ACTE Postsecondary CTE Summit 2026

Session Format
 Hands-on workshop / interactive breakout
 
Target Audience
 CTE Directors, Assistant Directors, Deans, and Instructional Leaders
 
Session Description
Strong school culture is built through consistent leadership routines and clear systems.
In this interactive session, two technical college leaders will share practical leadership systems used on their campus to strengthen communication, increase instructional quality, and support program improvement.
Participants will learn how daily leadership rounds, structured walkthrough feedback, coaching conversations, and instructor-led strategic planning work together to build a supportive and accountable culture. These systems have reduced email volume, improved communication, and created clearer pathways for instructional growth and program planning.
Attendees will leave with templates and tools they can use immediately on their own campuses.

How do we successfully engage business beyond that annual Advisory Board meeting? As we grow apprenticeship and work based learning opportunities, we cannot do it without industry partners that are truly committed. This breakout session is intended to create a venue for everyone in attendance to share best practices, failures, and lessons learned.

This session will explore what postsecondary CTE educators actually need to be successful in the classroom and how institutions can better support them through meaningful, relevant professional development. Grounded in a multi-year collaboration across Michigan, this work brings together insights from educators, administrators, and state partners to better understand the realities of teaching in CTE programs and the gaps that exist in current professional learning systems. The Michigan CTE work with LEO-WD will serve as a case study throughout the session, offering a concrete example of how state, institutional, and practitioner perspectives can come together to inform stronger systems of support.


Participants will hear how this work led to the development of a set of completed, UDL-based professional development modules designed specifically for postsecondary CTE instructors. These modules were built in response to consistent needs identified across the state, including support with curriculum design, assessment, classroom management, and teaching diverse learners. Many CTE educators enter the classroom with strong industry expertise but limited preparation in teaching and learning, making targeted and practical professional development essential.


This session is designed for postsecondary CTE educators, deans, program managers, and administrators who are responsible for supporting faculty and strengthening instructional quality. It will be especially valuable for those looking to improve onboarding, retention, and ongoing support for CTE instructors while aligning efforts with workforce and student success goals.
Participants will engage in structured discussion and reflection to connect the findings from Michigan to their own institutional context. Through guided prompts and small group dialogue, attendees will examine their current professional development approaches, identify gaps, and consider how to better align supports with the real needs of CTE faculty. Time will also be dedicated to sharing strategies that have been effective across institutions and identifying opportunities for collaboration.


Attendees will leave with access to the completed module topics, an overview of the design approach used to develop them, and a set of practical considerations they can use to strengthen professional development in their own institutions. We will also share next steps from this work, including a new phase focused on dissemination and the development of professional learning supports for CTE deans, managers, and administrators.

Millions of adults possess the talent and motivation to succeed but remain outside traditional postsecondary and career and technical education pathways. This presentation examines how adult education serves as an essential on-ramp for adult learners, English learners, returning citizens, working parents, and others who may not yet be prepared to enter conventional education and training programs.

Participants will explore gaps within current systems and learn strategies for strengthening recruitment, integrated education and training, learner navigation, employer engagement, and transitions to credentials and employment. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of who their programs may be missing and practical approaches for building partnerships that connect untapped talent to meaningful opportunity.

Postsecondary CTE institutions are increasingly challenged to deliver high-quality technical instruction while building staff capacity to support student success in rapidly evolving fields. This session introduces an applied, workforce-integrated model—Cyber Conversations, an initiative of RW2 Career and Technical Education—that strengthens staff roles in student support and embeds work-based learning (WBL) within a cybersecurity program.
Attendees will explore how RW2 implements a structured WBL system with clearly defined roles, processes, and project-based learning experiences in which adult learners work alongside cybersecurity instructors and professionals to complete real-world, supervised projects. As Cyber Liaisons, adult learners gain practical experience within a guided, team-based environment, supported by defined staff roles, operational workflows, and professional oversight. The session will highlight desired outcomes, including increased WBL participation, sustained completion rates, documented skill attainment, and improved job readiness aimed at faster hiring and stronger placement.
Designed for postsecondary CTE administrators, program leaders, and staff responsible for student support and WBL implementation, this session provides insight into strategies and operational processes currently in place and actively evolving to embed WBL into technical programs and strengthen institutional capacity.
Participants will engage through a guided case study discussion, a brief live polling activity to capture institutional context, and a reflection-based action planning prompt to support immediate application.
Attendees will leave with a practical implementation roadmap, including a replicable project-based WBL model, defined staff roles and workflows, a liaison-style role outline, sample project intake and coordination templates, and key metrics to track participation, skill attainment, and job readiness outcomes.
Postsecondary CTE institutions are increasingly challenged to deliver high-quality technical instruction while building staff capacity to support student success in rapidly evolving fields. This session introduces an applied, workforce-integrated model—Cyber Conversations, an initiative of RW2 Career and Technical Education—that strengthens staff roles in student support and embeds work-based learning (WBL) within a cybersecurity program.
Attendees will explore how RW2 implements a structured WBL system with clearly defined roles, processes, and project-based learning experiences in which adult learners work alongside cybersecurity instructors and professionals to complete real-world, supervised projects. As Cyber Liaisons, adult learners gain practical experience within a guided, team-based environment, supported by defined staff roles, operational workflows, and professional oversight. The session will highlight desired outcomes, including increased WBL participation, sustained completion rates, documented skill attainment, and improved job readiness aimed at faster hiring and stronger placement.
Designed for postsecondary CTE administrators, program leaders, and staff responsible for student support and WBL implementation, this session provides insight into strategies and operational processes currently in place and actively evolving to embed WBL into technical programs and strengthen institutional capacity.
Participants will engage through a guided case study discussion, a brief live polling activity to capture institutional context, and a reflection-based action planning prompt to support immediate application.
Attendees will leave with a practical implementation roadmap, including a replicable project-based WBL model, defined staff roles and workflows, a liaison-style role outline, sample project intake and coordination templates, and key metrics to track participation, skill attainment, and job readiness outcomes.

Career readiness is shaped by far more than resumes and interview tips. For many students, hidden barriers such as access to professional attire, understanding workplace etiquette, confidence in self-presentation, and limited social capital can directly affect whether they pursue opportunities and how they are perceived when they do. This session will help postsecondary CTE leaders reframe the “career closet” as part of a broader student career development strategy rather than a standalone service.


Drawing on implementation lessons from Southern Methodist University, insights from other university pilots, and recent work on business etiquette and professional identity, presenters will share how institutions can design equitable, scalable systems that improve access, reduce stigma, strengthen employer alignment, and support student confidence. Attendees will examine how campus partnerships, alumni and employer support, data collection, and intentional student engagement can move a career readiness initiative from ad hoc to sustainable.

This session is designed for career center directors, deans, student success leaders, and postsecondary CTE administrators who want practical strategies they can adapt in their own settings. Audience participation will include peer discussion, reflection prompts, and a short planning exercise. Attendees will leave with a leadership framework, implementation checklist, and action steps for strengthening career readiness supports on their campuses.