2025 SC Education + Business Summit

Debbie Sweat began her teaching career in Gulfport, Mississippi in August 2000. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Technology Education from the University of Southern Miss, her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from William Carey University, and is currently taking classes working on her Doctor of Education Degree in Learning Design & Technology from the University of South Carolina.

Debbie moved to South Carolina with her husband, Wade, in June of 2020. She currently teaches Personal Finance and Fundamentals of Web Page Design & Development at Blythewood High in Blythewood, SC. She is co- advisor of Blythewood High School’s DECA chapter with over 95 members. She is an active member in ACTE, CSTA, CSTA SC, NBEA, and SCBEA.

Debbie is a Master Teacher of Personal Finance, Master Teacher of Economics, and Master Teacher of Entrepreneurship (all earned in MS) and is a member of Cohort 5 for the South Carolina Financial Literacy Master Teacher Program. She is W!SE certified, ESB certified, IC3 certified, Microsoft Office Specialist certified, and Google Educator certified Levels 1 and Level 2.

Debbie is the proud mother of three grown children, Robert (wife Carolyn, son Michael), Amanda (husband Leslie, sons Levi and Noah), and Christian (fiancé Jackie); who sadly all still live in Mississippi. Debbie’s heart is owned by her perfect grandsons, Levi (July 2021), Michael (January 2022) and Noah (February 2024).

Music and Art integration can assist the educator in providing students a high quality and engaging education. Students love real world learning and for them that can mean for some of them learning through music can help the learner develop a deeper understanding of the identified learning material. Both presenters have numerous years in the field of education. David Breland is a music educator with experience in all grade levels in k-12 education. He has a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as in Music Education. In addition to his job as a music educator he has participated in numerous plays and musicals. He also instructs students in individual learning sessions through Music and Arts. William Smyly is a Business Educator with a focus on Financial Education. William has taught various business courses throughout his career. He has an MBA and has his PBL and Online Teaching Endorsement. He is also a graduate of the SCFLMT program.

In the CTE field, educators need to be able to have uninterrupted and large amounts of instructional time to be able to get the information to the students. They need time to focus on the instruction and not lose time managing low level behaviors. This session will give them strategies that will help manage and diffuse behaviors that take away this valuable time. Teaching time goes up, and learning increases.

Relevance to the CTE field: This session aligns with the goals of Career and Technical Education (CTE) by providing strategies to expose students to various career pathways early in their education. By integrating career exploration into middle school classrooms, educators can help students make informed decisions about their future academic and career choices.

Value to Participants: Attendees will gain practical insights into how career exploration can be implemented effectively in the classroom using digital tools and interactive learning methods. Educators will leave with actionable strategies to engage students, foster career readiness, and leverage available resources to enhance learning experiences.

Presenter Knowledge and Experience: Lauren Duris brings extensive experience in STEM and career education, supporting educators in implementing career exploration tools. Jewel Moses, a seasoned career exploration teacher, has successfully integrated these strategies into her classroom, providing firsthand insights into their impact. Together, they offer a well-rounded perspective on career readiness in middle school education.

The topic will provide information and strategies for educators to build a learning culture through process-based thinking. The value to participants will help them tap into their creative and innovative side to create memorable learning experiences. Those experiences could help translate to their teaching pedagogy. I have been an educator for 14 years: four years as a teacher and two and a half years as a trainer/facilitator.

As the 2024 SC CCR ELA Standards are implemented across educational settings, it is imperative for CTE instructors to understand the relationship between literacy skills and students’ success in the workforce. Our sessions will focus on how the new standards integrate essential literacy competencies with CTE curricula, thereby supporting CTE teachers in fostering an environment where students not only gain technical expertise but also develop the critical reading, writing, and communication skills needed for success in postsecondary education and the modern workforce.
The 2024 SC CCR ELA Standards emphasize the development of key literacy skills—such as reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and effective communication—that are essential across all career pathways. CTE instructors often teach students who are at various levels of literacy development, and integrating these standards into CTE instruction provides a clear, actionable framework for improving student outcomes in both technical and academic areas.
By attending this session, CTE teachers will gain a deeper understanding of how the new standards can be woven into their existing curricula. They will learn practical strategies for incorporating literacy instruction that aligns with their industry-specific content, helping students bridge the gap between technical skills and the soft skills required by employers. This integration is not only relevant but necessary for ensuring that students are truly prepared for success in the workforce or in further academic pursuits.
Our sessions will also highlight strategies for embedding literacy across all CTE content areas, with a focus on real-world applications. From interpreting technical manuals to crafting professional emails or delivering presentations, the integration of literacy standards into CTE classrooms enhances students’ readiness for both higher education and their careers. These competencies are critical to student success and will contribute to the overall mission of Career and Technical Education to prepare students for life after high school, whether they choose to enter the workforce directly or pursue further education.

This session offers participants a unique opportunity to enhance their ability to prepare students for real-world STEM careers by providing access to resources, training, and industry connections. Here’s why educators and school counselors should attend:

Access to Industry-Leading Resources: Participants will learn how to use Discovery Education's STEM career resources available through the SC Department of Education Instruction Hub. These tools are designed to engage students with interactive and multimedia-rich lessons, making career exploration exciting and accessible.

Career Connect Preview: Attendees will get an exclusive look at Career Connect, launching in August 2025. This feature will allow educators to schedule virtual classroom visits with professionals, bringing industry insights directly to students and enriching their understanding of STEM careers.

Hands-On Industry Collaboration: The session highlights the collaboration with NUCOR Steel Mill and the Design Team Project. Educators will gain first-hand knowledge from industry leaders about the skills and career opportunities within manufacturing and other STEM fields. This partnership offers a rare opportunity to develop lessons with professionals to better prepare students for future careers.

Real-World Lesson Development: Participants will learn how to design career-focused lessons, developed in collaboration with industry professionals, that reflect the needs of South Carolina’s local workforce. Educators will walk away with practical, ready-to-implement lesson plans that can inspire students to explore careers in high-demand industries like manufacturing and engineering.

Technology touches all areas of CTE. Helping our schools find a more effective way to teach the required courses and knowing that it has to start in the early grades is very important for our state. We were the first to require a CS credit but its time to re-evaluate how effective it really is for preparing our student for the future careers. I feel all CS and STEM related educators need to hear the success we are having but also how it is time for a change in focus for Computer Science in our state.

20 years in education with 4 years at Assistant Director of CTE in Lexington School District One. Coordinator of STEM and Computer Science for grades K-12.

As the 2024 SC CCR ELA Standards are implemented across educational settings, it is imperative for CTE instructors to understand the relationship between literacy skills and students’ success in the workforce. Our sessions will focus on how the new standards integrate essential literacy competencies with CTE curricula, thereby supporting CTE teachers in fostering an environment where students not only gain technical expertise but also develop the critical reading, writing, and communication skills needed for success in postsecondary education and the modern workforce.
The 2024 SC CCR ELA Standards emphasize the development of key literacy skills—such as reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and effective communication—that are essential across all career pathways. CTE instructors often teach students who are at various levels of literacy development, and integrating these standards into CTE instruction provides a clear, actionable framework for improving student outcomes in both technical and academic areas.
By attending this session, CTE teachers will gain a deeper understanding of how the new standards can be woven into their existing curricula. They will learn practical strategies for incorporating literacy instruction that aligns with their industry-specific content, helping students bridge the gap between technical skills and the soft skills required by employers. This integration is not only relevant but necessary for ensuring that students are truly prepared for success in the workforce or in further academic pursuits.
Our sessions will also highlight strategies for embedding literacy across all CTE content areas, with a focus on real-world applications. From interpreting technical manuals to crafting professional emails or delivering presentations, the integration of literacy standards into CTE classrooms enhances students’ readiness for both higher education and their careers. These competencies are critical to student success and will contribute to the overall mission of Career and Technical Education to prepare students for life after high school, whether they choose to enter the workforce directly or pursue further education.

Relevance to the CTE Field:
Workplace safety is a critical skill across all career pathways, and industry-recognized credentials help students stand out in a competitive job market. CareerSafe’s OSHA 10-Hour training aligns seamlessly with Career and Technical Education (CTE) by equipping students with essential safety knowledge tailored to their industry. This program supports CTE’s mission of preparing students for success by providing real-world, job-ready skills that employers value.

Value to Participants:
Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating OSHA 10-Hour training into their classrooms without adding extra workload. They’ll learn how this student-driven, self-paced program enhances employability, engages learners, and meets industry safety standards. Educators will also hear success stories from schools that have successfully implemented the program and walk away with actionable insights to help their students graduate with both a diploma and a valuable credential.

Presenter Knowledge and Experience:
As a former teacher, principal, and district administrator, I understand firsthand the challenges educators face in preparing students for the workforce while balancing curriculum demands. My experience in both education and workforce development has allowed me to support schools in implementing CareerSafe’s OSHA 10-Hour training in a way that benefits both students and educators. I am passionate about equipping students with the knowledge and credentials they need to enter the workforce safely and successfully.

Session participants will learn about the many initiatives the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Workforce Development is undertaking to better connect K-20 education in the state to establish a more coherent, understandable, and efficient educational system that allows South Carolina to better prepare a future resilient workforce and increase economic development.

Relevance: Updates from the South Carolina Department of Education. Value: Will prepare participants for changes taking place because of current trends. Presenter Knowledge and Experience: I am the SCDE Program Team Lead who manages the dual credit offerings with the program education associates, and whose responsibility is to keep abreast of current trends and inform the CTE administrators and teachers.

Ashley Caldwell has been a dedicated Territory Manager at Certiport for over 11 years, significantly contributing to the company's growth and success. During his 11 years at Certiport is has been privileged to service the schools of South Carolina. He is an alumnus of Weber State University.

This session will focus on industry certifications. The attendees will learn about the available certifications, how to implement a program at their school, and available college credit.

Ashley Caldwell has been a Territory Manager at Certiport for over 11 years. During his 11 years at Certiport is has been privileged to service the schools of South Carolina. He is an alumnus of Weber State University.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a free federal government resource utilized by most every public school in South Carolina and many private, charter, and homeschool organizations. The value to participants is to become acclimated to the Career Exploration Program site and get a better understanding of the utility of the site. Another benefit is for students attaining a 31 or higher on the ASVAB, the student would meet one of the CCR indicators for the state of South Carolina. Carolyn Pastor is an experienced School Counselor and Global Career Development Facilitator in Dorchester County 2 Schools with a diverse and rich experience. Mrs. Pastor is also a certified ASVAB Career Exploration Program Post-Test Interpretation facilitator. Scott Burgess is the Program Director for the ASVAB Career Exploration Program and previously worked in secondary and higher education.

Relevance of the topic to the CTE field: The critical role of CTE courses and instructors has never been more valuable, and they have a unique opportunity to increase academic skills and build student confidence and voice as we design top-notch schools moving forward.

Value to participants: This session provides teachers across any CTE course with a few highly relevant tips and strategies to improve student reading and math skills. It will be engaging and useful.


Presenter knowledge and experience. Dr. Evans is a former Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Chief Academic Officer. He supports schools in building highly relevant, cross-disciplinary, integrated curriculum models. His first book on instructional best practices debuted in 2019, and his follow up guidebook and commentary for making learning more hands-on and relevant is set for release in 2025. He is a long-time teacher and trainer. Some of the comments from a recent session included: “Amazing,” “Engaging and informative,” “Dr. Evans did a great job. Loved his humor!” and “Fantastic speaker. Funny, energetic, and sincere.”