Best Practices and Innovations Conference 2021

Michael Bettersworth

Michael Bettersworth is Vice Chancellor and Chief Innovation Officer at Texas State Technical College and Executive Director of the Center of Employability Outcomes (C4EO). Bettersworth’s career has focused on developing novel approaches to aligning educational outcomes with industry needs in order to maximize student earnings and economic impact. Michael’s policy work resulted in the nation’s first funding model based entirely on student earnings outcomes. More recently, Michael created the social-impact focused initiative SkillsEngine to close skill gaps utilizing machine learning and a common skills language.

Rachael Mann

Rachael Mann is passionate about all things related to education, technology, and science. She is an “edufuturist” who believes in the importance of shaping the educational philosophies and spaces of today by looking toward the innovations of tomorrow. Rachael is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences and events across the country, and she speaks and writes about disruptive technology, education and careers. She is the author of The Spaces You Will Go and coauthor of Martians in Your Classroom, an educational title about integrating STEM into the classroom utilizing space-related initiatives.

Rachael holds an MA in educational leadership and has 14 years of classroom teaching experience as a career and technical education instructor. Ms. Mann’s experience includes her work as the Network to Transform Teaching State Director, the Professional Learning Director of STEM, and the Arizona State Director for Educators Rising.   She is a founding member of the Council on the Future of Education, president-elect for the NCLA executive board, vice-president of New and Related Services for ACTE and a member of the Region V Policy Committee.

From professional growth to motivational talks to workshops, Rachael loves to inspire audiences to think bigger and dream beyond.

Joyce Malyn-Smith

Joyce Malyn-Smith is a national expert on STEM career development and workforce education. She leads a body of work that explores how to enhance STEM learning and support people in using their STEM skills, knowledge, and dispositions to pursue productive and rewarding careers. Her projects develop industry/education connections in computational thinking, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and other advanced technologies.

Malyn-Smith’s research focuses on the future of work and its implications for lifelong learning. She investigates the dispositions humans will need as they partner with machines in problem solving, what it means to be human in the age of AI, and the foundational skills K–20 students need to prepare for work at the Human-Technology Frontier.

Malyn-Smith collaborates with community colleges to advance knowledge of the expertise needed in emerging occupations and in occupations that are changing dramatically due to new technologies. She also develops standards-based tools and resources to ensure schools align their programs and curricula with changing industry demand.

Engineering Explosive Growth in Recruitment, Retention & Performance
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Fee – $125
Today is the single greatest opportunity in education history to shift the paradigm in career-focused education. In this exciting preconference workshop, bestselling author Mark C. Perna will show you how to engineer explosive growth by reenergizing your CTE recruitment and retention strategies. You’ll discover the tools, tactics, and truths to attract and retain more of the right students, in the right programs, for the right reasons. Countless organizations and educators across North America are using Mark’s insights to optimize their results and significantly increase program completers. Now, it’s your turn to experience the strategies that are shifting the paradigm in CTE. Get noticed by students, parents, and communities—and start exploding your results for success in a post-pandemic world!

Crisis Mastermind: Moving from Adversity to Advantage
Wednesday, September 29, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Fee – $125
Kick off your NCLA Best Practices Conference with “Heart” by joining Emotional Intelligence experts Mark Wilson and Andrea Golden-Pogue from EQ World, USA. Mark and Andrea have worked with many companies, educational entities, and organizations to create a people focused workplace experience that moves beyond communication to connection. We will discover and deepen our awareness as we discuss: the characteristics and principles that distinguish leaders who successfully harness adversity to gain an advantage. CTE leaders who thrive in the face of adversity are a different breed from those who flourish when resources are unlimited. Join us as we share the mindset and truths on how you can turn any adversity into an advantage. Every participant will receive a Crisis Mastermind certificate.

Del Valle Tour
Wednesday, September 29
8:00-Noon
Fee: $50
Del Valle ISD (DVISD) was an early adopter of The State of Texas’ reorganization of CTE in Texas. Although DVISD had numerous CTE class offerings, the programming lacked the “coherent sequencing” needed to ensure multiple successful outcomes for student by graduation. DVISD has one comprehensive high school with an enrollment of 3400 students, with 68% enrolled in one of the 23 CTE four-year programs of study. All of the programs have college credit and industry-based-certification opportunities. Each program of study was developed by committees composed of industry leaders, higher education partners, relevant vendors, curriculum teams, teachers, architecture and engineering firms, and community members. The uniqueness of the Del Valle ISD CTE department, is the sheer scope of the facilities and of the curricula existing within one high school facility.

Hays CISD Tour- Moe and Gene Johnson High School
Wednesday, September 29
1:00-5:00 pm
Fee: $50
Moe & Gene Johnson High School is Hays CISD’s third comprehensive high school located just south of Austin. The 413,500 square-foot campus opened in August 2019. The school is designed to offer state-of-the-art educational opportunities to 2,250 students in grades 9-12. The three-story high school puts the spotlight on career and technical education courses on the first floor of the campus. You will see the cosmetology and broadcasting programs as soon as you enter the building. Walking down the main corridor, you will observe students in action in culinary arts, vet tech, ag mechanics and auto tech labs. On the second and third floor, you will have an opportunity to visit our Teaching & Training, Law Enforcement, Biomedical, Aerospace, Graphic Design, Business Ed, Marketing and Computer Science classrooms before culminated the tour at our rooftop garden.

Sheraton Austin at the Capitol
Address: 701 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 478-1111
Rate: $185 plus 15% tax
Reservation Deadline: September 5, 2021

To reserve your room, please click here.

Register Online

Download Sponsorship Form

Would you like access to a national gathering of career and technical program administrators? ACTE and the National Council of Local Administrators (NCLA) will make it happen. NCLA’s core purpose is to serve members by helping them connect with the best professional development, contribute their expertise to make CTE better nationwide, and create a culture of innovative excellence. Every fall, ACTE and NCLA bring together this network of peers at the Best Practices and Innovations Conference.

EXHIBIT TABLE

This is your opportunity to get your products and services in front of an exclusive audience of CTE program administrators. It’s prequalified; you’ve got the decision-maker! $700

SPONSORSHIPS

* Sponsorship includes an exhibit table, signage, and program recognition. General session sponsors will also receive three minutes to address the audience.

• Wednesday Evening Reception: September 29
  • Food Only* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000
  • Food and Beverage* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
• Thursday Breakfast General Session* September 30 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000 SOLD OUT
• Thursday Morning Break* September 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000
• Thursday Afternoon Break* September 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000
• Thursday Luncheon General Session* September 30 . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . $1,500
• Friday Breakfast General Session* October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . $2,000
• Friday Morning Break* October 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000

Register Online

Tours: $50
Workshops: $125

ACTE/NCLA Members: $395.00
Non-member: $485.00
Speaker: $250.00