Nebraska Career and Technical Education Conference 2026

Competitive Events are more than competitions—they are powerful instructional tools that help students develop career-ready skills while enhancing classroom learning. In this session, advisers and business educators will explore practical strategies for embedding FBLA Competitive Events into curriculum, projects, assessments, and daily instruction. Participants will discover ways to align events with course standards, increase student engagement, and create meaningful pathways for leadership and career development.

Whether you are new to FBLA or looking to strengthen your chapter's competitive success, this workshop will provide ready-to-use resources, best practices, and innovative approaches to help students connect classroom learning with real-world application. Learn how to transform Competitive Events from an extracurricular activity into an integral part of your program—because where future leaders begin is in the classroom.

Is teaching sewing a relic of the past, or is it a skill that remains relevant in today’s world—and into the future? After surveying and collecting information from Nebraska FCS teachers, this presentation explores current trends in sewing instruction and examines why some educators continue to teach sewing while others choose to remove it from their programs. The benefits of sewing education for both teachers and students will be highlighted, along with common challenges and obstacles faced in today’s classrooms. Participants will also share project ideas and practical resources to support successful sewing instruction.

The keynote set the stage — now hear from the people living it. This panel brings together leaders from Nebraska higher education, financial regulation, construction, and technology to ground the AI conversation in local context. What are Nebraska employers actually expecting from your students? How is AI reshaping industries that don't look like Silicon Valley? And what does that mean for what you teach starting Monday? Panelists will speak candidly about what's changing fast, what isn't, and where CTE-prepared graduates have a real competitive edge.