Thursday Morning General Session
Tim May

Tim May is a creative director and head alchemist at XPLANE’s Portland headquarters (powered by TiER1), with a 25-year career spanning various roles in Boston, Amsterdam, and the Pacific Northwest. He combines design, curiosity, caffeine, storytelling, and visual thinking to drive transformative change for individuals and organizations, specializing in resolving challenges related to culture, vision, strategy, process, and alignment. Tim leads co-creative workshops, develops visual tools, and offers learning courses such as “the Visual Thinking Boot Camp” and “Storytelling for Change.” His work with the ACMP Innovation Lab has been showcased at the last two Summits, and his client portfolio includes Netflix, Red Bull, Intel, Nike, Disney, Mathematica Research, Rocket Software, Sikorsky, Microsoft, Berklee Music, and Astra Zeneca, establishing him as a crafty conjurer in change design and innovation.

Thursday Afternoon General Session
Industry 4.0

Join the Apple Education team as we explore the impact that Industry 4.0 is having on preparing students for the future workforce. Here’s what you’ll experience:

• Explore augmented reality apps that create lifelike experiences that redefine how employees work.
• Discover powerful tools like Reality Composer to create interactive augmented reality experiences.
• Learn more about automation through the basics of Shortcuts to automate a wide variety of common tasks.
• Engage with built in apps that leverage powerful on-device machine learning.

You’ll leave the session inspired to redesign your career and technical education programs to prepare students for Industry 4.0.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then Apple has designed products and programs that help unleash the creative potential in every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. Apple Education is dedicated to helping schools around the world expand what’s possible for learning, create new opportunities for teaching, and establish dynamic environments that inspire both.

Friday Morning General Session
Jane Oates

Senior Policy Advisor, Working Nation
Designing and Managing Quality Industry Ready Programs in Changing Times

Jane Oates is the senior policy advisor and recent president for WorkingNation. As a former U.S. Department of Labor official, she has played a key role in WorkingNation’s mission to raise awareness about the challenges facing the American workforce. Jane served as Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration under Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis after being nominated for the position by President Barack Obama in 2009. Prior to her appointment, Jane was executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and a senior advisor to Governor Jon S. Corzine. She also served for nearly a decade as senior policy advisor for Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Jane began her career as a teacher in the Boston and Philadelphia public schools and later as a field researcher at Temple University’s Center for Research in Human Development and Education. She received her B.A. in education from Boston College and her M.Ed. in Reading from Arcadia University.

Benson Polytechnic High School: Innovation and Renovation at a Comprehensive CTE High School
Portland Public Schools
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 8:00 a.m. (exact time subject to change)
Cost: $60

Join us as we walk the halls of the newest high school in Portland. Venerable Benson Polytechnic received a major remodel of its 110+ year old historic landmark campus with innovations in 12 CTE programs of study at the center of the building and conversation. Hear from the people who designed and built it as well as how the new site enhances student learning.  Wear comfy shoes — 400,000 square feet is a lot to cover!

CTEC: Learning That Works
Salem-Keizer Schools
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1:00 p.m. (exact time subject to change)
Cost: $60

CTEC builds the next generation of industry leaders by leveraging four key strategies or “pillars” to transform high school students into professionals: integrated curriculum, industry partnerships, authentic work and professional skills training. During this tour, you will:

• Hear directly from young professionals and see them in action as they operate student-run businesses serving real customers and clients in the community.
• Discover the power of integrating CTE with core subjects and incorporating industry partners into the curriculum on a regular basis.

This unique model has produced an on-time graduation rate greater than 99% over the last nine years, and a greater than 92% positive placement rate of program completers into skilled industry positions or higher education opportunities. Join us as we see how CTEC has transformed an entire community one young professional at a time.

Pack Your Bags for the AI-Driven Landscape of Work and Education
Speaker: Rachael Mann
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Portland Downtown
Cost: $150

In an era where the only constant is change, CTE leaders and key stakeholders are at the forefront of preparing students for a future that is being reshaped by artificial intelligence. As AI continues to transform the landscape of work across all industries, from healthcare to finance and manufacturing to retail, it is imperative for education leaders to guide students through this AI-integrated landscape. The young people in our learning spaces are poised to inherit a realm where AI is not just a tool but a transformative force. This workshop aims to demystify AI, explore its ethical implications, and provide efficiency tools for leaders and educators. Participants will develop an AI roadmap and learn how to equip students for an AI-driven future.

Workshop Highlights:

• Demystifying AI: Understand the basics of AI and its current applications across various industries
• Ethical implications of AI: Navigate the moral and ethical considerations of integrating AI into education and the workforce
• Efficiency tools: Discover tools that can enhance leadership and educational practices in an AI-driven landscape.
• Developing an AI roadmap: Create a strategic plan to integrate AI into your educational programs and institutions.
• Equipping CTE instructors and students for the future: Learn strategies to prepare students for careers that may not yet exist or will undergo significant changes due to AI.

Don’t let the future sneak up on you. Join Rachael Mann for a journey through where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going in the world of AI and education. Discover what to pack for the future and how to unpack these important topics. This interactive session will also provide opportunities for specialized deep dives, illustrating what this paradigm shift means for programs from welding to web design and development.

This hands-on workshop is not a repeat of last year’s session on AI. Whether you’re a new attendee or someone who has participated in past workshops, there’s something new and exciting for everyone. We’ll explore the essence of preparing students for nebulous and unknown futures, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, analytical thinking, creativity, and proficiency in AI and big data.

Pack your bags; the future is here, and it’s time to prepare our students and institutions for an AI-driven future.

Leading Stakeholders, Staff and Students Fearlessly Into the Smart Machine Age
Speaker: Mark Perna
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1:00–5:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Portland Downtown
Cost: $150

In this new session developed around current events and mega trends, education thought leader Mark C. Perna will take you on a dynamic leadership journey to thrive in the age of AI and automation!

You’ll discover the power of a human connection to bring both students and staff on board with your vision. From administrators, teachers and counselors to bus drivers and other classified staff, your team will be empowered to make a bigger difference than ever before.

Join Mark in this fast-paced workshop to:

• Grasp the “sticky” strategies to attract and retain teaching and classified top talent
• Understand and employ the key leadership traits to navigate the coming seismic shifts in education and workforce development
• Create a powerful narrative and rally point to bring your community together around a shared vision
• Understand the 4th Industrial Revolution and how it impacts your vision, mission, and trajectory moving forward
• Uncover how your ongoing competitive advantage and sustainability is tied to your ability to deliver a personal competitive advantage for every learner
• Hear about organizations that are successfully retaining staff by shifting their culture from rigid to flexible
• Unlock the power of a human connection to connect, engage, and answer why for students and staff
• Learn the secrets to being compelling, making a powerful impact, and attracting people to follow you
• Discover how to plan, execute, and leverage can’t-miss events, both on campus and off
• And much more!

The goal? Nothing less than a complete paradigm shift for students, parents, staff, stakeholders, community officials, and ourselves as leaders in this pivotal moment. Every decision we make today in the Smart Machine Age has implications for the viability of our organizations and communities—so it’s crucial to make the most informed decisions possible.

In a world changing at the speed of light, CTE has a watershed opportunity to shape the future. Register now to build your team, maximize your impact, and fearlessly lead your organization into the Smart Machine Age—and beyond!