ACTE's Postsecondary CTE Summit 2025

Dr. Jothany Reed serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Tennessee Board of Regents, overseeing academic initiatives for the state’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and TN eCampus. With over 27 years of leadership experience, she has championed educational excellence, workforce alignment, and institutional growth across Tennessee, Texas, and California. Dr. Reed pioneered the IDEAL Workforce Model, expanding workforce training, apprenticeships, and academic pathways, and has forged partnerships with major industry leaders. Her transformative leadership has been nationally recognized, earning congressional honors, leadership awards, and a Women’s Month Proclamation. She holds a Doctor of Education from California State University, Fresno, and resides in Nashville with her family.

Dr. Kevin J Fleming is an educator, speaker, producer of multiple, viral animation videos including Success in the New Economy, and author of the bestseller, (Re)Defining the Goal.

Dissatisfied with the status quo, he has dedicated over two decades advancing career education forward as both a faculty member and administrator. Dr. Fleming serves as the Founder and CEO of Catapult, which delivers the world’s best thought leaders to all educators, through hybrid-flexible masterclasses. His team’s mission is to Make all Education Relevant. And his dad joke YouTube channel proves he doesn’t always take himself too seriously.

Dr. Fleming is a passionate advocate ensuring all students intentionally equip their potential, enter the labor market with a competitive advantage, and find their purpose on purpose.

Workshops

Centering Student Voice: Strategies for Effective and Equitable CLNA
Oct. 6, 9:00 a.m. – Noon
Workshop Leaders: Silvia C. Ramos, Vice President of Programs and Research and Kayla Santana-Linares, Professional Development Manager
Cost: $175

The Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA), a cornerstone of Perkins V, emphasizes stakeholder engagement for program improvement. Yet, centering student voice in program assessments and root cause analysis often remains a challenge for institutions. This interactive 3-hour workshop, led by the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, will provide participants with practical frameworks to operationalize student voice and implement equitable change. Through community building, collective buy-in, and sustainable action planning, attendees will leave equipped with strategies to create inclusive and student-centered approaches to the CLNA process.

Ideal for both individuals and teams, this session encourages participants to bring relevant data and information to collaborate on actionable solutions. Teams can strengthen their collective understanding, while individuals will gain tools to advocate for and lead these efforts within their organizations.

Workshop Objectives:

• Understand Student Voice Frameworks: Explore evidence-based frameworks and best practices to center student voice in the CLNA process and program assessments.
• Analyze Root Causes Through Equity Lenses: Learn strategies to engage students in data-driven root cause analysis to identify and address inequities in CTE programs.
• Develop Actionable Solutions: Create a sustainable action plan that builds collective buy-in and supports equitable program improvement efforts.
• Foster Community and Collaboration: Identify methods to strengthen community-building efforts and ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement in CLNA implementation.

Empowering Postsecondary CTE with AI: Advancing Student Success and Career Readiness
Oct. 6, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Workshop Leader: Dr. Trent Mohrbutter
Cost: $175

This interactive workshop explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform postsecondary CTE education by integrating postsecondary success strategies, career-readiness skills, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Faculty, staff, and instructional leaders will discover effective ways to leverage AI-driven tools and resources to foster student engagement, critical thinking, and career preparation. The session offers practical approaches to align instruction with 21st-century skills, emphasizing inclusivity and innovation to create impactful learning experiences for all students.

Learning Outcomes:

• Integrate AI for Academic Success: Identify strategies to effectively incorporate AI tools to support student academic and college success.
• Develop Career-Ready Competencies: Design activities and assessments using AI to build career-ready skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and digital literacy.
• Leverage OER and AI for Equity: Utilize Open Educational Resources alongside AI to create cost-effective, accessible, and personalized learning experiences tailored to the needs of diverse learners.

Revitalizing Postsecondary CTE Instruction: Strategies for Engagement and Effective Teaching
Oct. 6, Noon – 3:00 PM
Workshop Leader: Dr. Michelle Conrad, Associate Professor, CTE Graduate Program
Cost: $220 (includes workshop and textbook)

High-quality instruction in postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) is essential for student engagement, retention, and success. Faculty must use instructional strategies that not only align with CTE concepts and industry skills but also adapt to the diverse needs of today’s learners. Even experienced instructors can benefit from refining their approaches to enhance student engagement and outcomes.

This interactive session is designed for postsecondary CTE faculty and administrators responsible for faculty development. Participants will explore, evaluate, and apply effective teaching strategies that promote active learning and skill mastery. Administrators will gain insights into supporting faculty through professional development and instructional resources. Participants should come prepared to engage with their own CTE curricular content and experiences. Each attendee will also receive a copy of the textbook Instructional Strategies for Career & Technical Educators, a new resource from ACTE.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify instructional strategies that effectively engage postsecondary CTE students and align with industry-relevant skills.
• Apply active learning techniques to enhance student participation and comprehension in CTE programs.
• Evaluate and refine current instructional approaches to improve student success and retention.
• Explore professional development resources and tools that administrators can use to support faculty growth.
• Develop a personalized plan for integrating revitalized teaching strategies into postsecondary CTE instruction.

Tours

Emerging Technologies: Exploring the World of Cloud and Data Centers Tour
Oct. 6, Noon – 3:00 p.m.

Step inside the fascinating world of data centers with this immersive tour and engaging industry discussion! Participants will gain an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a cutting-edge data center, uncovering the inner workings of one of the most critical yet often overlooked industries driving our digital world.

During the session, industry professionals will share insights into the high-wage, high-demand opportunities in the cloud and data center sector—an emerging CTE field that is still largely invisible to students and educators. Learn about U.S. market trends, career pathways, and the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required to thrive in this innovative space.

You will walk away with actionable strategies to spark student interest in data center careers and explore a professional learning fellowship designed to build capacity for data center education. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and discover how to prepare students for the future of technology!

An NSF Grant covers the cost of this experience.

Experience the Art of Culinary Excellence at Austin Community College Tour
Oct. 6, Noon – 3:00 p.m.

Join us for a delectable culinary tour as part of the Postsecondary Summit! This special experience offers attendees an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Austin Community College’s renowned culinary program. You’ll have the opportunity to tour their state-of-the-art facilities and witness firsthand how students are mastering the art of cooking and hospitality.

The highlight of the tour? A beautifully prepared three-course meal crafted by the talented culinary students themselves! This is a unique chance to savor exquisite dishes while supporting the next generation of culinary professionals.

The cost of the tour includes transportation to and from the college as well as the meal. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, celebrate student talent, and enjoy an unforgettable dining experience. Spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot early!

Celebrating Postsecondary Education Disruptors Advancing Relevant Education Application

Award Summary

The 2025 Catapult Award celebrates educational visionaries who are transforming education for a rapidly evolving world! Through this award, ACTE honors those individuals and teams who are redefining the future of education by making learning relevant, scalable, and aligned with real-world needs. If you’re an educator, leader, or organization systemically reshaping education to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce, this is your moment to shine. Nominees should reflect the spirit of innovation and align with one or more of the conference themes, Future-Ready Skills Development, focusing on equipping learners with emerging skills for a rapidly changing workforce; Innovative Program Design, highlighting creative approaches and flexible learning pathways in CTE; Data-Driven Decision-Making, leveraging data to enhance educational outcomes and program effectiveness; and Cross-Sector Collaboration, fostering partnerships with industry and community to align CTE programs with real-world needs. Don’t wait— nominate the changemaker in your community (including self-nominations) before the application closes on May 1, 2025!

Registration Rates

Early Bird (on or before 8/8/2025) 

• $400 -Member Rate
• $500 -Non-Member Rate

Regular (after 8/8/2025)

• $450 -Member Rate
• $550 -Non-Member Rate

Event Policies

Payments: Any outstanding registration payments must be paid by the first day of the conference. Payment can also be accepted at the event.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing and e-mailed to registration@acteonline.org. Telephone requests WILL NOT be honored. Confirmed registrants may cancel and receive a full refund, minus a $100 administrative fee, through September 4th, 2025. Cancellations received on or after Sept. 4, are non-refundable. ACTE is not responsible for weather-related travel delays or other issues regarding personal travel and no refunds will be given due to these occurrences.

Custom Sponsorship Opportunities: Partner with Us in Innovation

If you’re interested in discussing how we can create a custom sponsorship opportunity that aligns with your vision for innovation, please contact us!

Sponsorship/exhibitor Contact:

Dr. Sophia Alston, Senior Manager of Postsecondary CTE at salston@acteonline.org 

Download Sponsorship Opportunities Flyer