2026 ISBE Career Connections Conference

Join the Learning Technology Center (LTC) as we introduce you to free and low-cost services and support available to all K-12 educators and districts. Partially funded by the Illinois State Board of Education, the LTC helps districts, schools, and educators harness the power of technology to empower student learning. This session will provide resources to address specific technical needs in a variety of CTE areas and will also address implementing CTE across the content areas. The LTC provides a wide range of services, including custom professional learning for staff, consulting, and district planning on topics like technology integration, computer science, and makerspaces and manages The LTC Purchasing Program can help districts simplify the procurement process and save money. Whether your classroom focus is in a particular CTE area or you are a district leader, this session will equip you with the knowledge to enhance technology-enhanced teaching and learning for your whole organization.

Delivering high-quality instruction in Law and Public Safety CTE—and across all CTE pathways—requires more than good intentions. The Fives is a field-tested instructional framework that brings clarity, balance, and consistency to lesson and unit design. Built from more than 40 years of experience in education and workforce preparation, The Fives distills proven teaching and learning practices into five essential components that anchor effective instruction in any setting.
In this engaging, practical session, participants will explore each of the five components through real classroom examples, ready-to-use strategies, and adaptable tools. While grounded in law and public safety instruction, The Fives is intentionally designed to work across CTE areas including health sciences, skilled trades, STEM, and human services. Whether you are a new instructor or a seasoned educator, you will leave with a flexible model that strengthens engagement, improves student outcomes, and brings intentional structure to every unit you teach.

Join Dr. Lindsey Jensen, 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year, and Jill Haacke as they describe how they are strengthening the Educator Pipeline in Illinois, building bridges between Educators Rising Illinois, IEA Aspiring Ed, and IEA Early Career. Topics include utilizing Teacher Leaders, strengthening educator pathways, capitalizing on partnerships, and growing future educators.

Participants will explore how intentional assessment design can enhance student learning, reflection, and post-secondary readiness in a Work-Based Learning program. Presenters will share a comprehensive framework of formative and summative assessments—including weekly discussions, weekly WBL logs, dual credit coursework, mock interviews, and end-of-experience reflections—that support both skill development and self-awareness. Attendees will gain practical strategies for aligning assessments to ISBE's Essential Cross-Sector Employability Skills while also incorporating employer feedback and fostering meaningful student reflection. This session will help WBL educators create assessment systems that measure progress, encourage self-reflection, and drive continuous student growth toward post-secondary readiness.

Imagine a course where students earn college credit, fulfill Illinois Consumer Education requirements, build financial literacy, and manage a real business—all before graduation. AP Business with Personal Finance, part of College Board’s new Career Kickstart initiative, makes it possible.
This flexible course can be implemented within a CTE pathway or offered as an elective, integrating seamlessly with school-based enterprises to give students authentic experience in marketing, budgeting, operations, and leadership. Learn how it boosts engagement, aligns with ISBE standards, and prepares students for college, career, and life. Participants will leave with implementation strategies, alignment tools, and inspiration to expand access to rigorous, career-connected learning across Illinois high schools.