Make It Better Plans

Make-It-Better Plans: Ideas Into Action

As part of the ACTE NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship, Fellows identify a challenge or opportunity within postsecondary career and technical education and develop a Make-It-Better Plan designed to move an idea toward action.

The stories below highlight the journey and impact of these projects—from the challenge that inspired each Fellow’s Make-It-Better Plan to the strategies they developed and the results that followed. Each story explores the impact of the work on the Fellow’s institution, students, and broader CTE community; reflects on how the Fellowship contributed to the Fellow’s professional and personal growth; and shares advice for future NextLevel Fellows.

Together, these stories demonstrate how NextLevel Fellows are turning ideas into action, growing as leaders and creating meaningful change across postsecondary CTE.

2022 | Justin Erickson

Manatee Technical College
Reimagining Advanced Manufacturing Pathways

Justin Erickson developed his Make-It-Better Plan to address declining enrollment in advanced manufacturing programs despite growing employer demand. His work focused on creating industry-aligned robotics and semiconductor pathways through competency-based learning, apprenticeships, employer partnerships, and modern training environments. The project evolved into the Silicon & Steel Pivot framework, expanding pathways into high demand manufacturing careers and creating approaches that can be adapted by other colleges.

Explore the Plan & Its Impact →

2023 | Kari Lamoreaux

Utah State University
Connecting Technical Education to Business Degrees

Kari Lamoreaux developed her Make-It-Better Plan to create stronger connections between technical education certificates and bachelor’s degree programs. Her project focused on redesigning a transferable Associate of Business degree so students could build upon their technical education without starting over. The redesigned pathway created greater flexibility for students, expanded transfer opportunities, and strengthened connections among technical education, degree programs, and industry.

Explore the Plan & Its Impact →

2024 | Tonia Shook

Fred K. Marchman Technical College
Building Inclusive Career Pathways Through CTE

Tonia Shook developed her Make-It-Better Plan to expand postsecondary career opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. Her project focused on creating an inclusive transition program connecting students to career exploration, employability skills, industry credentials, existing CTE programs, and competitive employment. The work contributed to the launch of Phoenix RISE and created new pathways for students to access credentials, career preparation, and meaningful employment.

Explore the Plan & Its Impact →.

2025 | Christian Zimmerman

Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, University of Central Florida
Expanding Postsecondary Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Christian Zimmerman developed his Make-It-Better Plan to expand career-focused postsecondary opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. His project focused on increasing comprehensive transition programs (CTPs) on career and technical education campuses by helping institutions build partnerships, develop programs, and access resources and technical assistance. What began as a focused project has grown into a broader effort to strengthen technical college capacity and expand pathways into CTE, credentials, and employment.

Explore the Plan & Its Impact →

What Will You Make Better?

Every Make-It-Better Plan begins with a challenge, an idea, and a leader ready to move change forward. Through the NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Fellowship, Fellows gain professional learning, mentorship, a national network, and opportunities to strengthen their leadership while developing solutions that can create lasting change within their institutions and across postsecondary CTE.

Learn More About the NextLevel Fellowship →