at CAPS Network, advancing access to authentic, industry-connected profession-based learning for students nationwide. She spent 15 years in urban schools as a teacher, instructional coach, and district administrator, developing scalable programs that integrate... Read More →

Allison Koelzer Nelson

K12 Liaison - Kansas Rural Initiative, CAPS Network

Allison K. Nelson works at CAPS Network, and is dedicated to advancing K–12 education by partnering with educators, administrators, and industry leaders to expand career-connected learning, with a focus on supporting rural Kansas schools. Beyond education, she provides strategic... Read More →

Final CAPS Network ACTE WBL Presentation 042026 pdf

Virtual Internship Planning Guide (1) pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Concurrent Session

global Y

11:15am EDT

Building Rural WBL Pipelines: A Regional, Scalable Model

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

This session highlights a cross-county initiative in rural Illinois to build a comprehensive, fairness-focused Work-Based Learning (WBL) continuum spanning Career Awareness through Career Development. Presenters David Rademacher (EFE Director) and Sarah Rudofsky (CTE Consultant) will share a replicable model grounded in landscape analysis, local asset mapping, and regional coordination across Marion, Clinton, and Washington Counties.
Ideal for CTE leaders, WBL coordinators, and rural education stakeholders, this session offers tools to operationalize WBL in under-resourced settings. Attendees will explore key deliverables, including a regional WBL calendar, employer engagement strategies, and a student tracking system aligned with Perkins V.
Through small-group activities, resource sharing, and implementation planning, participants will leave with actionable strategies to build or strengthen their own WBL ecosystems—even with limited staff or budgets.
Resources provided: slide deck, WBL planning template, landscape analysis tools, and sample outreach materials.

Speakers

David Rademacher

Education for Employment, CTE Director, EFE 495

David Rademacher – EFE Director, Marion, Clinton & Washington Counties
David Rademacher serves as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Education for Employment (EFE) Director for Marion, Clinton, and Washington Counties in Southern Illinois. With a deep commitment to preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers, David oversees regio... Read More →

Sarah Rudofsky

Lead and Founder, Alliance Learning Design

Sarah Rudofsky is a visionary leader in education and workforce development, dedicated to bridging the gap between classroom learning and career readiness. As the Founder and Lead of Consulting and Project Management at Alliance Learning Design, LLC., she pioneers initiatives that... Read More →

CTE Program Landscape Analysis Tool (2) pdf

CTE & Work Based Learning Landscape Survey (Condensed) pdf

WBL Menu Partner Facing pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Concurrent Session

global Y

12:30pm EDT

Lunch & WBL Division Business Meeting

Thursday April 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

Generously sponsored by:

Thursday April 30, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Meals

1:45pm EDT

Acquiring "YES": 7 Tips to Recruit Industry Partners for WBL

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

Work-Based Learning coordinators are more than educators—they are salespeople and recruiters for their programs. This session will equip practitioners with proven strategies and simple, immediately applicable techniques to recruit employers, engage advisory committee members, and attract champions who can help grow and sustain their programs. Drawing on successful practices from both metro and rural settings, presenters will share practical tools and real-world examples that attendees can adapt to their own context.

Participants will learn how to market and brand their programs effectively to students, parents, administrators, and industry partners; how to use industry-appropriate language that resonates with employers; and how to position their programs as essential to workforce and economic development. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of resources, processes, and communication strategies that can help them expand their employer partnerships, increase program visibility, and better serve their students.

Speakers

Jason Van Nus

Director of Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship Programs, Lowndes County Schools

Jason Van Nus, Georgia's ACTE Teacher of the Year in 2023, ACTE’s 2024 Region 2 Teacher of the Year, and Finalist for ACTE’s 2025 National Teacher of the Year, is the Director of Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Programs for Lowndes County Schools in Valdosta... Read More →

Providence Selling and Recruiting in Work Based Learning Building Powerful Partnerships pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Concurrent Session

3:00pm EDT

Blueprint for Future Planning: Workforce Board Partnering to Enhance WBL

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is more than policy- it’s a movement to connect every classroom to the opportunities waiting on the other side of graduation day. By partnering with community colleges, workforce boards, economic development agencies, and business leaders, schools are creating powerful pathways that prepare students in grades 6–12 for real success.
This session invites educators, workforce professionals, and industry partners to explore how internships, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning (WBL) experiences can ignite career readiness while filling critical workforce pipelines. Through interactive discussion, hands-on tools, and shared best practices, participants will learn how to link student interests and values with the skills employers need most.
Attendees will leave with ready-to-use resources like slide decks, planning tools, and practical strategies to apply immediately in their schools and organizations. Together, we aren’t just expanding opportunities- we are creating a shared future of success for students and our workforce ecosystem.

Speakers

Mariel Fedde

Alicia Fales

Supervisor of Career Navigation, Baltimore County Public Schools

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... Read More →

Jaime Sheggrud

Career Navigator, Baltimore County Public Schools

Jaime Sheggrud is an educational leader and workforce development strategist with expertise in career navigation, career counseling, and work-based learning. She currently serves as a Career Navigator in Baltimore County Public Schools, where she develops and implements career readiness... Read More →

Jamie Bell

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Ballroom A-E 1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903

Concurrent Session

global Y

4:30pm EDT

Streamlining Work-Based Learning Through Data and Organization

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Ballroom A-E

Discover how to leverage digital tools and data-driven strategies to streamline and strengthen work-based learning (WBL) programs. Participants will learn how our team optimized both paid and free applications to support program management—enhancing vendor profiles and standardizing events and programs. We also demonstrate how data dashboards can visualize teacher schedules, align WBL experiences with curriculum needs and track student engagement.
Attendees will gain practical strategies to improve operational efficiency, enhance communication with teachers and students, and make data actionable for program decisions . The session is highly interactive, featuring live demonstrations, collaborative problem-solving, and scenario-based exercises. Participants will explore real-world applications, share challenges, and discuss potential workflows that make WBL data more organized and impactful. By the end, attendees will be equipped with scalable methods to structure their systems, strengthen employer and educator engagement, and expand student access to meaningful career experiences through strategic, data-informed practices.

Speakers