Best Practices for CTE Administrators Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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8:00am MDT

CTE Is Shifting. Are You Leading or Watching?

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Career and Technical Education is entering a new era — but not every system is moving with it. As expectations around student engagement, meaningful career planning, and long-term student preparation evolve, leadership decisions are increasingly determining which programs move forward and which remain stuck in outdated models.

This session challenges leaders to rethink a long-standing assumption: that CTE exists primarily for workforce development. Incremental fixes and short-term workforce solutions may act like bandages, but lasting impact requires something deeper. Participants will explore how shifting toward an economic development lens — one that anticipates future needs, builds community vitality, and intentionally develops talent — changes how CTE prepares students and defines success.

Inspired by the ideas behind CTE Reimagined, this conversation moves beyond adding new programs or initiatives. Instead, it focuses on leadership choices, system design, and the strategic shifts needed to move from reactive efforts to sustainable, future-focused outcomes.

Speakers

Jeff Frost

Owner, NextGen Consulting

Jeff Frost is a respected Iowa educational leader with more than 35 years of experience advancing Career and Technical Education across diverse school settings. Known for his ability to connect vision with practical implementation, Jeff has led change at the classroom, district, and... Read More →

Kristy Volesky

Founder and Principal Consultant, Volesky Consulting

Kristy Volesky brings deep experience across education, government, and business partnerships, helping schools, businesses, and communities move from ideas to action through bold vision, strategic alignment, and collective impact.

A national thought leader in systems-level collaboration, Kristy has worked with schools, colleges, organizations, and state agencies across the country to strengthen connections between education, business, and the community. Her work centers on aligning local and regional efforts... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Mt. Sopris B

Concurrent Session

8:00am MDT

Federal Policy Update

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Mt. Sopris A

This session will provide a deep dive on the federal policy activity currently impacting CTE, including the latest on activities in Congress and the Administration. You will hear more about the implementation of Workforce Pell and new postsecondary accountability rules, proposed changes to the Uniform Grant Guidance, the latest on the federal budget and appropriations process, the looming mid-term elections and other issues on the congressional agenda in the remaining months of the year. We will also discuss ways to share CTE information with policymakers and build long-term support.

Speakers

Alisha Hyslop

Chief Policy, Research & Content Officer, ACTE

Dr. Alisha Hyslop has spent 25 years working in career and technical education and is
currently the Chief Policy, Research & Content Officer at the national Association for
Career and Technical Education. At ACTE, Alisha leads the organization’s policy,
advocacy, research, program... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Mt. Sopris A

Concurrent Session

8:00am MDT

Leadership as the Foundation: Developing Organizational Capacity to Implement a New Strategic Plan

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Mt. Columbia

Recognizing that meaningful change begins with strong leadership, our organization made a deliberate decision: the first action step in implementing the transformation outlined in our strategic plan was to develop our leaders first. Research consistently demonstrates that organizations investing in leadership development experience higher levels of employee engagement, stronger cultures of accountability, improved retention, and significantly greater success in achieving strategic goals. With this evidence in mind, we prioritized leadership development as the foundation for long-term organizational success and sustainable change. This training series was intentionally designed to build the leadership capacity and set foundational expectations required to drive strategic change and to ensure alignment between individual leadership growth and organizational priorities. Administrators, Directors, and Leaders are the audience for this session. Real world case studies will be used for partner discussion. Additionally, sample tools and instruments will be used for audience members to practice and begin seeing how these tools could be used in their daily leadership behaviors.

Led by internal peer facilitators and aligned to our organization’s administrator evaluation system, the program provided a cohesive and relevant learning experience for leaders across the organization. Through structured modules—including Leadership Styles, Strategic Thinking, Systems Thinking, Communication, Change Leadership, and Performance Management—participants engaged in deep self-reflection, skill development, and application of new learning to real workplace challenges.

A central outcome of the series was the development of individualized leadership learning plans tailored to each participant’s strengths, growth areas, and future leadership aspirations. By equipping leaders with the tools, mindset, and behaviors essential for effective leadership expectations, the training established a common foundation for sustained organizational change and successful strategic plan implementation. Participants will engage in small group discussion and reflection on developing leadership capacity through identifying and prioritizing leadership levers that align with program or organizational goals. Handouts and slide deck will be provided.

Speakers

Dr. Steve Gerhard

Educational Consultant, Chester County Intermediate Unit

Before his retirement in 2025, Dr. Steve Gerhard served as assistant executive director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit, overseeing the divisions of career, technical and customized education, student services, and Brandywine Virtual Academy.In his nearly 30 years working... Read More →

Danielle Hawkins

Assistant Director of Human Resources, Chester County Intermediate Unit

Ms. Danielle Hawkins offers over two decades of impactful experience in special education, culminating in her current role as Assistant Director of Human Resources for Employee Development at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) since 2022. In this capacity, she spearheads... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT
Mt. Columbia

Concurrent Session

8:00am MDT

Make Education Relevant With Catapult Masterclass

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am MDT

Mt. Oxford

The heart of any educational transformation lies not with programs or policy alone, but with educators themselves. We must empower and equip educators to lead change locally to Make Education Relevant so that all students graduate world-ready with a competitive advantage. This will require a new hybrid-flexible approach to our K-16 professional development to evolve both mindsets and metrics. Leveraging Dr. Fleming’s research and experience, participants will gain a fresh perspective on new teacher induction and enhancing professional learning – at scale. Gain insight into how Catapult Masterclass drives institutional change, foster continuous improvement, and galvanizes support for career-connected learning.

Speakers