This topic bridges the gap between athletic mental health and career and technical education by showcasing how mental health support systems can integrate with career pathways, workforce development, and academic disciplines. It emphasizes leveraging athletics to provide the life lessons and real-world skills often touted as the benefits of sports participation, ensuring these ideals are intentionally realized. This approach can engage a highly motivated and hard-working population, fostering growth for students of all ages and abilities, both on and off the field.
Value to Participants:
This session offers a unique and innovative perspective by connecting athletic mental health support directly with career development and life skills, an approach that is not commonly explored. Participants will gain actionable, cutting-edge strategies to implement programs that intentionally combine well-being support with career readiness. Through real-world examples and collaborative discussions, attendees will learn to create impactful, integrated programs that deliver a holistic and forward-thinking approach to student-athlete development, setting this model apart from traditional methods.
Presenter Knowledge and Experience:
Dr. David Schary is a professor, mental health counselor, and Director of Mental Health and Performance for Winthrop Athletics. He brings a unique combination of academic, clinical, and applied expertise. His work focuses on intentionally aligning the life lessons often associated with sports - such as resilience, teamwork, and leadership - with meaningful career pathways and mental health support systems, ensuring these ideals are not left to chance but embedded in practice. Dr. Schary’s approach is designed to engage a highly motivated and hardworking population, empowering students of all ages and abilities to thrive in all areas of their lives. As an advocate for athlete development and mental health, he is committed to fostering well-rounded, mentally strong individuals both in athletics and beyond.
Larry Dubow has a BS in Marketing and has held several executive positions in technology firms. He is currently Chief Marketing Officer for Lobaki, Inc., a VR supplier to education for nearly ten years.
Lobaki has a CTE catalog with over 400 VR experiences to enhance technical education.
Exposure to how VR simulations can improve CTE with immersions into many technical fields.
As an industry professional it is difficult to transition to the classroom, especially with no formal training. The goal is to share the same as well as new information to the next group of industry educators to ensure the continued existence of CTE.
I have been in education for over 30 years and am truly passionate about students getting equal opportunities across the state. I have been a CTE Director in a school district for the past 2 years but have always worked in the CTE area. I have had several positions within the public school system.
Relevance to the CTE Field: Career and Technical Education (CTE) equips learners with the skills needed for successful careers, and financial literacy is a crucial part of this readiness. By integrating personal finance education into CTE programs, this workshop supports educators in preparing students for real-world challenges. It empowers students to make informed financial decisions as they transition into the workforce and helps professionals strengthen their financial stability as they advance in their careers. This alignment with CTE’s focus on practical, career-focused learning enhances both personal and professional outcomes.
Value to Participants: For Educators: Gain resources and strategies to teach financial literacy within CTE curricula, enhancing students’ preparedness for life beyond the classroom.
For Students: Build essential financial skills—from budgeting to investing—that complement technical training and promote independence and confidence in managing money.
For Professionals: Learn practical financial strategies that support career growth, from understanding banking services to making smart investment decisions for long-term stability.
Presenter: Personal Finance Teacher. Doctorate in Educational Administration, Business & Management background. 11 years teaching experience including higher education and secondary education
AI is transforming education, offering teachers and students smarter ways to learn and engage with content. This session is highly relevant to Career & Technical Education (CTE) as it equips educators with cutting-edge AI strategies to enhance learning experiences. Attendees will gain hands-on knowledge of AI study tools, learn how to create custom GPTs, and discover practical applications for the classroom. Presenter Sharon B. Easterling, MHA, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CRC, FAHIMA, brings extensive expertise in AI and education, having trained thousands of professionals in integrating AI into learning and professional development.
