Nebraska Career and Technical Education Conference 2026: Full Schedule

8:30am CDT

Registration

Monday June 8, 2026 8:30am - 4:00pm CDT

Monday June 8, 2026 8:30am - 4:00pm CDT
Entryway

Cross Career Field Administrators Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education School Counselors Skilled & Technical Sciences WBL Coordinators

10:00am CDT

Orientation for Wayne State College CED 650 Curriculum Development in CTE

Monday June 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am CDT

Ruby 3

By invitation only. This session is intended for CTE teachers enrolled in CED 650: Curriculum Development in CTE. The session will provide an orientation to the course syllabus and assignments, along with time to meet and connect with other participants.

Speakers

Carol Erwin

Professor, Wayne State College

Dr. Carol Erwin was a classroom FCS teacher for 12 years before moving on to teaching Foods & Nutrition and FCS Education at Wayne State College in northeast Nebraska for the past 14 years. In her professional life she has a passion for providing professional development and lifelong... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am CDT
Ruby 3

10:00am CDT

Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN) Board Meeting

Monday June 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am CDT

Crystal 1

By invitation only.

Monday June 8, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am CDT
Crystal 1

11:30am CDT

Opening Keynote & Luncheon

Monday June 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT

Crystal 2, 3, & 4

Kick off the 52nd NCE Conference with a welcome from Nebraska's Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brian Maher and a keynote address from Dr. Alyson Freeman. In this session, industry professional Dr. Alyson Freeman from Dell Technologies provides a direct, real-world perspective on the rapidly evolving workforce landscape in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Shifting the conversation from buzzwords to reality, Alyson will discuss how industry is actually deploying these tools today, what skills everyone needs, what it means for the workforce, and why educators are needed now more than ever. She will bridge the gap between high-tech innovation and essential CTE trades, demonstrating how the physical infrastructure of the AI era — from massive data centers to complex server environments — relies on skilled professionals in fields like construction, electrical work, and logistics. Drawing from her own non-linear career journey, she will highlight why durable skills such as teamwork, work ethic, and critical thinking remain the most vital assets for students transitioning from the classroom to a career in an increasingly automated world.

Speakers

Dr. Brian Maher

Commissioner, Nebraska Department of Education

Dr. Alyson Freeman

Dr. Alyson Freeman leads the sustainability and ESG innovation efforts for Dell Technologies, driving the creation of environmentally responsible products and business strategies with a focus on AI and data center energy use. She has 20 years’ experience in engineering and management... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
Crystal 2, 3, & 4

11:30am CDT

Vender Expo

Monday June 8, 2026 11:30am - 4:00pm CDT

Diamond 1, 2, & 6

Monday June 8, 2026 11:30am - 4:00pm CDT
Diamond 1, 2, & 6

1:00pm CDT

Planning Without the Panic: A Better Officer Team Planning Day

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 4

Lesson Plans, Sub Plans, Meal plans… SO MANY PLANS!
Educators are planners by nature, but when it comes to officer teams, summer planning days often become overwhelming, unfocused, or rushed. This session takes one major plan off your plate: the plan for your officer team’s summer planning day.

Designed for advisors and educators who work with student leadership teams, this workshop provides a framework for a productive, engaging, and meaningful planning day. Participants will walk through a proven agenda from almost a decade of leading teams through MAPS (our team planning experiences hosted by The Leadership Center) that balances team building, goal setting, leadership development, and actionable planning—without the chaos or burnout.

You’ll leave with practical tools, sample schedules, facilitation tips, and adaptable activities you can use with your officer team. Whether you’re a first-year advisor or a seasoned pro, this session helps you turn planning day into a focused launchpad for the year ahead—saving time, reducing stress, and empowering students to lead with clarity and confidence.

Speakers

Abby Miller

Education Manager, The Leadership Center

Abby Miller is a passionate educator, leadership facilitator, and community builder dedicated to empowering students and educators across Nebraska. As the D4LC and Internship Manager with The Leadership Center, Abby partners with schools and educators to design and deliver dynami... Read More →

Maile Ilac Boeder

Executive Director, The Leadership Center

*See previous submission*

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 4

1:00pm CDT

What Happens When You Let Students Run a Real Business?

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

This session highlights the creation and success of the Heart of Schuyler, a fully student-run gift shop located inside CHI Health Schuyler. What began as an empty, underutilized hospital space has been transformed into a thriving retail business through a unique partnership between the hospital and a high school entrepreneurship program.Attendees will learn how students manage all aspects of the business, including inventory, vendor relations, marketing, financial reporting, and daily operations. The session will walk through the process of launching the partnership, structuring student teams, and creating systems that allow the business to function sustainably throughout the school year.In addition, participants will gain practical strategies for building community partnerships, designing authentic learning experiences, and aligning real-world business operations with CTE standards. Challenges, lessons learned, and replicable frameworks will be shared so educators can adapt similar models in their own programs—regardless of school size or resources.

Speakers

Grant Torpin

CTE Teacher, Schuyler Central High School

Grant Torpin is currently a CTE teacher at Schuyler Central High School. He recently completed his 18th year in education, with experience as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and career academy coordinator. No matter the role, his focus has remained on creating authentic... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

1:00pm CDT

Beyond the Meeting: Creating Maximum Impact from Industry Advisory Boards

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Crystal 1

Speakers

Dr. Alyson Freeman

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Crystal 1

1:00pm CDT

Expanding Pathways: Leveraging Career Education Permits in Nebraska

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 7

This session will provide a compliance-focused overview of Nebraska's Career Education Permit requirements and district responsibilities when hiring under this pathway.

Speakers

Katelyn Larsen

Director-Educator Certification, NDE

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 7

1:00pm CDT

From Rubrics to Reality: Using HOSA Health Professional Events as Daily Instruction Session 1 of 2

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

This session demonstrates how HOSA Health Professional competitive event rubrics can be used as the foundation for daily, hands-on health science instruction rather than solely for competition preparation. Participants will explore a practical kit-based model that aligns skills, materials, and assessment directly to HOSA guidelines, allowing students to actively practice healthcare roles in a structured, engaging way. Attendees will experience a sample kit, learn cost-effective strategies for building and organizing kits, and gain confidence in teaching healthcare skills without extensive clinical backgrounds. Participants will leave with actionable tools they can immediately apply in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Dale Mundil

Health Science Instructor, Pathways 2 Tomorrow

Dale Mundil is a high school science/health careers teacher with over 31 years of experience teaching at Newman Grove, Oakland-Craig, West Point-Beemer, and currently at Pathways 2 Tomorrow. Dale holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Wayne State College and is passionate... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences

1:00pm CDT

PoWeRful Career Preparation Ecosystems: CTE, Meaningful Career Conversations, Career Development and Well-being

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

Ruby 1

Join a CTE Champion, Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Cheerleader, Equity Ambassador and Meaningful Career Conversationalist School Counselor from Colorado in navigating through the trees, roots and natural ecology of career development in Nebraska. Together, we’ll dive into a multitude of acronyms, initiatives and happenings both at the state and national level. We’ll make connections for creating collaborative career preparation ecosystems for our learners to thrive. We’ll also dabble in wellness for ourselves, our colleagues, our students and our communities. You will leave as Meaningful Career Conversationalists too!

Speakers

Lauren Jones

Program Director for Special Populations, Counseling & Career Development, Colorado Community College System

Lauren ‘LJ’ Jones (Austin) NCC, LPCc, CSCDA, MCC*, is a past expeditionary learning instructor, teen adventure guide and Adjunct Lecturer for School Counseling Graduate Programs. She's a Colorado Trail thru-hiker, published author and currently is in her 16th year as the Career... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Ruby 1

School Counselors Cross Career Field Administrators Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education Skilled & Technical Sciences WBL Coordinators

2:00pm CDT

Building Foundations: Creating Data Ready Schools in CTE

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 7

Data provides the foundation for transforming guesswork into guidance enabling policymakers to better, more informed decisions. Data-driven systems can serve several functions, such as clarifying priorities, identifying where to focus resources, driving the continuous improvement process, building trust and transparency, and aligning education with workforce needs. This presentation provides an overview of five data categories that can be used to determine CTE success: Perkins data, labor market information, CTE program data, student data, and system data.

Speakers

Kevin Dahlman

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 7

2:00pm CDT

From Burnt out to Balanced

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 4

As built for the 2025 Nebraska Afterschool Conference, Maile and Abby will share their toolkit from hours of research for how to avoid burnout and what to do when it does, inevitably, hit you.

Burnout doesn’t usually happen all at once—it creeps in through overcommitment, blurred boundaries, and the constant pressure to say “yes.” This session helps educators recognize burnout not as failure, but as a signal to realign habits, priorities, and expectations.

Grounded in neuroscience, behavior change, and real-world educator experience, From Burnt Out to Balanced introduces a practical framework using our Matchbox (burnout recovery) and Fuel Station (burnout prevention) models. Participants will identify common burnout signals, understand why motivation feels impossible when dopamine is depleted, and learn simple, realistic tools to regain momentum—without adding more to their daily plate.

Attendees will leave with a concrete burnout recovery toolbox and a proactive checklist to protect their energy during demanding seasons of the school year. This session is honest, relatable, and action-oriented—designed to help educators move out of survival mode.

Takeaway: Practical tools to recover from burnout now—and prevent it long-term.

Speakers

Abby Miller

Education Manager, The Leadership Center

Maile Ilac Boeder

Executive Director, The Leadership Center

*See previous submission*

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 4

2:00pm CDT

Wait, what? 14-Clusters and 72-Sub Clusters…No Problem At All!

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

2:00pm CDT

Planning With the End in Mind: The Semester Project Model

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 6

In this practical, strategy-filled session, teachers will learn how to design a course around a meaningful semester project that requires students to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout the term. Participants will explore how to use backward design to align standards, daily instruction, and assessments so learning naturally builds toward a culminating application experience. Attendees will leave with a clear framework, planning tools, and examples they can immediately adapt to their own content area to create deeper learning and stronger student engagement.

Speakers

Kris Spath

Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor, Waverly High School

Kris is an agricultural educator with a passion for connecting classroom instruction to authentic, hands-on learning. She teaches a wide range of courses including animal science, veterinary science, large animal management, companion animals, plant science, floriculture, landscape... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 6

2:00pm CDT

From Rubrics to Reality: Using HOSA Health Professional Events as Daily Instruction Session 2 of 2

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

Speakers

Dale Mundil

Health Science Instructor, Pathways 2 Tomorrow

Monday June 8, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences

3:00pm CDT

Engaging Teaching Strategies for CTE Teachers

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

3:00pm CDT

Interview Prep 101: How To Help Your Students Prepare For Interviews

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ruby 4

Many students walk into interviews underprepared; not because they lack potential, but because they’ve never been taught how to prepare, and neither have their coaches! This workshop equips educators with simple, repeatable tools to help students approach interviews with confidence, clarity, and professionalism. Our team has developed an expansive library of exercises with almost two decades of helping students interview for scholarships, state officer positions, and Dairy Princess titles more confidently (just to name a few!).

This session breaks down interview preparation into teachable components: understanding what employers are really asking, structuring strong responses, practicing clear communication, and managing nerves. We don't just tell you to "Smile and don't say "Um!". Participants will learn how to coach students through both traditional and behavioral interview questions using story telling frameworks, calm their nerves and discover their experiences—even when they think they “don’t have any.”

Educators will leave with practical strategies, sample prompts, and classroom-ready activities they can immediately implement with high school or college-aged students (or even yourself!) and be of the first to hear about new curriculum being developed for this topic. Whether preparing students for jobs, internships, scholarships, or leadership opportunities, this session provides a clear roadmap to help students show up prepared and confident.

Speakers

Abby Miller

Education Manager, The Leadership Center

Maile Ilac Boeder

Executive Director, The Leadership Center

*See previous submission*

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ruby 4

3:00pm CDT

Remixing an Alternative CTE Program (The Story of Bay High)

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Diamond 7

Our foundational goal for this session is to tell the story of Bay High: where it began, where it is now, and where it is going. Bay High was created to be a different approach to education, and there have been incredible moments of impact. Teachers will share highlights and lowlights from the past four years with the goal of inspiring attendees to celebrate and rethink the learning experiences in their classrooms. We hope it is a collaborative and engaging session!

Speakers

Brent Jarosz

Business Teacher, Bay High Focus Program

Brent Jarosz is a business teacher at Bay High Focus Program in Lincoln, NE. Bay High is a private-public partnership between The Bay (nonprofit community center) and Lincoln Public Schools, founded with the mission to provide creative, entrepreneurial-minded students with the tools... Read More →

Ethan Carlson

Business Teacher, Bay High Focus Program

Ethan is a business teacher at Bay High Focus Program in Lincoln, NE. Bay High is a private-public partnership between The Bay (nonprofit community center) and Lincoln Public Schools. Founded with the mission to provide creative, entrepreneurial-minded students with the tools, access... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Diamond 7

3:00pm CDT

From Rubric to Kit: Building a Surgical Technologist Skill Box for the Classroom

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

For this session, we will focus on the Surgical Technologist Health Professions event as the model for building a classroom-ready instructional kit. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the creation of six skills that make up the complete kit.
During the session, attendees will:

Identify and break down the selected skills from the HOSA rubric
Organize materials needed for each skill
Assemble a complete, ready-to-use skill kit

All materials and resources will be provided so that participants leave with a fully functional kit they can immediately implement in their classroom. The goal is to simplify the process and show how high-quality, hands-on instruction can be created in a practical and cost-effective way.

Speakers

Dale Mundil

Health Science Instructor, Pathways 2 Tomorrow

Monday June 8, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences

5:00pm CDT

Welcome Reception

Monday June 8, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT

Crystal 2, 3, & 4

Kick off your evening with great food, fun games, and new connections!

Monday June 8, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Crystal 2, 3, & 4

6:30pm CDT

Trolley Shuttle

Monday June 8, 2026 6:30pm - 10:00pm CDT

Off-Site

Monday June 8, 2026 6:30pm - 10:00pm CDT
Off-Site

8:00pm CDT

CTE Trivia Night with Nebraska Agriculture Education Association (NAEA)

Monday June 8, 2026 8:00pm - 10:30pm CDT

Off-Site

Trivia Night, open to all CTE educators, begins at 8:00pm following the Poker Run at Fanatics Sports Bar (2021 Central Ave, Kearney, NE 68847).

Monday June 8, 2026 8:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
Off-Site

Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Cross Career Field Administrators Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education School Counselors Skilled & Technical Sciences WBL Coordinators

8:00am CDT

Registration

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT

Entryway

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Entryway

8:30am CDT

How to Create Lesson Plans for Those New to Teaching

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Diamond 3

8:30am CDT

Strategies for Helping the Multilingual Learners in Your Classroom

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Diamond 8

If you have every come across a situation where you have not known how to communicate, then you know part of what an EL student may feel on any given day in any US classroom. We all need to be EL teachers, teaching literacy in our classrooms as we teach them their career skills. This session will focus on arming CTE teachers with common strategies and ideas to help aid them in the classroom and connecting with our EL population, while using real examples and tools from our classes.

Speakers

Taylor Wilton-Cooper

Urban Ag Teacher, Omaha Public Schools

I teach Urban Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources in Omaha Public Schools at Bryan High School. I just finished my 8th year teaching, all at Bryan High. I have taught Introduction to Agriculture, Animal Science, Plant Science, and our Senior Capstone classes over the years, but... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Diamond 8

8:30am CDT

Building Career Conversations into All Classrooms

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Ruby 3

Building Career Conversations into All Classrooms focuses on creating a career-centric culture that serves every student while leveraging Nebraska Career Connections, provided by the Nebraska Dept. of Education. This session focuses on equipping educators in all disciplines with practical strategies to embed career development into daily instruction, ensuring academic content consistently connects to real-world applications, workforce demands, and students’ long-term goals.
Participants will explore actionable, cross-disciplinary examples, including:

Applying cost-of-living and salary analysis to math instruction
Investigating STEM career pathways within science curricula
Integrating résumé writing, professional communication, and career research into English language arts

The session also provides guidance on helping students explore related education and workforce opportunities, enabling students to make informed decisions about their academic and career trajectories.

Speakers

Sarah Wilson

John Milroy

Vice President of Partner Solutions, Kuder, Inc.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Ruby 3

8:30am CDT

Health Sciences Roundtables

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Crystal 1

Speakers

Sarah Hubel

FCS teacher, Cross County Schools

Jamelyn Denny

Health Sciences Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Health Sciences Education Specialist & Nebraska HOSA State Advisor

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Crystal 1

Health Sciences

8:30am CDT

Become a PoWeRful Partner in a Thriving Career Preparation Ecosystem

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT

Ruby 2

Join this session as a kick-off for the day ahead. We’ll touch on friendly reminders from the PoWeRful Career Preparation Ecosystem session the day before and brainstorm next steps, share new aspirations, discuss possibilities and address anything that would best equip you for a successful rest of conference all through the lens of partnership.

Speakers

Lauren Jones

Program Director for Special Populations, Counseling & Career Development, Colorado Community College System

Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Ruby 2

9:30am CDT

Pathways for Every Learner: A Multistage Continuum Linking Inclusive CTE, CTSOs, and Competitive Employment

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT

Ruby 3

The continuum from classroom to paycheck requires more than just technical instruction; it requires a deliberate, scaffolded journey. This session introduces a three-phase continuum designed to move learners—including those with disabilities—from foundational learning to competitive integrated employment.
Participants will explore how to transform Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) into a foundation for professional stamina. We will move beyond the traditional competition model to show how CTE advisors and Transition Professionals can apply co-coaching strategies with students, using high-stakes environments to meet IEP goals and executive functioning needs in conjunction with CTSO competitive events. Finally, we will discuss the result phase by assessing workplace readiness through the use of multiple data sources to indicate a workplace ready student.
Key Learning Outcomes:

Reimagine the CTSO (Foundation): Connect CTE performance data and CTSO competitive events to work place ready skills in preparation for a high skills work place environment emphasizing soft-skill development, professional stamina and transition experiences.
Execute Co-Coaching Models (Apply): Define specific roles for CTE instructors and Transition Teams to provide scaffolded support during CTE classes, CTSOs and Transition based learning experiences.
Measure Career Readiness (Result): Use CTSO rubrics, IEP data and WBL evaluations to track progress toward competitive integrated employment

Speakers

Michalla Schartz

SE Region Transition Facilitator, Southeast Region

Hello! My name is Michalla Schartz and I am the Southeast Regional Transition Facilitator and Instructor with Project CRAVE (Career Readiness and Vocational Education). I serve ESU 4, 5, 6 and 18/LPS to support Transition and Special Education. I have enjoyed a career in Special... Read More →

Blair Ryan

Transition Facilitator, Central Region Transition Facilitator/ESU10

Blair Ryan serves as the Central Region Transition Facilitator, supporting ESUs 9, 10, 11, and 17. With a strong background in career and technical education (CTE) and school counseling, Blair brings over five years of experience providing transition services to special education... Read More →

Pathways for Every Learner Multistage Continuum in Inclusive CTE and CTSOs pdf

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Ruby 3

9:30am CDT

The Big Picture of Sharing Your Story through Social Media

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Diamond 3

9:30am CDT

From TPACK to the Fashion Runway: Blending Tech and Creativity in CTE

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT

Crystal 1

Discover how a high school Fashion Pathway integrated TPACK and ISTE Standards to merge technology with creativity. Attendees will explore student projects in digital fabric design and professional-scale fashion shows, and leave with strategies for applying innovative, tech-driven, project-based learning in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Mary Breedlove

FCS Teacher/ Technology Coach, South High- Omaha Public Schools

Mary Breedlove is a Family and Consumer Sciences educator and technology coach at South High School in Omaha Nebraska. She leads a four-year Fashion Pathway that blends design, technology, and project-based learning, culminating in professional-scale fashion shows. With a Master’s... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Crystal 1

Cross Career Field Agriculture Food & Natural Resources Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education School Counselors Skilled & Technical Sciences

9:30am CDT

Cesarian Section Simulation Session 1 of 2

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT

Ruby 7

Speakers

Tracy Long

RN-Healthcare Pathways Educator, Lakeview/Columbus Community Hospital

My background in nursing includes acute care, critical care, outpatient services, and operating room. In 2023, I became a Healthcare Pathways Instructor with Columbus Community Hospital in collaboration with Lakeview Community Schools and Scotus Central Catholic. I have also joined... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Ruby 7

Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education

10:00am CDT

Vender Expo

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 3:30pm CDT

Diamond 1, 2, & 6

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 3:30pm CDT
Diamond 1, 2, & 6

10:30am CDT

Universal Design Learning - Meeting the Needs of All Students

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT
Diamond 3

10:30am CDT

Cesarian Section Simulation Session 2 of 2

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT

Ruby 7

Speakers

Tracy Long

RN-Healthcare Pathways Educator, Lakeview/Columbus Community Hospital

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:30am - 11:15am CDT
Ruby 7

Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education

11:30am CDT

Awards Luncheon

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT

Crystal 2, 3, & 4

Join us in honoring the best and brightest from CTE in Nebraska for the last year. Enjoy lunch, catch up with colleagues, and network while we present the 2026 Career and Technical Education and the 2026 Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska Award winners and honorees!

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
Crystal 2, 3, & 4

1:00pm CDT

I Cannot Believe I Forgot About These Google Tools

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

1:00pm CDT

Course Alignment & CTE - How Your School Counselor Can Support Your Programs

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 1

Your building's CTE departments play a vital role in helping students explore and discover careers that they can pursue upon graduation. School counselors play a valuable role in aligning CTE courses to make sure students are able to become CTE Pathway completers and concentrators. This session will dive into methods of where to find the CTE pathways, how to look at your own building's pathways and compare them with NDE's and will then discuss methods of making sure your course codes are aligned. This will be beneficial for school counselors to process if they are in alignment with NDE, and can create conversations with building administrators and CTE teachers alongside school counselors to make sure you are preparing students for future careers. Discussion of CTE and Nebraska's new AQuESTT categories will also be included.

Speakers

Jake Willems

School Counselor, Aurora High School

I am the school counselor at Aurora High School in Aurora, NE. This is my 5th year here. I previously served as a school counselor at Northwest High Magnet School in Omaha, NE for six years. Before that I was a special education teacher at Omaha South High Magnet Schools for six years... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 1

1:00pm CDT

Recruiting and Retaining Multilingual Learners in CTE

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 7

Multilingual learners are often underrepresented in CTE programs, not because of interest or ability, but due to barriers in recruitment, access, and instructional design. This session focuses on practical, low-lift strategies CTE educators and leaders can use to intentionally recruit multilingual learners and support their persistence once enrolled. Participants will explore how language demands show up in CTE classrooms, how to reduce unnecessary barriers without watering down standards, and how to create learning environments where multilingual learners can succeed and see themselves in CTE pathways. Examples will be drawn from real secondary CTE contexts and are applicable across program areas.

Speakers

Theresa Ritta-Olson

Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Educational Service Unit 10

Theresa has over 20 years of experience in education, supporting English learners. She taught middle and high school English learners at Crete Public Schools, spent 12 years teaching English learners and reading at Lexington High School, and has worked for the past 10 years at ESU... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 7

1:00pm CDT

Apprenticeship TBD

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 3

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 3

1:00pm CDT

Brady Middle School TBD

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 5

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 5

1:00pm CDT

uBEATS: Opening Pathways to Health Science Careers

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

Explore how uBEATS (UNO & UNMC Building Excellence in Academics Through STEM) helps students discover health science career opportunities through a FREE library of 100+ short, engaging, interactive STEM and health science e-modules developed by UNMC and UNO experts. This session highlights practical strategies for integrating these modules, teacher guides, and digital badging into instruction to deepen understanding and spark early career exploration. Participants will learn how uBEATS supports curriculum alignment, builds student confidence, and broadens access to real-world health science learning. Educators will leave with classroom ready tools that enrich instruction and strengthen Nebraska's long-term health science workforce pipeline.

Speakers

Sarah Shaffer

uBEATS (UNO & UNMC Building Excellence in Academics Through STEM) Curriculum and Education Specialist, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Sarah Shaffer is a Curriculum and Education Specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, supporting teachers in designing engaging, practical Health Science and STEM learning experiences. With more than 16 years of K-12 classroom experience and prior service at the Nebraska... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education

2:00pm CDT

From Classroom to Career: Implementing Tiered Supports in CTE for ALL Learners

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

This session is designed to explore the critical connection between Career and Technical Education (CTE), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and post-school outcomes for all students. Participants will examine how leveraging MTSS to enhance classroom instruction ensures that accessible CTE leads directly to competitive job acquisition and gainful employment through quality transition planning. The session will delve into identifying and implementing Tier 2 strategies within the general education classroom to address individual student needs and move beyond simple equality toward true equity. Additionally, participants will discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a Tier 1 standard to proactively remove learning barriers and optimize teaching for every learner. Presenters will share resources for further exploration.

Key Learning Outcomes

Utilize MTSS to Enhance Post-School Outcomes: Participants will understand how to leverage Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to enhance classroom instruction, ensuring that accessible Career and Technical Education (CTE) leads to competitive job acquisition and gainful employment for all students.
Identify Tiered Support Strategies: Participants will identify Tier 2 supports and strategies that can be incorporated in general education classrooms to enable access for all students, moving beyond simple equality to a model that addresses individual student needs for quality transition planning and post-school success.
Implement Tiered Instructional Frameworks: Participants will have an awareness of using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks to proactively remove barriers and optimize teaching for all learners.

Speakers

Kris Kampovitz

NeMTSS Regional Support Lead, Region 4 NeMTSS/ESU10

Kris Kampovitz is a strategic educational leader with nearly 30 years of experience spanning preschool through higher education. She currently serves as the Nebraska Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (NeMTSS) Regional Support Lead, providing leadership and technical assistance to school... Read More →

Blair Ryan

Transition Facilitator, Central Region Transition Facilitator/ESU10

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

2:00pm CDT

Empowering Education: Creating High School College and Career Academies in Small Schools Under 1,000 Students

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 1

Join us for an insightful presentation on the transformative journey of implementing high school academies in small schools with student populations under 1000. This session will delve into the strategic planning, implementation process, and the impactful outcomes arising from establishing academies within a smaller educational setting.
Key Topics Covered:

Understanding the Need:
- Explore the rationale behind introducing high school academies in smaller educational institutions.
- Discuss the unique challenges and opportunities presented by schools with fewer than 1000 students.
Strategic Planning:
- Learn about the essential steps involved in the strategic planning process for creating high school academies.
- Gain insights into needs assessments, stakeholder engagement, and aligning academies with the school's mission and goals.
Curriculum Development:
- Examine the process of designing and tailoring curricula to suit the specialized focus of each academy.
- Discuss how to integrate academic standards while promoting a cohesive and engaging learning experience.
Implementing Career Pathways:
- Explore the integration of career pathways within academies to prepare students for future success.
- Hear about successful models of collaboration with local industries, businesses, and community partners.

Speakers

Marcy Harrifeld

Assistant Principal, Crete High School

Marcy Harrifeld is a distinguished educational leader with over two decades of experience spanning the K–12 spectrum. Currently serving as the Assistant Principal and Director of Academies at Crete High School, Marcy oversees the Cardinal Academies, where she integrates rigorous... Read More →

Camelle Kinney

Career Academy Business Partner Liaison, Crete High School

Camelle C. Kinney currently serves as the Academy Business Partnership Liaison at Crete High School, where she connects business and industry partners with career academies to create meaningful, real-world learning opportunities for students. With more than 25 years in education... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 1

2:00pm CDT

Language Is a Skill: Supporting Multilingual Learners in CTE Classrooms

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 7

CTE classrooms are rich with opportunities for language development, yet many instructors feel unsure how to support multilingual learners without becoming “language teachers.” This session reframes language as a technical and employability skill that can be intentionally developed through hands-on instruction, demonstrations, and work-based learning experiences. Participants will learn how to make technical language visible, scaffold speaking and listening in labs and shops, and support multilingual learners’ communication skills in ways that align with industry expectations. Strategies shared are immediately applicable and respect the realities of fast-paced, skills-based CTE instruction.

Speakers

Theresa Ritta-Olson

Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Educational Service Unit 10

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 7

2:00pm CDT

Parli Pro Made Practical: Learning Parliamentary Procedure Through Trail Mix

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Crystal 1

Parliamentary Procedure doesn’t have to be intimidating or abstract. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of Parliamentary Procedure by actively using motions, debate, and voting to complete a fun and familiar task—making trail mix. As a group, attendees will practice making main motions, amendments, and voting while experiencing how Parli Pro keeps meetings organized, fair, and efficient. This session is designed for beginners and focuses on building confidence, understanding meeting flow, and seeing how Parliamentary Procedure applies to real-life decision making within CTSO chapters and organizations (or in your own kitchen!).

Speakers

Stacie Turnbull

Lecturer, ALEC Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Crystal 1

2:00pm CDT

Appendicitis Patient Simulation

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

In this session, I will take participants through setting up this budget-friendly, low-tech patient simulation that I use in my Health Science 2 classroom. The simulation combines hands-on, critical thinking, communicating and working together as a team to provide a positive "patient" outcome. Participants will leave with a detailed list of materials, as well as instructions on how to carry out the simulation in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Tracy Long

RN-Healthcare Pathways Educator, Lakeview/Columbus Community Hospital

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences

3:00pm CDT

Activate the Textbook: Making the Textbook Come Alive Through Engagement and Evidence-Based Practice

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ruby 3

What if your textbook could do more than deliver content—what if it could spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and drive student ownership of learning? In this interactive session, participants will explore how to transform textbooks and instructional resources into powerful tools for engagement and learning. Grounded in John Hattie’s Visible Learning research, Jon Almarode’s work on cognitive science and engagement, and the five dimensions of student engagement (behavioral, cognitive, emotional, social, and agentic), this session offers practical strategies to activate learning in every classroom. Educators will leave with a toolkit of techniques to make learning visible, meaningful, and memorable. (This session will be relevant to any subject area.)

Speakers

Laura Adamson

Educational Consultant, Goodheart-Willcox Publishers

Laura Adamson has been a teacher, literacy coach and educational consultant for over 30 years. Laura understands the importance of making lessons and activities active and engaging for students in the classroom. She is currently an educational consultant for Goodheart-Willcox.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ruby 3

3:00pm CDT

Chat, Teacher, and the Classroom

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Diamond 3

3:00pm CDT

Promoting Your CTE Program: Practical Tools for Teachers

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ruby 6

You know the impact your CTE program has on students—but does your community and administration know it too? This interactive session shares practical strategies for promoting your program and building support. Participants will explore ways to highlight student success through social media, events, and community partnerships. Attendees will review real examples and begin developing a simple, ready-to-use promotion plan for their program.

Speakers

Stacie Turnbull

Lecturer, ALEC Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ruby 6

3:00pm CDT

Creating Classroom-Ready Case Studies for Health Science Courses

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ruby 2

Health science educators rely on case studies to bring content to life, but creating strong, age-appropriate scenarios takes time and effort. In this interactive session, educators will develop, refine, and exchange case studies aligned to Nebraska Health Science Standards. Educators will leave with a collection of scenarios that promote critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and real-world application.

Speakers

Jamelyn Denny

Health Sciences Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Health Sciences Education Specialist & Nebraska HOSA State Advisor

Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ruby 2

Health Sciences

7:30am CDT

Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN) Assembly of Delegates

Wednesday June 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT

Diamond 9 & 10

By invitation only.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am CDT
Diamond 9 & 10

8:00am CDT

Registration

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00am - 2:00pm CDT

Entryway

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00am - 2:00pm CDT
Entryway

8:30am CDT

General Session

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am CDT

Crystal 2, 3, & 4

Speakers

Dr. Tim Elmore

Tim is Founder of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta‐based non‐profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. His work grew out of 20 years of serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology ... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am CDT
Crystal 2, 3, & 4

10:00am CDT

Wait, Canva Can Do THAT? Integrating Canva Across Your CTE Curriculum

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Mary Breedlove

FCS Teacher/ Technology Coach, South High- Omaha Public Schools

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Diamond 3

10:00am CDT

Deeper Dive: The Alpha Gen & Book Signing

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Diamond 4

Speakers

Dr. Tim Elmore

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Diamond 4

10:00am CDT

Easy Measuring, Monitoring, and Tracking of WBL

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Diamond 8

Learn how to effectively track, monitor, and report work-based learning outcomes to support true career readiness. This workshop explores the Academic Experience Tracker (AET), a student-driven, results-focused system designed to document meaningful learning experiences. You’ll see how to involve employers as supervisors in the WBL process, strengthen accountability, and help students grow through authentic, career-connected experiences.

Speakers

Ben Meyer

State Support Specialist, The AET

Supporting CTE teachers and states with efficient, usable SAE and WBL record keeping that is student led and easy for educators.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Diamond 8

11:00am CDT

Teaching Today’s Student Entrepreneurs

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Diamond 3

Speakers

Shelly Mowinkel

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Diamond 3

11:00am CDT

Work-Based Learning Highlights and Successes

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Ruby 2

Speakers

Jessica Lindhurst

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Ruby 2

11:00am CDT

Easy Measuring, Monitoring, and Tracking of WBL

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Diamond 8

Speakers

Ben Meyer

State Support Specialist, The AET

Supporting CTE teachers and states with efficient, usable SAE and WBL record keeping that is student led and easy for educators.

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Diamond 8

11:00am CDT

Marching Off the Map: How to Be an Innovative Educator

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Diamond 4

When Alexander the Great assembled three armies and began his campaign, he marched his soldiers off the current, familiar maps and into new, uncharted territory. They had to draw new maps as they marched. This is our reality today. Leaders cannot merely repeat what they’ve always done. It’s important to “read the need, before they lead”. Student success must be about more than academic scores. Effective leaders discover what’s new while also holding on to timeless values. This session sets up discussion on how to march into new territory, prepare for the future and set the pace for other schools.

Speakers

Dr. Tim Elmore

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Diamond 4

11:00am CDT

Athletic Training as a Profession: Education and Work Settings

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Ruby 4

The session explores athletic training as a dynamic healthcare profession, highlighting educational pathways, certification requirements, and diverse employment settings. Participants will examine the roles and responsibilities of athletic trainers across secondary schools, colleges, professional sports, healthcare systems, and emerging practice areas. Key learning outcomes include understanding professional standards and scope of practice, identifying career opportunities and work environments, and recognizing the skills needed for success in athletic training. Attendees will gain practical insight to support informed academic, career, or advising decisions within the profession.

Speakers

Doug Long PhD, LAT, ACT

District Representative from Nebraska to the Mid-America Athletic Trainers' Association, Nebraska State Athletic Trainers' Association

Dr. Doug Long is a health sciences educator, athletic trainer, and exercise science professional with more than four decades of experience spanning education, clinical practice, and professional leadership. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Education and Nutrition Studies... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Ruby 4

Health Sciences

12:00pm CDT

Human Sciences and Education & Health Sciences Career Field Luncheon

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Crystal 1

This session will feature exciting updates from the Human Sciences and Education and Health Sciences career fields, along with a LifeSmarts competition!

Speakers

Chelsey Greene

Human Sciences & Education Career Field Specialist, Nebraska FCCLA State Adviser, Nebraska Educators Rising State Advisor, Nebraska Department of Education

I’m a Career & Technical Education enthusiast with a passion for turning leadership potential into real-world impact - especially through Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) and Human Sciences & Education pathways. If there’s a way to make leadership development... Read More →

Miranda Bright

Human Sciences & Education Career Field Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Miranda Bright serves as a Human Sciences and Education Career Field Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education, supporting Family and Consumer Sciences, Human Services, Education and Training, and Law and Public Safety programs. In this role, she leads the development and... Read More →

Jamelyn Denny

Health Sciences Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education

Health Sciences Education Specialist & Nebraska HOSA State Advisor

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Crystal 1

Human Sciences & Education Health Sciences

2:00pm CDT

Basic Life Support Instructor Certification

Wednesday June 10, 2026 2:00pm - 5:30pm CDT

Diamond 4

Pre-registration required.

Speakers

Samantha Wilson

Wednesday June 10, 2026 2:00pm - 5:30pm CDT
Diamond 4

Health Sciences Human Sciences & Education

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