November 15-17, 2023
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver
1776 Champa Street,
Denver, CO 80202
Crafting Talent Pipelines through Pathways of Passion
Now, more than ever, students yearn for relevance. They desire meaningful connections, not just with their peers and teachers, but with community members, elected officials, university professors, civic and business leaders. They want authentic relationships with mentors who will guide them along their learning paths. They long to be immersed in rigorous coursework and crave real-world experiences. But perhaps most importantly, they want to take on the local and global challenges that exist in their world.
For these reasons and more, Districts across the country are rethinking the conventional views of education that predominate traditional brick and mortar schools. There is a desire/need to create systems and environments that help catalyze broader approaches to relevant instruction and opportunities for students. As such, students will be given opportunities to work towards forging their own pathways of discovery, in ways that are meaningful to them, as they work alongside peers and industry experts in their areas of interest. The surrounding community, region, state and world will become their classrooms as they pursue learning opportunities in real-world settings.
Programs include a focus on teaching applied sciences, modern technologies, career preparation and trade skills, offering students the unique opportunity to create pathways for future professional success. These programs are targeted to address all students. Those who:
- Want to go to college. These students are looking for concurrent enrollment or dual I enrollment opportunities to earn credit towards a college degree. These students could also be looking to learn a skill set or trade to help them pay for college.
- Want to go right into the workforce or military after high school. These students want to learn a skill or trade that will make them more competitive for career preparedness.
- Are unsure of what they want to do after high school. These students want to further explore their interests and skill sets to enhance their college and career preparedness.
Join us to discuss the transformation of teaching and learning to a balanced curriculum of both theoretical and applied learning. This change is fostering everything from Project Based Learning (PBL) to the Maker Movement to Career and Technical Education (CTE) to STEM to STEAM. Regardless of the name, “applied learning” is growing both in popularity and in its ability to engage and connect students to the real world. We applaud the continued growth nationally for developing a CTE/Pathways Plan that will engage all students from PreK-14 by connecting primary/secondary education, both with college expectations and labor market demands by connecting with:
- Students: Embracing the push of students for a talent pipeline.
- Principals: Articulating the pathway of excellence at their schools.
- CTE: Connecting all pathways to the local economy.
- Central office: Crafting pathways as an integral part of every student’s curriculum by providing wrap around credits that combine core curriculum with CTE.
- Industry: identifying what they need as the pull of industry to develop appropriate talent pipelines.
Subject to change | *times shown in Mountain Daylight Time
| WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 15, 2023 |
| 5:00 – 7:00 PM |
Reception
Guest Speaker/Performer: Join Mark Powell and his journey. From song writer/performer/event planner/historic inn
operator. What makes you think you can do anything? Mark Powell (markpowellmusic.com); Seven Keys Lodge;
Outlaws and Legends Music Festival
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| DAY 1 – THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 16, 2023 |
| 7:00 – 7:30 AM |
Breakfast
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| 7:45 AM |
Buses Depart Hotel
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Tour – Option 1 
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Tour – Option 2
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Tour – Option 3
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| 1:15 – 1:45 PM |
Lunch / Opening Remarks / Welcome
- Chuck Saylors, A4LE; Chairman ‘24
- Pam Loeffelman, DLR Group; Symposium Chair
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| 1:55 – 2:55 PM |
Session 1: “Pathways of Passion” thru Scaffolded Badges and Certifications
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| 3:05 – 4:05PM |
Session 2: So, What About the Arts? An Expanded Conversation on Durable Skills
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| 4:15 – 5:15 PM |
Session 3: A Federal Perspective from the US Department of Education
- Liz Texeira, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, US Dept. of Ed
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| 5:15 - 5:30 PM |
Break (Walk or Uber to Offices) |
| 5:30 – 6:30 PM |
Reception: Meet the Architects Who Designed the Facilities Toured
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| 6:30 PM |
Dinner on your own or join colleagues for dine around options
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How do you match the skills sets that industry really wants to support their talent pipeline with flexible facilities that can evolve. That is the focus of Day 2.
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| DAY 2 – FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 17, 2023 |
| 7:30 – 8:30 AM |
Breakfast at Hotel
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| 8:30 – 9:30 AM |
Session 4: Convergence of Federal, State and District Policy
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| 9:40 – 10:40 AM |
Session 5: Integrated CTE: Challenges and Opportunities
- Roosevelt HS, Johnstown, CO; Greeley HS, Greeley, CO;
Pawtucket HS, Pawtucket, RI; Charlotte Amalie HS, St. Thomas, USVI
- Moderator: Adele Willson, HCM
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| 10:50 – 11:50AM |
Session 6: Evolving Centers of Connection
- Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, Cherry Creek, CO; West MEC,
Glendale, AZ; EPIC, Littleton, CO; Renaissance Academy,
Morgantown, WV
- Moderator: Kari-elin Mock, Cuningham
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| 12:00 – 12:45 PM |
Lunch |
| 12:45 – 1:45 PM |
Session 7: A Learning Continuum
- Boulder Valley School District, Boulder, CO; Douglas County
Arapahoe CC and Blue Valley CAPS
- Moderator: Scott Pashia
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| 1:55 – 2:55 PM |
Session 8: Economic Drivers from Multiple Perspectives – Public Policy
- Julie Taggart, Representing the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission
- Denver Public Schools; Dr. Jaime Fiorenza;
Eric Williams, Director of CTE, Greenville, SC
- Moderator: Troy Glover, DLR Group
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| 2:55 - 3:10 PM |
Break |
| 3:15 – 4:15 PM |
Session 9: Economic Drivers from Multiple Perspectives – Private Partnerships
- KRESA, Kalamazoo, MI; Cherry Creek SD, Cherry Creek Foundation, CO,
Innovation Center, St. Vrain, CO; STEAD, Reunion, CO
- Moderator: Pam Loeffelman, DLR Group
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| 4:15 – 4:45 PM |
Closing Remarks: Observations from an Expert
- Chaney Mosley, President ACTE
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