Nebraska Career and Technical Education Conference 2026: Full Schedule

1:00pm CDT

Expanding Pathways: Leveraging Career Education Permits in Nebraska

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

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

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

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

3:00pm CDT

Where Leaders Shine: Elevate Your Impact in NSBEA and BMIT Education

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

Ruby 7

Speakers

Lorrie Mowry

Chair, NSBEA

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

Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems

4:00pm CDT

NSBEA Business Meeting

Monday June 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

Ruby 7

Speakers

Deb Stroh

Marketing Committee, NE FBLA Board of Directors, Nebraska FBLA Foundation

Monday June 8, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Ruby 7

Business Marketing & Management Communication & Information Systems

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

10:30am 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

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

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

10:00am CDT

Beyond MyPlate: Teaching the New Pyramid in Today’s Classroom

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

Ruby 7

Move beyond MyPlate and explore the New Pyramid as a modern approach to nutrition education. This session will introduce the New Pyramid while participants learn and share resources to help students better understand everyday nutrition and make informed food choices using current nutrition science. Have a resource you developed for the New Pyramid? Bring it along to share it with fellow educators.

Speakers

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 →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Ruby 7

Human Sciences & Education

11:00am CDT

Mastering 45 Minute Culinary Labs for Workforce Readiness

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

Ruby 7

Whether you are teaching introductory knife skills or advanced sauce-work, the 45-minute class period is often the biggest hurdle for high school culinary educators. However, in the professional world, efficiency is the skill. This session provides a comprehensive blueprint for transforming the short-block lab into a high-energy, workforce-ready environment.We will move beyond "just making a snack" to explore how any high school recipe can be engineered for a 45-minute window without sacrificing rigor or sanitation. We will share a versatile portfolio of recipes—ranging from foundational pantry basics to modern global flavors—that fit perfectly into a single period. Participants will leave with the strategies and templates needed to turn their classrooms into efficient, professional training grounds that prepare every student for the pace of tomorrow’s workforce.

Speakers

Bethanie Miller

Teacher, Norfolk High School

Bethanie Miller is a Culinary Arts teacher at Norfolk High School, where she spent the past 13 years inspiring students to build confidence and skill in the kitchen. She earned her bachelor's degree in Education from Wayne State College and later completed a Master's in Curriculum... Read More →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Ruby 7

Human Sciences & Education

1:00pm CDT

2:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

9:30am CDT

10:30am CDT

1:00pm CDT

2:00pm CDT

10:00am CDT

11:00am CDT

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