2025 ISBE Career Connections Conference

Navigating the landscape of industry-recognized certifications can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many options. Join us to learn about the role and value of certifications and how you can empower your students on their journey. Discover the most in demand industry-recognized certifications, explore resources for seamless classroom implementation, and see how you can set your students up for success.  Whether your students are stepping into a career or pursuing further education, certifications hold great value to their future.

In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, a valuable credential recognizing students’ bilingual skills. We will explore how school districts can integrate students’ bilingual abilities and world language studies into CTE programs. By aligning CTE with bilingualism, districts can create unique opportunities that promote bilingual career pathways, helping students stand out in an increasingly diverse, global, and competitive workforce. This session will highlight the benefits of bilingualism in CTE, offering strategies for administrators to enhance their programs and prepare students for successful, bilingual careers.

In this session, Colleen will introduce educators to Learning Blade, a free resource accessible to all schools in Illinois, specifically designed to engage students with real-world missions and career pathways in STEM. Colleen will demonstrate how Learning Blade connects classroom learning to real-world challenges, helping students see how their academic skills directly relate to STEM careers. Through online lessons and offline hands-on activities, Learning Blade exposes students to a wide variety of STEM careers, helping them understand how their skills and interests align with real-world opportunities. With her background in equity-focused education, Colleen will show how Learning Blade helps make STEM careers accessible to historically underrepresented populations. Funded in Illinois by a collaboration with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base and BlueForge Alliance, Colleen will also demonstrate how Learning Blade can support Illinois students in exploring career opportunities in the state’s submarine manufacturing sector.

In today’s classrooms, addressing students’ social-emotional needs is just as important as academic instruction. This workshop will equip educators with the knowledge and strategies to foster emotional well-being, build resilience, and create a supportive learning environment.