This year’s event will focus on the theme: “Building Bridges: Connecting Education and Industry”…“Strengthening the workforce, one connection at a time” To bring this vision to life, MAVA is proud to welcome Captain Barrington Irving, an esteemed entrepreneur, STEM+ explorer, and workforce development ambassador, as the keynote speaker.
About Captain Barrington Irving Captain Irving is a pioneering aviator and educator committed to empowering the next generation through real-world STEM experiences. His extensive career includes global expeditions, workforce development initiatives, and transformative educational programs. In 2023, he founded the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) to provide high school and adult students with hands-on technical training, micro-credentialing, and job placement, particularly in aviation fields. In just 15 months, BITTS generated over $1 million in employment salaries and hosted 12 industry-leading maintenance competitions across the country. Captain Irving has also collaborated with top industry players, including Bombardier Aircraft, Atlantic Aviation, and Signature Aviation.
Beyond BITTS, Captain Irving has been a leader in STEM+ education for over a decade. His Flying Classroom program, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, has impacted more than 3 million students by integrating hands-on, real-world problem-solving into classrooms nationwide. Additionally, his nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, has been providing STEM-based career guidance to middle and high school students since 2005.
A true trailblazer, Captain Irving has traveled to over 70 countries, completed more than 80 STEM+ expeditions, and led groundbreaking engineering challenges—including constructing a car faster than a Ferrari and building a plane he personally test-piloted. In 2007, he made history as the youngest person and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world, earning two Guinness World Records at just 23 years old.
Optics are everywhere! Keene State College is excited to share an overview of new educational and training pathways in the field of precision optics. Starting this fall at KSC is a new one-year certificate program in precision optics, preparing students for high-tech careers that are abundant in the New England area. This program will provide students with a strong foundation on the fundamentals of optics, and also offer hands on opportunities with instrumentation and tools used by the optics industry. Students will learn to use diamond turning machining, thin-film deposition, and metrology tools. 5-Day Professional workshops are also available at KSC for diamond turning machining and metrology. Our presentation will highlight these areas and overview the curriculum, new learning spaces, and benefits to choosing these pathways to find success.
Teachers will learn how to use Blender 3D to create free 3D models for the vocational classes below. Blender 3D can be used to make vocabulary terms interactive and help students understand simple or complex concepts in our trades. No experience is necessary.
Automotive: Automotive technology, collision repair, and related fields. Culinary Arts: Baking, cooking, and restaurant management. Construction: Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and related trades. Computer Science: Computer programming, information technology, and related fields. Health Sciences: Allied health, nursing, and other medical-related fields. Engineering: Welding, metal fabrication, and other engineering-related fields. Business: Business technology, marketing, and related fields. Agriculture: Animal science, agricultural mechanics. Cosmetology: Hairdressing, cosmetology, and related fields. Early Childhood Education: Childcare and early education programs.
TEC is an experienced provider of innovative, quality products for STEM, design, manufacturing and pre-engineering programs/labs, libraries and makerspaces that delivers superior customer support and service.
The Office of College, Career, and Technical Education will be presenting a session on navigating the Career Connected Learning Hub alignment to newly developed frameworks, industry recognized credentials, college and career planning (MyCap), and teacher licensure.
Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Elizabeth Bennet has worked in career and technical education for close to 25 years. She is a graduate of Tufts University with a C.A.G.S in Urban Justice and Sustainability and a Masters Degree from Rivier College in Nashua in Educational Administration. Elizabeth serves as the Associate... Read More →
Wednesday June 25, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT C-107
Unlock the power of storytelling to transform biotech education. This hands-on workshop empowers instructors to use AI tools to craft engaging story wrappers around biotechnological concepts and lab skills. Learn to teach mitosis and breast cancer biomarkers through patient journeys, explore the science of heartbreak to explain anatomy and physiology, or unpack the mystery of Auto-Brewery Syndrome to spark discussions around diagnostic panels and legal implications. We’ll also dive into the role of SNPs in opioid addiction and metabolic signals in drugs like semaglutide/Ozempic—all framed within compelling, student-centered narratives. Participants will practice building story-driven lesson hooks that tie directly into core skills like ELISA and PCR testing. Leave with ready-to-adapt scenarios and strategies that bring complex science to life, while deepening student engagement and curiosity in biotechnology’s real-world impact.
How are you leveraging technology to make managing CCR and WBL data more efficient? Discover how software like Jobready CCR can help you digitize forms, manage employer partnerships, track employer visits, create career plans, track student participation in events, and much more. Students can also upload pay stubs, record WBL hours by clocking in/out, and apply for opportunities posted by business partners. Jobready CCR is also a complete CCR solution that includes postsecondary suggestions, college applications, SAT/ACT test preparation, scholarships, course planning, career exploration, industry recognized credential tracking, follow-up studies and more. Best of all, everything is tied to MA state standards. To fully grasp the all-encompassing capabilities of this application, you need to attend this session.
Looking for a creative solution that provides both teachers and students with additional support? Come learn about how to leverage student leaders through a peer mentoring program that happens during the school day, right in the classroom! This session will discuss processes and considerations for administrators, but more importantly, you will hear directly from a teacher and student academic mentor about their experience.
Strategies used in the classroom to promote the ideas used in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) including Engagement, Representation and Action & Expression.
In this engaging and actionable session, participants will be introduced to DetecTogether’s 3 Steps Detect® curriculum—a free, ready-to-implement, teacher-led program designed to equip students with the skills to detect cancer early and take charge of their health. Grounded in real stories and rooted in the National Health Education Standards, this curriculum is especially relevant to health assisting, medical science, and public safety pathways, but also adaptable for any academic or advisory setting that supports college and career readiness. Developed by teachers, for teachers - this program will elevate the health literacy of your students.
This 50-minute session will:
- Showcase how the curriculum integrates seamlessly into CTE and academic environments, promoting cross-curricular application and student engagement.
- Offer practical strategies for delivering the content using UDL to support diverse learners.
- Provide access to free online learning tools and facilitator resources, including pre/post assessments and asynchronous modules for blended learning.
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities for both academic and vocational educators to enhance curriculum design and assessment strategies. This professional development session aims to introduce teachers to AI tools and techniques that can improve student engagement, personalize learning experiences, and streamline assessment processes.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to: - Understand the fundamentals of AI and its applications in education. - Explore AI-driven tools for curriculum development and assessment. - Develop AI-enhanced lesson plans and assessment strategies. - Identify best practices for integrating AI while maintaining academic integrity.
This will be a presentation that will provide insights on retirement benefits aimed towards vocational teachers. The presentation will touch on many topics including your pension, social security planning, buying back vocational time for MTRS credit and Retirement pension options.
M.G.L. Chapter 71, Sections 37H, H1/2, H3/4... often cited, often misunderstood. This session is meant for teachers who wish to learn the basics of school discipline law in Massachusetts and what assistant principals and deans of students go through when it's time for discipline. Participants will be able to interpret each of the three school discipline laws under M.G.L. c. 71 and apply what they learned to real-world situations in their classrooms, shops, and schools.
Question, Persuade, and Refer - the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Gatekeepers can be anyone, but this includes all educators who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. Just as people are trained in CPR, thousands of Americans have been trained in QPR and have saved lives. This presentation will include information specific to supporting our youth. All participants will be emailed a certificate on behalf of the QPR institute following the training.
New administrators must be given a mentor within two weeks of hire. DESE recommends that this mentor has completed a DESE endorsed training, however, no such program exists in Massachusetts. Additionally, mentoring, in general, is often left to local control. Administrators mentoring experience differs from one school to the next and often from one mentor to the next. While this allows for professional decision making, it leaves room for much error, and often leaves proteges without an equitable onboarding experience. For this reason, Dr Clinton, Dr. Ferreira, and Dr. Warren partnered to create a two-credit administrative mentoring program offered at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The focus of this session discusses the development of an ongoing nature of this program.
Goals: Participants will be able to identify ways in which to support new leaders in their districts Participants will be able to identify the elements of a DESE aligned Administrative mentoring program Participants will be able to identify ways in which to support a mentor-protege team Possibly add… · Formally integrate mentoring into leadership hiring and succession planning to link to district needs. · Compensate and recognize mentors for their time and expertise in developing aspiring leaders.
This hands-on session will display a few inexpensive projects taught in a high school renewable energy engineering class. These projects can be easily modified and cater to students in a wide variety of applications and skill abilities, and utilize inexpensive materials (some of which are free). The first part of the session will showcase example projects, including floating lanterns. In the second half, participants will be able to work in small groups to practice building and flying a floating lantern of their own, as part of a lesson to teach the concept of density.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, empowering both educators and students in core academics and Career and Technical Education (CTE). In this interactive workshop, attendees will discover how AI can enhance lesson planning, assessment, student engagement, and skill-building across diverse learning environments.
We will explore AI-powered strategies for educators, including differentiated instruction, automated feedback, and work-based learning applications. Additionally, we will highlight ways students can leverage AI tools to improve problem-solving, self-paced learning, and motivation—from AI-driven tutoring to career exploration tools.
Attendees will receive practical resources, including recommended AI tools, lesson templates, and student-friendly applications. The session will feature live demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on AI exploration, ensuring participants leave with actionable strategies to enhance both teaching efficiency and student success in academic and career-focused classrooms.
The Energy Career Cluster spans careers in traditional and renewable fuel production, power generation and energy conversion, utilities, environmental preservation, ecological research, and resource extraction. To minimize environmental impacts and meet global energy needs, these industries focus on efficient and responsible resource management, including conservation, transmission, distribution, and storage. Careers in this Cluster are dedicated to creating a sustainable future, innovating cleaner energy solutions, and preserving our planet’s natural resources for generations.
The career pathway content standards outline the technical knowledge and skills required for future success within this discipline. This is intended to provide state education leaders and educators with a forward-thinking guide for what students should know and be able to do after completing a program of study in this career pathway. State leaders and local educators are encouraged to use the standards to develop well-planned curricula and assessments for Energy & Natural Resources-related Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
A Safety Panel of Experts, including Peter Barletta, Brett Fortin from OSHA, Adam Hartnett - WSHP Exec. Office of Labor & Workforce Development, Chris Faucher, Hot Works/Peterson School, Sean Ryan and staff
In an era of rapidly evolving global threats and emerging technologies, the United States Air Force (USAF) faces the critical challenge of building a diverse, skilled, and resilient force to safeguard national security. This session explores how modern recruiting strategies are not just about filling ranks but about shaping the future of air and space power.
Led by a senior USAF recruiting official, this session will examine the intersection of talent acquisition and national defense, highlighting how recruitment efforts align with broader strategic goals. Attendees will gain insights into the innovative approaches being used to attract next-generation airmen and guardians, including outreach to underrepresented communities, leveraging digital platforms, and adapting to changing workforce expectations.
The discussion will also address the implications of recruitment shortfalls, the role of public-private partnerships, and how the USAF is evolving to meet 21st-century security challenges. Whether you are a defense professional, educator, or policy maker, this session offers a critical look at how human capital drives military readiness and national resilience.
This session proposes a hands-on, forward-thinking approach to strengthening workforce readiness by integrating NASA GLOBE smart sensor technologies and AI applications into Vocational and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs. By equipping students with real-world, data-driven technology skills, this initiative helps prepare a future workforce capable of addressing complex challenges across rapidly evolving technical fields. The session also introduces school administrators to the emerging profession of Sensor Technician—a role gaining traction across industries such as environmental monitoring, public health, smart infrastructure, HVAC, electrical, automotive, agriculture, and more. With the support of low-cost sensor technologies and accessible, open-source platforms, educators can bring this new career path directly into classrooms and shops, while aligning with Massachusetts’ workforce development and CTE priorities. This session also offers MAVA a valuable opportunity to connect with NASA GLOBE, a nationally recognized initiative that supports real-world student engagement and industry-relevant learning.
This hands-on session explores the creative frontier of generative AI and its implications for the future of work. Discover how educators can leverage experimental AI tools to engage students in innovative, real-world learning experiences that align with emerging industry trends. From AI-generated media to no-code prototyping, you’ll explore how schools can become launchpads for future-ready talent in a rapidly evolving workforce.
In this interactive breakout session, educators will discover innovative strategies and practical tools to stay positive and creative amidst the evolving landscape of education. Participants will explore the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset in overcoming challenges and embracing change. Through engaging discussions and hands-on activities, attendees will leave inspired and equipped to navigate the unknown with confidence and creativity. Join us for a session filled with inspiration, collaboration, and actionable takeaways to empower you on your educational journey.
What is Heat-Related Illness? What Are the Numbers – “Do really that many people die from Heat?” How Hot is Too Hot? What are the Signs of Heat injury or illness and Personal Risk Factors How Can Heat-Related Illness Be Prevented? How Businesses Can Create a Heat Illness Prevention Plan Heat Illness Prevention and Young Workers' Safety and Health Resources to Help Educate Teens on the Risks of Excessive Heat and other Workplace Hazards.
Since Career and Technical Education was established, it has played a significant role in exposing and training young trades men and women in high schools across our country. In the early 2000’s The New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund had a vision to create a 4 year high school curriculum that would be used as recruitment and training tool for the Laborer’s locals across the New England Region. In 2002 this vision became a reality when they established The New England Laborers Charter School Cranston Public Schools in Cranston, Rhode Island. In 2007 they applied and received Chapter 74 approval from the Department of Secondary education in Massachusetts. Since then this initiative has expanded across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Throughout this presentation the New England Laborers’ will take you through their journey on how these initiatives started and where they are today.
We know that just because career & technical teachers often lack expertise in teaching, it doesn't mean they lack expertise. So how do we teach people who are experts and novices at the same time? An individualized, non-threatening coaching relationship can make all the difference. We'll share stories, examples, and successes of partnerships we've had with many local vocational schools. We'll discuss key principles underlying the growth we've been seeing, and we'll incorporate practical advice for you to continue the work at your own schools/organizations.
What if every vocational student could graduate with a professional digital presence that helped them get hired?
This session introduces Scaffald --- https://scaffald.com/ --- a free workforce readiness platform built specifically for students entering the trades. Designed in partnership with vocational educators, state agencies, and industry leaders, Scaffald serves as both a reflection tool and a career-launching portfolio. Students use it to document skills, showcase certifications and projects, and connect directly with employers looking to hire talent from CTE programs.
You’ll hear from the founders of Scaffald on how the platform is already being embedded in classrooms, beginning with Essex North Shore Tech. We’ll explore how your school can leverage Scaffald to help students gain confidence, build visibility, and make a seamless transition into co-ops, apprenticeships, and full-time jobs.
At the recent SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Leadership & Skills Conference, Scaffald’s cofounders presented to the MAVA CTE directors group with plans to roll out the platform to all vocational students in MA.
If LinkedIn wasn’t built for tradespeople, Scaffald is. And with it being free for students, we can’t wait to get in their hands!
Medical Assisting educators face a unique set of instructional, clinical, and certification-related challenges. Too often, Health Assisting and Medical Assisting programs are grouped together despite key differences in curriculum, industry standards, and student outcomes. This roundtable session will provide a much-needed space for Medical Assisting teachers across Massachusetts to connect, collaborate, and exchange best practices.
Join representatives from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for an in-depth session on wage and hour laws, compliance, and best practices. This presentation will cover key topics such as minimum wage, overtime, child labor laws, earned sick time, and wage enforcement. Attendees will gain valuable insights into legal requirements, and how to ensure fair labor practices within their institutions. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A to address specific concerns. Don't miss this essential session to stay informed and compliant with Massachusetts labor laws.
Explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming vocational education by enhancing teaching strategies and equipping students with future-ready skills. This interactive session will delve into practical applications of AI within vocational environments, from carpentry to culinary arts, and its role in advancing student learning outcomes. Attendees will engage with real-world case studies and discuss ethical considerations of integrating AI into curricula. Learning Objective: Analyze the impact of AI-driven tools on teaching methodologies and student engagement in vocational education. Intended Outcomes: Develop strategies for incorporating AI to simulate real-world industry scenarios. Create actionable plans for using AI to personalize student learning experiences.
Turning the standard senior project research paper into a year long project where creating, developing, planning, and the execution of running a business is displayed for each senior. Included in this is embedded academics in Arithmetic and English (and History and Science for Culinary).
This hands-on session will display a few inexpensive projects taught in a high school renewable energy engineering class. These projects can be easily modified and cater to students in a wide variety of applications and skill abilities, and utilize inexpensive materials (some of which are free). The first part of the session will showcase example projects, including floating lanterns. In the second half, participants will be able to work in small groups to practice building and flying a floating lantern of their own, as part of a lesson to teach the concept of density.
Do you have any students who did not get their top shop choice during exploratory? Are any students in your school wishing they could have been placed elsewhere? If this is familiar to you, join this professional development session to learn more about the possibilities of bringing vocational education to students outside of their vocational program. During this session, participants will learn about the benefits of integrating CTE and academic education. In particular, participants will explore a specific example of what marketing can look like when Graphic Design and Visual Communications students integrate with other academic students during their academic cycle. A curriculum and simulation program will be discussed, and a sample syllabus will be offered.
Intended Outcomes for Participants: Understand the benefits and challenges of integrating academic and vocational content in CTE settings Provide a sample of what integrated education could look like in a shop setting Provide a sample syllabus for use-tomorrow application. Provide and discuss simulation program with embedded academic and vocational skills
Develop practical approaches for educators to create sustainable esports programs: Obtain guidelines for designing stackable credentials and initiatives that ensure students are equipped for future challenges.
Training Equipment, Simulators, and Curriculum for most Vocational Programs, including: VR EMS Services, FANUC Robotics and CNC, Heavy Equipment Simulators, Drones, HMI/PLC Trainers, and More!
The current Design and Visual Communications Frameworks for CTE includes examining the history of typography in Standard 2 and 3H, Fundamentals of Design. These standards allow students to understand the scholars of the typographic canon from a limited view. Missing are design scholars who have influenced the history of typography. In addition, Standards 2 and 3H do not include those who are missing or erased from design history, education, and practice. Knowing this demands the need for the CTE education community to identify the gaps and add missing authors long unrepresented in art and design schools and graphic design programs. In this panel, two longtime high school, college, and teacher educators levels will share how Dr. Cheryl Miller's course, Decolonizing Graphic Design, A Black Perspective is transforming their practice. Cheryl provides user-friendly tactical instruments for educators and administrators of schools to examine one's own relationship to their own ancestral history while adding to the history we all teach.
This session will focus on evidence based practices used at Southeastern Regional to support multilingual students, including Newcomers, to strengthen ESL programming and student outcomes.
This session is designed for Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors at all experience levels, from new educators to seasoned professionals looking to refine their teaching strategies. It is ideal for instructors working in vocational-technical high schools and trade schools, particularly those seeking to enhance student engagement and lesson fluidity. Participants will benefit from strategies to create dynamic, structured lesson plans that incorporate continuous learning, hands-on practice stations, and AI integration to streamline instruction. This session is particularly relevant for educators aiming to move beyond single-concept teaching and develop meaningful, student-centered learning experiences that keep students engaged.
We know that just because career & technical teachers often lack expertise in teaching, it doesn't mean they lack expertise. So how do we teach people who are experts and novices at the same time? An individualized, non-threatening coaching relationship can make all the difference. We'll share stories, examples, and successes of partnerships we've had with many local vocational schools. We'll discuss key principles underlying the growth we've been seeing, and we'll incorporate practical advice for you to continue the work at your own schools/organizations.
As the clean energy sector accelerates, vocational educators have a unique opportunity to prepare students for sustainable, high-growth careers. This session will showcase strategies for embedding clean energy career awareness into existing programs using the updated Massachusetts CTE Frameworks and Massachusetts Climate Careers: Powering the Future, a free, standards-aligned curriculum designed to help students connect their technical skills to emerging clean energy fields like solar, offshore wind, energy storage, and building efficiency. The session will highlight how these resources can support career exploration, reinforce transferable skills, and enhance existing vocational instruction across trades.
Learning Objectives: Examine pathways to integrate clean energy career awareness within existing vocational frameworks Explore instructional resources that connect technical skills to in-demand clean energy careers Identify strategies to help students recognize transferable skills between traditional trades and emerging clean energy occupations
This presentation helps vocational teachers understand their retirement options under MTRS, including pension benefits, Social Security coordination, and service buybacks. It also emphasizes the importance of saving outside the pension and offers support through Diamond Point Wealth Partners.
This interactive session focuses on the strategies and tools to build a classroom of "thinkers," not "mimickers." The goal is to create the conditions for learner-centered, student-owned educational experiences.
The two significant challenges facing the United States are climate change and growing economic insecurity. While each issue requires unique strategies, solutions can be aligned for mutual benefit. For example, transitioning to a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and achieving a net-zero economy by 2050 will create numerous job opportunities.
A critical element in realizing these opportunities is to create and scale green workforce development programs that will sustain and thrive beyond short-term funding opportunities, which is essential for raising awareness about job opportunities in the energy sector.
Such collaborations allow students to gain hands-on experience through internships, apprenticeships, and job placements. These are crucial for preparing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of the evolving energy sector. These programs provide students practical skills, real-world experience, and improved employability upon graduation.
Moreover, these partnerships are essential for promoting diversity within the energy sector. By engaging a wide range of educational institutions, including those that serve underrepresented communities, ACT can help ensure that the benefits of clean energy jobs are accessible to a diverse population. This approach addresses systemic barriers to occupational segregation, allowing individuals from various backgrounds to pursue careers in this dynamic field.
This class explores innovative engagement strategies to connect with audiences, enhance participation, and drive meaningful interactions. It covers modern approaches such as data-driven personalization, interactive content, gamification, AI-driven communication, and social media engagement tactics.
Vocabulary strategies you can use to help all students better understand your content vocabulary! Having a deeper understanding of “essential” vocabulary helps students better comprehend their reading and prepare for their future career and program of study.
This session will provide educators and school leaders with actionable strategies for planning and implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and District Curriculum Accommodation Plans (DCAP). Participants will explore how to create equitable learning environments through proactive intervention frameworks and accommodations tailored to diverse student needs. Using case studies and collaborative problem-solving activities, attendees will identify barriers to implementation and learn how to align DCAP strategies with MTSS tiers for improved outcomes. High-Order Learning Objectives: Analyze the intersections of MTSS and DCAP to design a cohesive framework that addresses academic and behavioral interventions at all tiers of support. Develop a school-wide or district-wide implementation plan by applying principles of data-driven decision-making and stakeholder collaboration. Intended Outcomes for Participants: Understand how to integrate DCAP accommodations within the MTSS framework to support students with diverse needs effectively. Identify tools and resources for monitoring the fidelity and effectiveness of MTSS and DCAP strategies. Leave with a draft action plan to improve their institution’s MTSS and DCAP alignment and implementation.
Bristol County Agricultural High School has a unique curriculum and mission as Massachusetts’ only agricultural-based career technical (CTE) school with a fully operational farm. When initially planning the project, the scope was limited to upgrading science classrooms and expanding the animal science program. However, seeing the opportunity to strengthen BA’s agricultural roots and further the mission of academic excellence rooted in science-based education and environmental stewardship, the project grew into a broader campus renewal that fosters interdisciplinary learning. This presentation offers a case study in how a renewed campus design can amplify a CTE school’s mission and support students as they pursue STEAM-focused careers in a dynamic, hands-on learning ecosystem. Through visioning sessions with school staff and administration, students, community representatives, and legislative officials, a transformative shift to a “STEA(A)M” model emerged, expanding STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) to include (A)griculture, and leveraging BA’s unique educational framework. After two years of operation, Superintendent Derek Costa remains committed to bringing the community’s vision to life and will provide insight into the campus renewal project and successes and challenges he has faced when preparing students for future careers in STEA(A)M fields. Bristol Aggie provides specialized career technical pathways in Natural Resource Management, Animal Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Arboriculture, Floriculture, and Landscaping while maintaining a strong foundation in core academic subjects like Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. Learning at BA extends beyond traditional classrooms, happening everywhere—from the new Center for Science and the Environment building to the campus-wide arboretum. Woven together with a variety of outdoor learning environments, the facilities allow hands-on, student-driven projects; prepare students for real-world challenges and opportunities; and strengthen the school’s partnerships with state and federal agencies to advance experiential learning and research.
Learning Objectives 1. Understand how interdisciplinary collaboration between academic and CTE programs can create innovative and impactful learning opportunities. Attendees will learn how integrating core academic subjects with hands-on, real-world agricultural education enhances student engagement and outcomes.
2. Identify design strategies that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship in educational facilities. Attendees will explore how features such as green roofs, composting toilets, and flexible outdoor spaces enhance learning and environmental awareness.
3. Recognize the importance of community engagement in shaping a school’s vision and fostering long-term success. Through the example of Bristol Aggie’s annual Fall Show and robust partnerships, attendees will understand how strong community ties can elevate educational experiences and outcomes.
4. Explore how purposeful campus and building design can support equitable access, safety, and lifelong learning. Attendees will discover how accessible pathways, specialized lab spaces, and adaptable learning environments create inclusive and forward-thinking educational spaces.
Implement methods to support and empower underrepresented students: Use esports to create inclusive opportunities and pathways for diverse populations.
Training Equipment, Simulators, and Curriculum for most Vocational Programs, including: VR EMS Services, FANUC Robotics and CNC, Heavy Equipment Simulators, Drones, HMI/PLC Trainers, and More!
This session proposes a hands-on, forward-thinking approach to strengthening workforce readiness by integrating NASA GLOBE smart sensor technologies and AI applications into Vocational and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs. By equipping students with real-world, data-driven technology skills, this initiative helps prepare a future workforce capable of addressing complex challenges across rapidly evolving technical fields. The session also introduces school administrators to the emerging profession of Sensor Technician—a role gaining traction across industries such as environmental monitoring, public health, smart infrastructure, HVAC, electrical, automotive, agriculture, and more. With the support of low-cost sensor technologies and accessible, open-source platforms, educators can bring this new career path directly into classrooms and shops, while aligning with Massachusetts’ workforce development and CTE priorities. This session also offers MAVA a valuable opportunity to connect with NASA GLOBE, a nationally recognized initiative that supports real-world student engagement and industry-relevant learning.
This session offers a practical guide for vocational technical schools looking to introduce or expand the use of artificial intelligence in their programs. Using a proven framework and the DESE Integrating Artificial Intelligence document, we’ll help you take stock of where your school is now and chart a path toward making AI useful and meaningful for students and teachers. You’ll leave with planning tools and concrete strategies that show how AI can improve teaching, learning, and daily operations that work for teachers and administrators.
What You’ll Learn: How to assess your current approach to AI using six focus areas (curriculum, training, ethics, equity, feedback, and admin tools) How to build a functional plan for introducing or improving AI in classrooms and shops. How to align your efforts with DESE priorities, Perkins V goals, and workforce needs.
In this professional development workshop, we delve into the intricate intersection of teen dating dynamics and the pervasive influence of social media. Recognizing the profound impact of digital platforms on adolescent relationships, our session is designed to equip educators, counselors, and youth advocates with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges presented and effective strategies for support.
Through interactive discussions, participants will explore the evolving landscape of teen dating in the digital age. As communication methods shift from tossing classroom notes to instant messaging, behaviors that are detrimental to the health and safety of teens become increasingly difficult to observe and prevent. This session will elicit a heightened awareness of the role of social media in shaping adolescents’ perceptions of self, relationships, and intimacy, while also highlighting the potential of the digital world as an avenue for student support.
Key topics include… 1. The Influence of Social Media on Teen Dating: Analyzing trends, behaviors, and communication patterns. 2. Challenges and Risks: Understanding cyberbullying, digital coercion, and the impact of unrealistic social media standards. 3. Building Healthy Relationships: Promoting consent, respect, and digital citizenship in online interactions. 4. Supporting Adolescents: Identifying signs of distress, providing resources, and fostering open dialogue about healthy digital habits.
As high school students enter employment opportunities through experiential programs such as Cooperative Education, vocational educators and placement staff are uniquely positioned to support not only their technical development but also their mental and emotional well-being. This workshop explores the intersection of youth mental health and workplace readiness. Participants will learn how to identify early warning signs of mental health challenges, explore workplace stressors specific to young employees, and effectively navigate youth mental health with employers to encourage supportive environments that foster resilience and success.
Transform your teaching by effectively blending eLearning with hands-on lab activities. Learn strategies to enhance student engagement, streamline classroom management, and save instructional time.
Key Topics: Maximizing eLearning: Use digital modules as virtual teaching assistants to reinforce concepts. Assign pre-lab tasks, utilize quizzes, and automate grading. Integrating Hands-On Learning: Align practical lab equipment with digital lessons, incorporating fault insertion for troubleshooting skills. Develop rotation schedules combining online and hands-on activities. Efficient Lab Management: Optimize resource usage with student teams and clear roles. Implement visual or QR-code tracking systems.
Optics are everywhere! Keene State College is excited to share an overview of new educational and training pathways in the field of precision optics. Starting this fall at KSC is a new one-year certificate program in precision optics, preparing students for high-tech careers that are abundant in the New England area. This program will provide students with a strong foundation on the fundamentals of optics, and also offer hands on opportunities with instrumentation and tools used by the optics industry. Students will learn to use diamond turning machining, thin-film deposition, and metrology tools. 5-Day Professional workshops are also available at KSC for diamond turning machining and metrology. Our presentation will highlight these areas and overview the curriculum, new learning spaces, and benefits to choosing these pathways to find success.
What is Heat-Related Illness? What Are the Numbers – “Do really that many people die from Heat?” How Hot is Too Hot? What are the Signs of Heat injury or illness and Personal Risk Factors How Can Heat-Related Illness Be Prevented? How Businesses Can Create a Heat Illness Prevention Plan Heat Illness Prevention and Young Workers' Safety and Health Resources to Help Educate Teens on the Risks of Excessive Heat and other Workplace Hazards.
Educators have a powerful role to play in preparing students for future careers—especially in the growing clean energy sector. This session explores how clean energy technologies and climate solutions can serve as real-world, interdisciplinary contexts for teaching core academic subjects. Using the Massachusetts Climate Careers: Powering the Future curriculum and other clean energy curriculum resources, participants will explore hands-on lessons, classroom-ready materials, and strategies for embedding career-connected learning into science, math, ELA, and beyond. The session will emphasize how academic instruction can support both content mastery and student awareness of clean energy pathways.
Learning Objectives:
Examine instructional materials that connect classroom learning to real-world climate solutions Identify strategies to integrate career awareness into academic instruction using the context of clean energy Develop cross-disciplinary approaches that link academic content to high-growth career sectors in the clean energy economy
What if every vocational student could graduate with a professional digital presence that helped them get hired?
This session introduces Scaffald --- https://scaffald.com/ --- a free workforce readiness platform built specifically for students entering the trades. Designed in partnership with vocational educators, state agencies, and industry leaders, Scaffald serves as both a reflection tool and a career-launching portfolio. Students use it to document skills, showcase certifications and projects, and connect directly with employers looking to hire talent from CTE programs.
You’ll hear from the founders of Scaffald on how the platform is already being embedded in classrooms, beginning with Essex North Shore Tech. We’ll explore how your school can leverage Scaffald to help students gain confidence, build visibility, and make a seamless transition into co-ops, apprenticeships, and full-time jobs.
At the recent SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Leadership & Skills Conference, Scaffald’s cofounders presented to the MAVA CTE directors group with plans to roll out the platform to all vocational students in MA.
If LinkedIn wasn’t built for tradespeople, Scaffald is. And with it being free for students, we can’t wait to get in their hands!
This presentation helps vocational teachers understand their retirement options under MTRS, including pension benefits, Social Security coordination, and service buybacks. It also emphasizes the importance of saving outside the pension and offers support through Diamond Point Wealth Partners.
The Department of Labor Standards will review strategies that Superintendents, Vocational Directors, and other supervisors can use to effectively manage safety and health issues in the workplace. DLS will also discuss the benefits of using the On-Site Consultation Services Program.
Strategies used in the classroom to promote the ideas used in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) including Engagement, Representation and Action & Expression.
This session will guide educators and school leaders in effectively implementing My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) frameworks to support student success and readiness for postsecondary opportunities. Participants will delve into strategies for aligning MyCAP initiatives with school-wide goals, fostering student agency, and creating individualized, meaningful plans. Through interactive discussions and resource sharing, attendees will explore best practices for engaging students, families, and stakeholders in the planning process and addressing challenges in implementation. High-Order Learning Objectives: Evaluate the essential components of a comprehensive MyCAP framework to ensure alignment with students’ academic, career, and personal goals. Design a scalable MyCAP implementation strategy that leverages data, technology, and stakeholder collaboration to enhance student outcomes. Intended Outcomes for Participants: Gain a clear understanding of how to integrate MyCAP processes into existing school structures to support personalized student planning. Learn practical tools for tracking progress and ensuring continuous improvement in MyCAP implementation.
An overview of literacy strategies that can be used in any classroom to help close equity gaps and prepare students for their future careers and programs of study.
Question, Persuade, and Refer - the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Gatekeepers can be anyone, but this includes all educators who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide. Just as people are trained in CPR, thousands of Americans have been trained in QPR and have saved lives. This presentation will include information specific to supporting our youth. All participants will be emailed a certificate on behalf of the QPR institute following the training.
The "Hawk for a Day" program, hosted at Southeastern Regional, provided junior students from Oliver Ames High School, a comprehensive sending school within our district, with a hands-on opportunity to explore dual enrollment and post-graduation options in the particular trades of interest to them. This interactive career exploration paired the students with mentors from Southeastern (SET) in their chosen vocational fields. We will cover the detailed and structured approach taken during the shadowing experience, highlighting how this collaborative model prepares students for real-world career opportunities. Participants will leave the session with practical strategies and tools to develop similar programs in their own schools, strengthening the connection between comprehensive and CTE education.
In this session, I will share my journey of transforming a traditional Graphic Design curriculum into a full-fledged Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at Salem High School. Beginning with Graphic Design 1 and 2, I expanded the program to incorporate design theory, Adobe certification, Konica Minolta equipment training, large-format printing, lamination, dye sublimation, and an eCommerce platform for real-world order processing.
Attendees will gain insight into the step-by-step process of developing a high-quality, industry-aligned CTE program, including:
-Securing Funding & Resources – Writing and obtaining grants to upgrade Adobe software, Mac lab computers, and acquire professional printing equipment. -Industry Collaboration – Partnering with Konica Minolta and local businesses to equip students with hands-on skills. -Building an eCommerce Platform – A year-long development process with PageDNA to create "Witches’ Ink," a student-run online store that integrates order management and billing. -Curriculum Development – Writing coursework aligned with Massachusetts Visual Communication and Graphic Output standards, proactively adapting to evolving state standards. -Hands-on Learning & Equipment Training – Researching, self-training, and establishing professional workflows, including silk screening with support from local businesses.
This session will provide educators with a roadmap for expanding their own CTE programs, leveraging industry partnerships, and integrating real-world applications to prepare students for careers in graphic design and print production.
Target Audience: CTE educators, administrators, and program directors looking to enhance or develop a Graphic Design & Visual Communication program with strong industry connections and hands-on learning.
Session Format: Presentation with Q&A, featuring real-world examples, curriculum insights, and a discussion on best practices for implementing similar programs in other schools.
Now more than ever, vocational and technical schools have a powerful opportunity to demonstrate leadership in creating learning environments where every student, staff member, and family feels valued and supported. This interactive workshop will focus on practical strategies for affirming and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals across the school community.
Participants will explore: • The current landscape of LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and why visibility and support matter * Ways to implement inclusive policies and practices that align with Massachusetts guidance and the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students * Approaches for engaging families and fostering strong, supportive school–home partnerships * Tools to build educator and staff capacity through professional development and cultural responsiveness
Participants will leave with actionable ideas and resources to help ensure that LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families feel seen, respected, and included in all aspects of school life.
Intended Audience:Vocational and technical educators, administrators, counselors, and support staff committed to creating inclusive, student-centered school communities.
Freshman Exploratory teachers have a short time with each group of students, and it is important to make critical information relative to special learning needs easily accessible and understandable. Through our Exploratory Binders initiative, we have a central place, and consistent procedure, for doing just that. This process facilitates communication about freshman with IEPs and 504s, as well as English language learners, during the exploratory cycles.
In today's diverse classrooms, educators play a pivotal role in shaping the learning environment and fostering student well-being. This session, "Creating Safe Spaces: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Classroom Teachers," is designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills to support students who may have experienced trauma.
Social stigma can impede our ability to connect with others in ways that are fair and meaningful. In order to improve our relationships with community members, we must unpack stigma and examine our biases. In this workshop, participants will discuss the ways in which stereotypes can negatively impact the way people perceive other identities. Participants will examine their own identities and explore the roles that privilege and oppression may have played in their personal experiences. They will also learn how to challenge personal biases against stigmatized groups, and how to navigate different conversations in the classroom.
Session Objectives: • Understand how stigma impacts our relationships • Learn ways to combat our own personal stigma-based biases • Explore our own potential privilege and oppression. • Apply multiple aspects of empathy and bias reduction in our everyday lives
Stop in and connect! Raffle prizes and complimentary appetizers and beverages. The event is free, no RSVP required, and is open to all CFS participants.
