2025 SC Education + Business Summit

CTE instructors need easy and equitable ways to regularly measure student progress and reclaim time.  Presenter has 8 years of teaching experience after 15+ years in professional foodservice.

The session is relevant to CTE field as it integrates STEAM subjects with media arts, providing a modern approach to career development. By focusing on content creation skills such as videography, photography, and podcasting, the session aligns with CTE's goal of equipping students with practical, career-ready skills.

Participants will gain valuable insights into developing engaging career development curricula using media arts. They will learn how to teach critical thinking, communication, collaboration, time management, problem-solving, and digital literacy. Additionally, the session will offer strategies for connecting students with professionals, providing real-world career guidance and enhancing students' readiness for various career paths.

Presenter is the current Career Counseling Director (SCOIS) with SCDE and has over 12 years of experience work with youth and special populations in all aspects of career development and rehabilitation counseling.

Relevance: Virtual work-based learning for all students to have access to opportunities

Value: qualified mentorship for districts to report out

Presenter: Megan has worked with SC schools and districts for the past 2 years and has been a teacher and instructional coach. She is passionate about every student finding meaningful connections to their future.

School counselors often receive transfer students who have CTE and other courses that are not available at their school. Deciding which course titles and course codes to use from the SCDE's course code database and which courses mid-year transfers can continue is daunting. In my 8 years of reviewing and transcribing transcripts, I know the tips to help ease their burden and will provide guidelines for immediate use.

Paxton Patterson College & Career Labs align with CTE standards and focus on real-world skills such as hands-on learning, career exploration, soft skills and career research. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that are included in the student labs. Participants will see how Paxton Patterson brings the “sit and learn” sessions of core academics to life through engagement. Participants will also learn how Paxton Patterson can become yet another tool used for remediation and career exploration at the middle levels.

Extremely relevant for CTE fields.

Experiential learning for students to learn financial literacy through simulations and a hands on platform.

Many years of experience in personal finance and presentation experience.

I have been an educator of primarily "at-risk" students my entire career, and I have developed a research-based curriculum that all students need to prepare them for the real world. It is relevant to the CTE field because students explore their career options and learn where they can seek the training they need for their chosen career.

This presentation provides a hands-on, use these free tools immediately to create the ideal settings for young people to build their skills both in and out of the academic setting. The fast paced training is specifically designed for CTE practitioners to learn, observe, and implement each of these strategies, techniques, and resources to develop programs that are based on effective youth engagement. When young people are able to find safety (physical, emotional, cultural) in their environment, they are more likely to not only sustain their attendance/involvement, and in turn, increase their CTE skillsets.

Everyday value to all CTE stakeholders.

25 years in CTE: 10 as a teachers, 10 as assistant director, and 7 as CTE Director. (2 overlapping as teacher/administrator)

Relevance to the CTE Field:

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.

The value and relevance to participants will be to gain knowledge on how this program has been vital to our students' success in all careers. The presenter, Rania P. Thompson has been sponsoring this program for four years at Woodland High School, Dorchester, SC. She is certified as a Career Specialist and a Global Career Development Facilitator. She has a Master's Degree in Physical Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.

Relevance of the Topic to the CTE Field:
The topic directly addresses the growing need for educator wellness, which is essential to creating positive, supportive learning environments in CTE classrooms. Educators play a pivotal role in shaping students' futures, and their emotional health is critical to their ability to effectively engage, motivate, and guide students. By focusing on journaling as a tool for emotional health, this session provides a practical, accessible strategy to help educators prioritize their own well-being, ultimately improving their capacity to support students.

Value to Participants:
This workshop will equip educators with the tools to manage stress, reflect on their emotional health, and develop strategies for maintaining balance in their personal and professional lives. Journaling offers a simple yet powerful way to process emotions, prevent burnout, and foster resilience. By integrating wellness practices into their daily routine, participants will experience enhanced emotional clarity, better self-awareness, and a stronger sense of purpose in their teaching—benefiting both their professional growth and their students' success.

Presenter Knowledge and Experience:
As a former social worker, grief recovery specialist, and journaling/life coach, I have a deep understanding of the emotional challenges that educators face. With experience in coaching and leading wellness programs, I specialize in guiding individuals through reflective practices that promote emotional well-being. I have worked with various groups, including educators, to help them prioritize self-care and integrate it into their routines for lasting impact. My expertise in journaling as a tool for personal growth will empower participants to incorporate effective wellness practices into their daily lives.

Employability skills are important to ALL CTE areas. The information provided is of great value as it shows how these skills are currently being used in CTE programs at the career center that I teach. The participants are able to take the information presented and apply it to their classrooms. Participants will be provided with examples of how it has been used in current classrooms and how students have improved on the skills because of the grading. They will also be provided with examples of how the presenter has used it in their classroom for the last 6 school years with ways it has helped students. The presenter will also provide images of the rubric they use and how it is used for grading purposes along with feedback given to the student on their performance for a weekly basis.