Connecting for Success

Session Spotlight: The Creative Edge: Connecting AI, Coding, and the Future of Work

As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries from manufacturing and construction to healthcare, agriculture, and IT, today's students need more than technical knowledge—they need the skills to adapt, innovate, and solve complex problems.

Join JFY Networks for an engaging session exploring how AI is reshaping the role of coding and making computational thinking an essential skill across career pathways. Discover how accessible AI tools and emerging approaches like "vibe coding" can help students strengthen creativity, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills while preparing for the evolving demands of the modern workforce.

Learn practical strategies and classroom-ready tools that can help your students make the Skill Shift and thrive in the careers of tomorrow.

Exhibitor Spotlight 🌟: Technology Education Concepts (TEC)! For more than 30 years, TEC has been empowering businesses, educators, and students with innovative 3D manufacturing solutions and hands-on teaching labs. As a family-owned company based in Concord, NH, TEC is dedicated to preparing the next generation of skilled professionals through immersive learning experiences in engineering, design, manufacturing, and architecture.

Whether you're an educator or industry professional, stop by TEC's booth at to discover how their advanced technologies are helping students develop the skills needed for tomorrow's trades and technical careers.

Announcing the Exhibit Hall vendors! 🌟 One of the highlights of the Connecting for Success Conference is the opportunity to connect with the organizations, businesses, and industry leaders helping shape the future of education and workforce development. From innovative classroom solutions and cutting-edge technology to industry partnerships and career-connected learning resources, our bring valuable insights and tools to support and students alike.

Be sure to spend time in the Exhibit Hall to discover new ideas, build meaningful connections, and learn how our partners are helping make the Skill Shift: Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's Trades a reality.

Presenter Spotlight: Amanda Miller, The Katie Brown Educational Program

Join Amanda Miller of the Katie Brown Educational Program for an important and impactful session: Responding to Student Disclosures of Domestic & Sexual Violence.

When a student shares an experience of abuse or violence, educators are often among the first trusted adults they turn to. This session will provide practical guidance on recognizing signs of domestic and sexual violence in adolescents, responding with compassion and confidence, understanding the effects of trauma, and balancing supportive conversations with mandated .

Through a presentation-based, discussion-driven approach, attendees will gain valuable tools to help students feel seen, supported, and safe while navigating some of the most challenging conversations that can occur in a school setting.

Session Spotlight! From Classroom to Career: Scaling Certification Success and Breaking the "Inflexible Curriculum" Cycle – A Modern Approach to CTE & Certifications

Join Matthew O'Brien of Savvas Learning for an engaging discussion on how schools can CTE programs, expand industry-recognized opportunities, and better align classroom learning with needs. Discover strategies for creating flexible, career-connected pathways that support student success across a wide range of fields, from Agriculture and Health Services to Information Technology, Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, and beyond. Learn how approaches to and credentialing can help prepare students for the demands of tomorrow's workforce.

Session Spotlight! Before the Tool Enters the Room: An Educator-Centered Policy Framework for AI Adoption in Massachusetts Schools and Districts

As rapidly enters classrooms across Massachusetts, how can educators ensure these tools support equity, , and leadership? Join the Co-Chair of the School of Education at UMass Dartmouth as they introduce the Four Lenses Framework, a practical approach for evaluating AI through the lenses of Human Development, Equity & Justice, Relational Primacy, and Teacher Agency. This thought-provoking session offers school and district leaders a roadmap for making informed, equitable decisions about AI adoption.

Exhibitor Spotlight: Bio-Rad Laboratories – Advancing Science, Inspiring Future Innovators

Meet Bio-Rad Laboratories a global leader in life science research and clinical diagnostics. For more than 70 years, Bio-Rad Laboratories has developed innovative technologies, products, and solutions that support scientific discovery, improve healthcare, and help researchers and educators make an impact.

As we embrace this year's theme, Skill Shift: Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's Trades, Bio-Rad exemplifies the connection between classroom learning and high-demand careers in biotechnology, healthcare, laboratory sciences, and research. Through cutting-edge tools and educational resources, Bio-Rad helps students develop the technical knowledge, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in the workforce of tomorrow.

Visit the Bio-Rad Laboratories booth in the exhibitor hall at to learn how science education and workforce development come together to prepare the next generation of innovators.

We have a winner! 🎉 Congratulations to Trevor Hodgson, a student at Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District, for winning the 2026 Connecting for Success (CFS) Logo Contest!

Trevor’s design brings this year’s theme—Skill Shift: Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Trades—to life, capturing the of students as they grow into , professionals.

His creativity, dedication, and attention to detail stood out among 48 submissions from across the state.

We’re proud to showcase Trevor’s work as the official logo for the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators 2026 CFS Conference!

We’re proud to announce our first official sponsors for the 2026 Conference! 🎉

A special thank you to our lead sponsor, Energy Efficient Investments, for their outstanding support and commitment to our mission.

We’re also excited to partner with:
• Earth Forward Group
• Fitchburg State University
• ICEV

These organizations are helping make this year’s conference possible—and there’s still room for you to join them.

Become a sponsor to showcase your brand, connect with industry leaders, and support the next generation of innovation.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MAVA1/MAVA2026ConnectingForSuccessSponsorshipOpportunities

Now Open: Registration for CFS 2026!

Sign up now for the 2026 Connecting for Success Conference and be part of the conversations shaping the future of CTE.

📅 June 29–30 at Assabet Tech in Marlborough, MA!

See you there!