RIACTE Summer Conference: Full Schedule

TBA

RIACTE Executive Board Annual Planning and Decision Workshop

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

This executive-board–only planning session will serve as a focused workshop to develop and finalize RIACTE’s operational plans for the year. This meeting will include the following:- setting up a comprehensive meeting schedule- a structured election timeline and administration plan, - review and implementation steps for bylaws,- a year-long networking/events strategy, and a recruitment plan...
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Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

TBA

From Classroom to Career: Leveraging Industry Certifications for District Success

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

As school districts shift focus from strictly college-bound tracks to comprehensive career readiness, industry-recognized certifications have become a critical lever for student success. But how do you seamlessly bridge the gap between classroom learning and employment?Join us for an interactive session that demystifies the certification ecosystem. We will break down Certiport’s proven “Learn,...
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Speakers

Bob Imhoff

Pearson Education

Mike Greenwald

Pearson Education

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Discussion Panel

TBA

Canva for the Classroom: Design Tools for Educators

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

This hands-on workshop introduces educators to Canva and how it can be used to create engaging classroom materials quickly and easily. Participants will learn the basics of Canva's design tools, templates, and collaboration features while creating resources they can immediately use with students. Topics include: -Creating presentations, worksheets, posters, and classroom signage -Using templates...
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Speakers

Josh Zanni

PCTA

Josh Zanni is a CTE Media Arts educator at Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA). He teaches graphic design, video production, website design, and digital media using industry-standard tools such as Adobe and Canva. With experience helping students of diverse backgrounds... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Hands On Workshop

TBA

From Advisory Board to Workforce Partner: Building Industry Partnerships That Produce Results

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

Many advisory committees meet once or twice a year but fail to become true workforce partners. This workshop will demonstrate strategies for developing engaged industry partners who contribute to curriculum, equipment planning, work-based learning, internships, mentoring, fundraising, and workforce pipeline development. Participants leave with: Advisory committee framework, Annual meeting...
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Speakers

Lori Ferguson

LF Consulting

Lori Ferguson is the Founder and Principal Consultant of LF Consulting, LLC, bringing over 30 years of experience in education and workforce development, with a specialized focus on career and technical education. A recognized leader in the field, Lori has dedicated her career to... Read More →

Susan Votto

Susan Votto is an innovative leader with over 34 years of experience in workforce development. As the senior consultant of LF Consulting, LLC, she brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of driving innovation and collaboration across key industries, including manufacturing... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Interactive Expirence

TBA

Transforming Education & Career Readiness with VR

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

This workshop introduces educators and CTE leaders to immersive learning through VRCORE Education: a gym-scale, multiplayer VR platform that transforms ordinary school spaces into interactive career and curriculum labs. Participants will learn how VRCORE brings students together inside shared, multiplayer virtual environments where they actively explore complex concepts, experience...
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Speakers

Jason Van Hierden

VCORE Education

Jason Van Hierden is the Founder and CEO of VRCORE Education, a company that brings immersive, gym-scale virtual reality field trips and career-connected learning experiences into schools. Since 2016, Jason has led VRCORE’s growth from a VR arcade concept into an education platform... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Interactive Expirence

about Jason Van Hierden is the Founder and CEO of VRCORE Education, a company that brings immersive, gym-scale virtual reality field trips and career-connected learning experiences into schools. Since 2016, Jason has led VRCORE’s growth from a VR arcade concept into an education platform that has served students across multiple countries, partnering with schools, science centers, and organizations including the International Space Station National Laboratory. Jason’s work focuses on making advanced experiential learning accessible, scalable, and curriculum-relevant for K–12 education. Through VRCORE Education, he helps schools bring entire groups of students into shared, multiplayer virtual environments where they can explore science, space, public safety, art, and career pathways in a guided and highly engaging format.

TBA

Beyond Competitions: Free SkillsUSA Classroom Resources for Employability

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

SkillsUSA Is More Than a Competition Think SkillsUSA is just for contests? Think again. This session will showcase free and low cost, ready to use classroom resources that help build both technical skills and employability skills through the SkillsUSA Framework. Join the state director and a classroom teacher for practical ideas, real classroom examples, and tools you can start using right away....
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Speakers

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students. We empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.

Chris Pilling

SkillsUSA

Christopher Pilling is an education and workforce development leader focused on career and technical education, leadership development, and student success. A teacher at Burrillville High School with prior experience in Massachusetts, he partners with schools, industry, and organizations... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

about Christopher Pilling is an education and workforce development leader focused on career and technical education, leadership development, and student success. A teacher at Burrillville High School with prior experience in Massachusetts, he partners with schools, industry, and organizations like SkillsUSA to create meaningful, hands on pathways that prepare students for careers and life beyond the classroom.

TBA

Career Arts Participation Lowers Chronic Absenteeism — Rhode Island Findings

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

In partnership with Nicole Simpson, the RI State Council on the Arts, and Quadrant Research, we will present at the RIACTE conference findings from a study of Rhode Island student-level data (2018–2024) linking arts participation to lower chronic absenteeism: chronic absenteeism rose during the pandemic and has not fully recovered, but high school seniors who completed four consecutive years of...
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Speakers

Maggie Anderson

Hope High School

Maggie Anderson serves as the Director of Arts and Development at Hope High School in Providence where she manages the implementation of the school's strategic redesign plan. She co-chairs the Arts, A/V, Communication Subcommittee to the Career and Technical Education Board of Trustees... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

CCRI and CTE CNA Collaboration

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

Speakers

Maddie Burke

Dean Career & Technical Education, Early College, & Community Partnerships, CCRI

Madeline Burke is CCRI’s first Dean of Career and Technical Education, Early College & Community Partnerships. Maddie brings both personal passion and professional expertise to her role, working closely with regional higher education and K–12 partners to expand CCRI’s Early... Read More →

Yamel Chinchilla

CCRI

Yamel Chinchilla is a higher education and workforce development leader with experience building educational pathways that connect students, schools, employers, and community partners. She currently serves as Manager of Executive Operations at the Community College of Rhode Island... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

Collaborating Pathways: Building School Community Through Cross-Program Partnerships

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

How can Career & Technical Education programs move beyond working in silos and create authentic learning experiences that mirror the real world? This session will explore how cross-program collaboration can strengthen school culture, increase student engagement, and provide meaningful work-based learning opportunities. Presenters will share examples from the Woonsocket Career & Technical Center,...
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Speakers

Monica Rodrigues

Woonsocket Career Tech Center

Monica Rodrigues is the Hospitality & Culinary Academy instructor at the Woonsocket Career & Technical Center in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. An award-winning CTE educator and CCRI Concurrent Enrollment Instructor, she is passionate about creating authentic learning experiences through... Read More →

Ann Croft

Woonsocket Career Tech Center

Ann Croft is the Business & Marketing instructor at the Woonsocket Career & Technical Center in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. She is dedicated to preparing students for success through hands-on learning experiences in business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and career development. Ann... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

Experience Tech: Hands-On CTE Career Pathways at NEIT

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

NEIT "Experience Tech" provide students an exciting way to learn about new CTE Career Paths, participate in Work-Based-Learning activities, and have fun learning in a Hands-On college setting while still in High School/Middle School. This workshop details how NEIT can work with all schools to create customized hands-on learning experiences across any of our 50+ degree programs- all of which...
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Speakers

Sean Marshall

New England Tech

Sean Marshall is the Manager of Training and Workforce Development at New England Institute of Technology and currently works with adult and youth populations through a variety of workforce training and experiential learning opportunities. Sean graduated from Western New England... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

RIDE CTE Certification, Program Requirements, and Supports

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

This presentation will provide participants with guidance from Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) on Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification regulations, application pathways, key contacts, and available supports. The session will also include an overview of CTE program requirements and resources, including work-based learning expectations, Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment...
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Speakers

Mary Keenan

RIDE

Paul McConnell

RIDE

Andrew Lawrence

RIDE

Jake Jackowski

RIDE

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

RIEXL: Expanding Equitable Career-Connected Learning in Rhode Island

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

The Rhode Island Experiential Learning Navigator (RIEXL) presentation will introduce educators to a free, statewide platform that expands access to career-based learning opportunities for students across Rhode Island. RIEXL helps connect classroom learning with real-world experiences that support college and career readiness. This session will provide an overview and live demonstration of the...
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Speakers

Junior Achievement of Rhode Island

RIEXL

We are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement's programs—in the core content areas of work readiness... Read More →

Kerry O'Hara

RIEXL

As Program Manager for Educator Relations with the RI Experiential Learning Navigator, Kerry O'Hara support educators connecting students to meaningful career exploration and workplace learning opportunities across RI. With a background in workforce development, teaching, career advising... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

TBA

UDL Strategies for Inclusive CTE Classrooms

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA

New England Institute of Technology

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Career and Technical Education (CTE) CTE instructors and administrators will learn that Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone. Instructors will gain an understanding that variability among learners is the norm rather than the exception. Participants...
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Speakers

Sarah Grossi

Sarah Grossi is the Careers in Education instructor at the Region 14 ATC at ConVal High School in Peterborough, New Hampshire, an Early Childhood Education adjunct professor at Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire, and a CAST National faculty member. Grossi's... Read More →

Friday August 14, 2026 TBA
New England Institute of Technology

Presentation, Discussion

about Sarah Grossi is the Careers in Education instructor at the Region 14 ATC at ConVal High School in Peterborough, New Hampshire, an Early Childhood Education adjunct professor at Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire, and a CAST National faculty member.  Grossi's undergraduate degrees are in art, early childhood development, and K-8 education. She holds a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a reading concentration from Keene State College and a graduate certificate in Behavior Management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Grossi is an Educators Rising teacher leader, ACTE New & Related Services 2025 Experienced Fellow, and ACTE NRS Innovative Teaching and Learning Section Lead. Sarah was named a New Hampshire Teacher of the Year 2020 finalist. <br>