2025 SC Education + Business Summit

Personal Finance is an integral component of career and technical education not only for the students but also for the staff and faculty alike. In addition to personal finance inserts can be inclusive from the business and finance arena.  Participants can benefit   from learning the process of knowing the options to pursuing financial education avenues.

Dr. Shelley Wooley serves the SME Education Foundation as the National Director of Education Programs. In this role, she provides oversight of and directs the execution of SME PRIME® (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education), a national initiative that directly enhances the skilled trades talent pipeline and assists students across the nation strengthen their lifetime employment opportunities. Dr. Wooley has held leadership roles both in higher education as well as K-12, joining the SME Education Foundation six years ago after serving in the lead student affairs officer role for a small Michigan university.

Dr. Wooley supported the development of the present SME PRIME program which partners education with industry to develop manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing modern equipment, tailored curriculum, and a hands-on training experience to students and educators.

This information supports teachers in the CTE cluster of Public Service and Safety. It will provide great new opportunities for students, teachers, schools and communities.

This presentation will allow both educators and administrators an opportunity to hear from the SCDE Office of Educator Services directly. It lets them put a face to a name and open lines of communication between districts and the OES.

This topic is relevant as districts and career centers rely on Perkins and State EIA funding to implement CTE programs. The presenter, with over ten years of experience at SCDE, has extensive experience in monitoring, approving local plans, and handling equipment dispositions.

This is a presentation about evaluation strategies that can be utilized for informal evaluation of STEM programs. Participants will be able to use demonstrated methods immediately in their own settings. Examples will be provided of the use of these methods in actual settings. Presenter is a STEM Education Consultant with considerable experience with Program Evaluation, Grant Management, and Hands On STEM Methods.

Relevance:
Mastery Coding is highly relevant to CTE fields by offering courses that help students develop the technical skills needed for certifications in high-demand careers. Their curriculum supports industry-recognized credentials in fields like computer science, AI, and game development, providing students with practical, career-focused education that prepares them for success in the evolving tech industry.
Value:
1.Engage Students in Coding – Discover innovative strategies to inspire students to embrace coding and computational thinking, making computer science more accessible and engaging.
2.Effective Teaching Methods – Learn how to implement meaningful programming instruction using supportive tools that enhance student learning and teacher facilitation.
3.Pathways to Industry Certifications – Understand how to guide students toward earning multiple industry-based certifications in various technology fields, preparing them for future career opportunities.
Presenter:
Presenter:
Ben O'Gradney is a former educator and a founding member and CSO of Mastery Coding and works to improve the educational marketplace with an emphasis on 21st century delivery systems and curriculum that propel students' achievements. Ben's work has built a strong knowledge of best practice and professional development that moves education toward a focus on standards and technology and their effect on teaching and learning. Through his work Ben has had the opportunity to work closely with the largest to the smallest school districts in the country. He has helped plan, implement and monitor curriculum, professional development and school wide improvement plans that have turned failing schools into some of the top achieving schools in the country.

Relevance:
Academic esports aligns with the Career and Technical Education (CTE) field by providing students with hands-on, career-oriented experiences that foster critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and digital literacy. These competencies directly contribute to emerging careers in technology, game development, and digital media, while offering pathways for students to explore technical and career-focused education in a rapidly evolving industry.
Value:
1) Learn to use esports to prepare students for future careers: Discover how esports programs can cultivate skills that align with emerging job markets.
2) Explore strategies for engaging students in future-ready technology education: Understand how to integrate esports to spark curiosity and build foundational skills in critical areas.
3) Implement methods to support and empower underrepresented students: Use esports to create inclusive opportunities and pathways for diverse populations.
4) 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.

Presenter:
Ben O'Gradney is a former educator and a founding member and CSO of the USAEL/ Mastery Coding and works to improve the educational marketplace with an emphasis on 21st century delivery systems and curriculum that propel students' achievements. Ben's work has built a strong knowledge of best practice and professional development that moves education toward a focus on standards and technology and their effect on teaching and learning. Through his work Ben has had the opportunity to work closely with the largest to the smallest school districts in the country. He has helped plan, implement and monitor curriculum, professional development and school wide improvement plans that have turned failing schools into some of the top achieving schools in the country.

The entire gamification platform is based on Career and Technical Education, in particular Health Sciences, Manufacturing, and Cybersecurity. The participants will have value by learning about case-studies in these in-demand careers and opportunities to provide meaningful and engaging resources for their students. Brian Day is the Director of Learning Experiences at SCETV, whose main roles include overseeing, creating, and implementing professional development for all educators. He is a former public school educator. Tina Zwolinski is the CEO and Co-founder of skillsgapp, the first to offer location-based career gaming apps – Skillionaire Games – focused on growing a more vetted entry-level talent pool to meet industry’s greatest workforce needs.

Electronic resources included in the Discus library--Fergusons Career Guidance Center, Learning Express Library, Tutor.com, Learn360, and World Almanac for Kids: Careers--allow students access to career planning information, tools, and guidance relevant to all fields. These resources are provided to all South Carolinians free of charge. Presenter is a member of the Discus Training Team at the SC State Library.

Part of this industry relates to Commercial Driving and obtaining a CDL license or Heavy Equipment Diesel Mechanics

How to obtain a CDL without having to pay for additional training/school; become a Diesel Mechanic with minimal expense or work on the loading docks which is essential to everything we do.

I have worked in the industry for 29 yrs at Averitt

Yes, Yes, Yes

This session is very relevant to every CTE cluster as a recruitment strategy. The exposure provided from this session will prove immensely valuable to School Counselors, Career Center Directors, and District CTE Directors as they embark on simple initiatives that students will deem highly motivating. The presenter is a 25-year veteran in CTE and has worked in multiple regions of the Palmetto State.

Relevance to the CTE Field:
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is at the forefront of preparing students for the 21st-century workforce, but many programs struggle to align with emerging industry needs. This session directly addresses how to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and career pathways by integrating real-world skills, industry certifications, and hands-on experiences into CTE programs. By focusing on high-demand STEM fields, this session empowers educators and administrators with strategies to ensure students graduate career-ready, not just diploma-ready.

Value to Participants:
Actionable Strategies– Learn practical ways to align CTE with workforce needs, ensuring students are equipped for success.
Industry & Education Partnerships – Discover how to **forge meaningful connections with businesses, securing internships, certifications, and funding.
Innovative Teaching Methods – Explore hands-on, project-based learning techniques that increase student engagement and retention.
Student Impact – Walk away with a roadmap to create clear, structured career pathways that lead to employment, entrepreneurship, or further education.

Attendees will leave with proven strategies, ready-to-use resources, and a fresh perspective on how to transform their CTE programs into powerful career-building engines.

The CERT program aligns closely with the goals of Career and Technical Education (CTE) by fostering critical skills in emergency response, public safety, and community service. Many CTE fields, including healthcare, public safety, and human services, require a solid foundation in disaster preparedness and crisis management. Participants will gain an understanding of the CERT program’s mission and learn essential disaster response skills, including basic medical aid, fire safety, and team organization. These skills not only improve personal preparedness but also enhance participants’ professional competencies in safety and emergency management. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to get involved in CERT, fostering a sense of empowerment and civic responsibility while opening opportunities for networking and collaboration with local emergency response teams.