2026 Arkansas CTE Summer Conference

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

2:00pm PDT

3D Printing in Schools: Beyond the Hype, Real Results

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

What does it actually take to make 3D printing work in a real classroom—not a highlight reel, not an idealized pilot program, but with real students, real budgets, and real time constraints? This session cuts through the hype and delivers the honest, classroom-tested knowledge educators need to build a program that lasts. Attendees will learn when 3D printing genuinely transforms learning and when it's just an expensive distraction, plus the foundational skills—materials, slicer settings, bed adhesion, and maintenance—that separate thriving programs from dusty printers in the corner. We'll also explore the exciting shift toward AI-assisted CoreXY systems and multi-toolhead printing that are reshaping what's possible in schools. And yes—we'll show how you can use 3D printing to raise real money for your STEM programs. Leave with practical strategies and information you can put to work immediately.

Presenters

Michael Herren

Computer Science / Robotics Teacher, Lake Hamilton Middle School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Engineering and Technology Division

2:00pm PDT

ArACTE Fellows: A Year in Reflection

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

What have we been up to this past year? Come see all the fun, exciting things we learned and amazing connections we made.

Presenters

Deanna Reed

Fellows Cohort 5

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Breaking Barriers, Building Nurses: How Partnerships Created a High School LPN Pipeline

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Learn how Little Rock School District’s Metropolitan Career Technical Center partnered with Baptist Health College of Little Rock, healthcare industry leaders, and community stakeholders to launch one of Central Arkansas’s first high school Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs. This session will highlight the strategies used to remove barriers for students, align secondary and postsecondary systems, secure funding, and create authentic healthcare experiences that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage careers.

Participants will explore lessons learned in program development, student recruitment, concurrent credit alignment, clinical experiences, and sustainability planning. Presenters will also share early outcomes from the inaugural cohort of graduates and discuss how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen the future healthcare workforce pipeline while expanding access and opportunity for students.

Presenters

Shameka Montgomery

Director of Career Education, Little Rock School District

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Health Science Division

2:00pm PDT

Building Student Ownership Through Community Connections

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Creating a culture of student growth requires more than quality projects and activities. It starts with building student ownership of learning, strengthened through meaningful community engagement and support. For educators who are not members of the communities they serve or new to community projects, finding authentic connections can feel intimidating.

In this session, we will explore practical tools and strategies any classroom can use to leverage community relationships, promote student growth, and increase student ownership of learning.

Presenters

Jason Blake

Director Of Training Services, EAST Initiative

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Education

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Explore curriculum resources available to teachers utilizing nationally recognized certifications through the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). Participants will learn strategies for connecting students with industry professionals through guest speakers, internships, and work-based learning opportunities while gaining insight into career pathways and job opportunities within the hospitality industry. Leave with practical ideas and resources to strengthen your hospitality and tourism programs and create meaningful real-world experiences for students.

Exhibitors

Renee Jeffery Smith

Director of Education, Arkansas Hospitality Association

AHA serves as an umbrella organization for the Arkansas Lodging Association, the Arkansas Restaurant Association and the Arkansas Travel Council. AHA also offers an Associate membership for vendors and an Education membership for secondary and postsecondary schools. AHA is... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

2:00pm PDT

Leading Through Transformational Change: Building Systems, Culture, and Capacity

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Educational transformation requires more than new initiatives—it requires leaders who can build a shared vision, strengthen culture, and develop systems that create lasting impact. This session will explore practical strategies for leading teams through meaningful change by honoring current successes, creating collective ownership, and aligning people, programs, and resources toward a common purpose. Participants will examine how intentional leadership, clear communication, and a focus on continuous improvement can turn challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth. From shifting mindsets to sustaining momentum, transformational leadership is about developing people and building the capacity needed to move organizations forward.

Presenters

Justin Neel

Principal, Caddo Hills School

Passionate and excited lead learner focused on bringing the real world into the classroom. I believe that strong community engagement fosters opportunities for student-focused learning.

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Navigating Multiple Preps!

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

The ACT WorkKeys assessment measures essential workplace skills through the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Achieving higher certificate levels requires advanced multi-step reasoning, complex document interpretation, and layered data analysis. Learners often struggle to reach these advanced levels because they view these skills as abstract testing concepts rather than practical career tools. iCEV bridges this gap by embedding these critical competencies directly into career pathways, transforming abstract testing concepts into concrete workplace skills.

Exhibitors

Lindi Kocher

Executive Director, Cutting Edge Curriculum

Cutting Edge Curriculum is a non-profit established by educators to provide complete curriculum materials.

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

2:00pm PDT

Resillience/Wellness - With AWARE

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Arkansas AWARE

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

3:00pm PDT

Connecting Students to Industry Through Guaranteed Experiences

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Students in grades 9-12 are strategically connected to industry in meaningful ways to encourage deep college and career exploration that empowers students to select career pathways and to set goals for their futures.

Presenters

Xerlotta Jones

Career & Technical Education Instructional Specialist, LRSD Career and Technical

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

3:00pm PDT

How to Enhance the Activities of Medical Detectives

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Project Lead the Way Gateway program for 6-8th grade has many activities in the curriculum. Many times these are dry and not very creative. My session would describe ways the teacher can enhance their instruction with different types of hands-on projects that can be done as a group, pairs or individually.

Presenters

Tommie Campbell

Medical Detectives Teacher, Lake Hamilton Middle School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

3:00pm PDT

Soybean Science Challenge

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

The Soybean Science Challenge has engaged thousands of students and educators across the nation by connecting classroom science to real-world agricultural applications. This session will highlight how the program leverages a blended learning model that includes in-service teacher training, virtual field trips, classroom laboratory instruction, mentoring, and independent research opportunities. Attendees will explore how these experiences culminate in student participation in competitive science fairs, with opportunities for recognition and awards tied to soybean and agricultural research.

Presenters

Keith Harris

Program Associate, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

3:00pm PDT

Verbal De-escalation / Emotional IntelligenceCTE Without Limits: Expanding Access Through Virtual Arkansas

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Training in diffusing situations or confrontations that have the potential to become violent. Learn to read body language and emotional mood swings of agitated individuals and techniques to deal with them. Learn about your own individual triggers or emotions might block you from being able to diffuse yourself or other during a high stress situation.

Presenters

Michael A. Brown

Criminal Justice Teacher, Academies of West Memphis

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

3:00pm PDT

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Teaching CTE

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Whether you are new to CTE or simply looking for fresh ideas, this session will cover the practical side of teaching that often goes unspoken. Learn strategies for managing labs and hands-on classrooms, teaching professionalism and employability skills, building routines, balancing CTSOs, creating systems for organization, and navigating the many hats CTE teachers wear. Leave with actionable ideas and resources designed to make your job easier and your classroom stronger.

Presenters

Emily Geels

Family & Consumer Science Teacher, Monticello High School

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, New Teachers

8:00am PDT

Helping Arkansas Students Set and Achieve Their Post-Secondary Goals

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

In this session, participants will learn how to motivate and prepare their students for
post-secondary success. Motivational strategies and activities will be modeled, as will
instructional strategies that have proven effective for teaching test-prep skills and
content. Participants will leave with practical, easy-to-implement, effective tools to
promote goal setting and post-secondary success.

Presenters

Jessica Flynt

Head Coach, Kids First Education

B.S. Secondary Education
M.A. Gifted Education
Ed.S. Educational Administration
Jessica has 24 years in education and is passionate about helping students reach their
post-secondary goals. She has experience in all grade levels and in the community
college setting. She is currently a... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

8:00am PDT

Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Renee Jeffery Smith

Director of Education, Arkansas Hospitality Association

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

8:00am PDT

Why Self-Starters Matter in Today's Workforce

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This session explains what employers mean by “self-starters” and gives practical ways to help students build those skills for school and future careers.

Presenters

Rhina Odom

CEO and Founder, Educator, SkillPathway

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

9:00am PDT

Exploring Pathful - Connecting Students to Real-World Skills and Opportunities

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Explore how career readiness can be transformed when it is directly shaped by the needs of today’s workforce. This session highlights how Pathful supports students and adult learners by delivering authentic career exploration, work-based learning experiences, and progressive skill development aligned with real industry demand. Learn how partnerships with over 5,000 companies help create meaningful professional connections, strengthen employability skills, and build clear pathways from education to careers that actually exist. Participants will leave with practical ideas for integrating career readiness tools that bridge classrooms with employers and strengthen local workforce pipelines.

Exhibitors

Alicia Bradley

Pathful

Stephanie Lynch

Pathful

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

9:00am PDT

Helping Arkansas Students Set and Achieve Their Post-Secondary Goals

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Jessica Flynt

Head Coach, Kids First Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

9:00am PDT

Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Renee Jeffery Smith

Director of Education, Arkansas Hospitality Association

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

9:00am PDT

iCEV: Bridging the Gap between WorkKeys Prep and Workplace Skills

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Steve Davis

Territory Manager, iCEV

With iCEV, you have everything you need to equip learners with the real-world skills they need. This all-in-one CTE solution provides:
Comprehensive curriculum to teach more than 200 courses across 16 career clustersStandards-aligned prep materials to ready students for certification examsMultiple industry certifications hosted on the iCEV Testing PlatformSoftware to track, compile, and analyze critical student dataRoo... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

9:00am PDT

PD Powerhouse: The Best Ideas I've Ever Stolen

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Why spend 45 minutes on one strategy when you can walk away with dozens? This rapid-fire session combines the most impactful ideas, tools, engagement strategies, and classroom hacks gathered from years of professional development, conferences, and classroom experience. Participants will leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas that work across content areas and grade levels, without the fluff. If you love sessions where you leave with pages of notes and ideas you can implement immediately, this one is for you.

Presenters

Jennifer Holmes

Medical Professions Teacher, Mountain Home Jr. High

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

9:00am PDT

Promoting Green Careers in the Natural Resource Sector

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

“Green jobs” - as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are jobs that produce goods or services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, or jobs that use more environmentally friendly processes or fewer natural resources - have outpaced jobs in other categories by almost 250 percent over the last decade. At the same time, today’s youth are seeking rewarding careers that help us move towards more sustainable lifestyles and greener economies. The next generation wants to work with purpose. They want to find a job they can be proud of; they want to feel like they are making a difference in our world. Green jobs exist in all education levels. Whether you have a high school degree, technical certification, Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or a Master’s – opportunities for well-paying jobs exist within the environmental and natural resources career fields.

Presenters

Rob Beadal

Director of Forestry Education/AR Project Learning Tree Cordinator, Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation

With 30 years in the environmental field, Rob Beadel has been the Director of Forestry Education for the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation since 2008 and serves as the Project Learning Tree State Coordinator. Rob, a Certified Interpretive Guide, has served on several... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

9:00am PDT

Talking FCCLA Friday: Leadership, Collaboration, and Real-World Application

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This session demonstrates how to intentionally embed leadership and collaboration into daily instruction through the FCCLA framework. Participants will explore strategies to help students apply the FCCLA Planning Process to real-world issues, while developing and refining STAR Event and National Program projects. Through structured teamwork and project-based learning, students become active problem-solvers—creating meaningful solutions that positively impact their school and community. This approach transforms learning from passive participation into authentic leadership in action.

Presenters

Christina Loyd

FCS and Pre Ed Instructor, Nemo Vista

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

9:00am PDT

Using Early Career Exploration to Connect Students to CTE Pathways

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Robust high school CTE programs have robust middle school and early high school career exploration programs. These programs encourage students to learn about their own career interests and aptitudes, while providing hands-on exploration activities

Exhibitors

Gary Udouj

Paxton Patterson

Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 9:45am PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

11:45am PDT

Exploring Pathful - Connecting Students to Real-World Skills and Opportunities

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Alicia Bradley

Pathful

Stephanie Lynch

Pathful

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

11:45am PDT

Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Renee Jeffery Smith

Director of Education, Arkansas Hospitality Association

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

11:45am PDT

Junior Achievement of Arkansas K-12th Career Readiness; entrepreneurship; financial literacy

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Empowering young people to own their economic success through hands on experiences. Learn about the many programs Junior Achievement offers for K-12th grade students including JA Inspire and virtual career fair, Future Ready Leader opportunities for 9th-12th grade students, curriculum-based K-5th grade programing, career speaker opportunities and more.

Presenters

Erica Weston

Director of Education, Junior Achievement of Arkansas

Antwantette Smith

Junior Achievement of Arkansas

Valerie Danzy

Junior Achievement of Arkansas

Marcia Thompson

Junior Achievement of Arkansas

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

11:45am PDT

Setting up a Concurrent Consortium

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

ATU-Ozark partners with 20 high schools to offer a variety of concurrent courses in multiple pathways. Dr. Tina Smith will present an overview of their process and various concurrent models, followed by Heather Nelson who will demonstrate a unique partnership using the Supply Chain pathway. This partnership enables students to achieve a Certificate of Proficiency from ATU-Ozark as well as an industry credential. This session will highlight activities that have worked as well as “speed bumps” experienced along the way.

Presenters

Heather E. Nelson

Program Chair, Arkansas Tech University

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

11:45am PDT

Shop Safety for the 21st Century

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This workshop may be one of the most valuable professional development opportunities you attend. Led by experienced Career and Technical Education educators with extensive backgrounds in shop safety, participants will gain practical knowledge and proven strategies for operating a safe and effective instructional shop environment. Whether you teach agricultural mechanics, woodworking, metalworking, construction, manufacturing, or other hands-on shop-based courses, this session will provide practical tools to help improve safety and reduce risk. Have you ever wondered about your liability in the event of an accident in your shop? Participants will explore essential safety procedures, best practices, and risk-reduction strategies designed to help create safer learning environments for both students and instructors.

Presenters

Jonathan Grimes

Founding Partner, Safety First

Jonathan Grimes is an Agricultural Education teacher at Fort Chiswell High School with over 15 years of experience teaching agricultural mechanics, welding, woodworking, shop safety, and career and technical education. He is passionate about providing hands-on learning experiences... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

11:45am PDT

Using Early Career Exploration to Connect Students to CTE Pathways

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Gary Udouj

Paxton Patterson

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

11:45am PDT

Where Does FCS Fit? Understanding FCS in the AR Success Ready Pathways

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This session explores how Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) pathways remain relevant within AR Success Ready Pathways and continue to prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers. Participants will examine how FCS programs align with the modernized Career Clusters and support the three E’s to post-graduation success: Enrollment, Enlistment, and Employment. The session will highlight how FCS courses connect students to meaningful postsecondary opportunities and industries that align with their interests, helping educators better understand and communicate the value of FCS within today’s evolving Career and Technical Education landscape.

Presenters

Jenny Maroquin

CTE Director, Siloam Springs School District

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:45am - 12:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

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12:45pm PDT

Clean Communities, Cultivated Careers: Service Learning with Keep Arkansas Beautiful

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Discover how to transform environmental stewardship into a powerful vehicle for career readiness. This session introduces Keep Arkansas Beautiful’s newly structured, standards-aligned education framework, designed to take students from foundational classroom knowledge to high-impact community action. Learn how the program’s structured service-learning projects integrate with Arkansas graduation requirements, offering students measurable project management experience in litter prevention, recycling, and conservation.

Exhibitors

Kim Drake

Education Coordinator, Keep Arkansas Beautiful

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

12:45pm PDT

Exploring Pathful - Connecting Students to Real-World Skills and Opportunities

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Alicia Bradley

Pathful

Stephanie Lynch

Pathful

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

12:45pm PDT

Getting Students College and Career Ready with Stackable, Industry-Recognized Credentials

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This session focuses on the importance of digital skills in today’s workforce and how certifications can help close the skills gap. Participants will learn how to use industry-recognized, stackable certifications to help students build and prove essential skills for college and careers.

Exhibitors

Brent Offerdahl

Business Development Manager, Tosa by Isograd

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

12:45pm PDT

Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Renee Jeffery Smith

Director of Education, Arkansas Hospitality Association

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, FACS Division

12:45pm PDT

LAUNCH for Students: Tools, Resources, and Student Success Planning

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Lindsay Reed

Director of School Counseling, Arkansas Department of Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

12:45pm PDT

Using Early Career Exploration to Connect Students to CTE Pathways

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Exhibitors

Gary Udouj

Paxton Patterson

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Building Your Own Comprehensive Pacing Guide

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

If pacing your courses feels overwhelming, you are not alone. In this interactive work session, you will create a customizable pacing guide designed for real classrooms and real interruptions. We’ll work step-by-step to organize standards, lessons, grading periods, missed days, and reflections on what worked best throughout the year. Leave with a practical tool you can continue using and refining year after year. Bring your laptop and come ready to build!

Presenters

Emily Geels

Family & Consumer Science Teacher, Monticello High School

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Enroll, Employ, Enlist: Your Future Starts Here

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

This workshop will provide high school educators with practical strategies for strengthening college and career readiness through the three postsecondary pathways: Enroll, Employ, and Enlist. Participants will explore engaging classroom activities, career exploration tools, workforce readiness lessons, and student-centered planning strategies that help students confidently prepare for life after graduation.

The session will also highlight the use of ACT WorkKeys and the National Career Readiness Certificate as valuable tools for measuring workplace skills and increasing student employability. Educators will gain ideas for incorporating career readiness standards, employability skills, and real-world preparation into their classrooms while helping students connect their strengths and interests to future opportunities in education, the workforce, and military service.

Presenters

Misty Christian

College and Career Readiness Teacher, Mountainburg High School

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

2:00pm PDT

From Empty Classroom to Thriving Program-Building a Medical Class from Scratch

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

No curriculum. No equipment. No budget. No problem.

Join an Arkansas ACTE New Teacher of the Year as she shares how she transformed an almost-empty healthcare classroom into a thriving program filled with hands-on learning, community partnerships, grant-funded technology, and an active HOSA chapter. Participants will learn strategies for finding curriculum, acquiring equipment without breaking the budget, building industry relationships, securing grant funding, creating engaging classroom experiences, and developing student leadership opportunities through CTSOs. Walk away with real-world tips, resources, and lessons learned that can help you grow any CTE program.

Presenters

Jennifer Holmes

Medical Professions Teacher, Mountain Home Jr. High

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Health Science Division

2:00pm PDT

Resources, Competitions, Opportunities...Oh, My!

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Join this fast paced session to learn about Economics Arkansas ready to use resources, student competitions tied to courses (with prizes for students), grants and other opportunities... Oh, My! Plus, leave with a free resource of your choice!

Presenters

Marsha Masters

Associate Director, Economics Arkansas

Marsha serves as Associate Director at Economics Arkansas. She brings more than 25 years of public school experience. Marsha manages programming at Economics Arkansas and offers many professional development learning opportunities around the state.

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

2:00pm PDT

Setting up a Concurrent Consortium

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Heather E. Nelson

Program Chair, Arkansas Tech University

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

2:00pm PDT

Soybean Science Challenge

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Keith Harris

Program Associate, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Wednesday July 22, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Agriculture Education Division

3:00pm PDT

Building Student Ownership Through Community Connections

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Jason Blake

Director Of Training Services, EAST Initiative

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE

3:00pm PDT

LAUNCH for Students: Tools, Resources, and Student Success Planning

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Lindsay Reed

Director of School Counseling, Arkansas Department of Education

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, Counseling and Career Development Division

3:00pm PDT

Leading Through Transformational Change: Building Systems, Culture, and Capacity

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Saline County Career and Technical Campus

Presenters

Justin Neel

Principal, Caddo Hills School

Passionate and excited lead learner focused on bringing the real world into the classroom. I believe that strong community engagement fosters opportunities for student-focused learning.

Wednesday July 22, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Saline County Career and Technical Campus 13600 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Breakout Session, All CTE