CSI Day 1 This is the first of a two day sessions (Tuesday) for School Counselors to offer them a deeper understanding of CTE and provide them with resources to better aid them when advising student regarding CTE pathways. Counselors attending will gain an understand how CTE is a bridge to a variety of postsecondary opportunities. They will have the opportunity to network with other school counselors, learn about pathways working with ATC's and CTC's and guidance to other sessions during the conference that will be of specific benefit to them.
Hard Hats! Bright Futures! How Gen Z Is Redefining Success explores how today’s students are reshaping postsecondary decision-making and what that means for effective school counseling. Designed for counselors and advisors, this session reframes postsecondary education as a set of multiple, equally valid pathways—including apprenticeships, skilled trades, technical education, community colleges, and four-year degrees—rather than a single hierarchy. Participants will examine labor market realities in Kentucky, unpack common data and advising biases that unintentionally elevate one path over others, and gain concrete strategies for helping students identify best-fit options based on interests, learning style, financial realities, and career goals. The presentation highlights Kentucky-specific workforce data, CTE pathways, apprenticeships, and stackable credentials, equipping counselors with practical tools and language to confidently guide students and families toward informed, aligned postsecondary choices in a “college and careers” reality.
Traditional career conversations often focus too narrowly on job titles rather than skills, identity, and evolving opportunities. This interactive session equips counselors and CCR coaches with practical questioning frameworks that shift conversations from What do you want to be? to Who are you becoming? Participants will learn how to guide students in exploring strengths, values, transferable skills, and career clusterswhile reducing pressure and perfectionism. Walk away with ready-to-use conversation scripts, reflection tools, and advising structures that work across middle and high school settings.
Are you ready to start a CTE Career Lab in your middle school? During this session attendees will learn about how I run my Paxton and Patterson Career Lab. We will explore the 16 different modules that I currently run in the classroom at one time. They will receive different teacher created resources and resources I have been using that will work in any career lab.
CTE Career Lab Teacher at a middle school level. A KEDC Renaissance Teacher Learder 2024-present time. I have presented at KAST and the KEDC Grant Summer Conference.
