The EdVenture Group

10/07/2026

SPARK WV – Innovation Through Competitions

📅 October 19, 2026
⏰ 3:15 PM

Presented by Sarah Wamsley, Coordinator with the WVDE Office of Career Technical Education, and Kim Zirk, Program Manager with The EdVenture Group, this session will showcase how SPARK WV helps students develop entrepreneurship, innovation, and real-world problem-solving skills through statewide competitions. Educators will leave with ideas and resources to foster entrepreneurial thinking in their own programs.

Register today, https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wv-acte-106884030301?msockid=0e8ff9658d3365ec3394ef018c1d64e2, and join us as we continue building brilliance across West Virginia!

10/06/2026

The WVFEC team recently connected with more than 450 student support professionals at the 2026 Student Support Conference! 🙌

We led three sessions on family engagement:
👀 Shifting Our Perspectives: Seeing Family Engagement Differently
Rethinking the role families play in student success.

🤝 Creating the Conditions for Partnership: Building Family Engagement Differently
Setting the stage for real, two-way partnerships.

🧩 Doing Family Engagement Differently: Designing for Capacity
Practical ways to build capacity for families and educators.

Thank you to the West Virginia Department of Education for the opportunity, and to everyone who joined a session or stopped by to chat. Your questions and ideas keep this work moving forward across West Virginia! 💙

10/03/2026

Join us in celebrating EdV President Kayla Benson's birthday today! 🥳❤️

Kayla is incredibly caring, passionate, and the kind of leader who makes everyone around her feel supported. She believes in people, and you can see it in how she shows up for our team, our partners, and the families and communities we serve every day.

Today, we're celebrating the amazing person she is and the impact she makes every day. Kayla, thank you for the heart, vision, and care you bring to our work. Happy birthday! 🎉

10/02/2026

Join us for a virtual REL COP Coffee Chat with Dr. Lydotta M. Taylor, our Founder and President Emeritus of The EdVenture Group and founder of L-evation.

📅 October 8th
🕦 11:30 am ET
💻 Virtual

Bring your questions, your challenges, or just your own expertise to share. This is a chance to problem-solve together with Lydotta and fellow CoP members around the work that matters most to you.

Grab a coffee and join here: https://sri.zoomgov.com/j/1652741750?pwd=NU0HAORrYGbav7mXsHWxOeLvUaoaH8.1&from=addon

09/30/2026

Grab a cup of coffee and catch up with us! ☕

This month's newsletter has the latest from our team, a few updates we're excited to share, and a reminder that today is the last day to apply for opportunities. Don't miss it! 📝❤️

Read the full newsletter:

We still have opportunities open for educators, students, and schools across West Virginia. Here's a quick look, full details and applications are on our website.

09/29/2026

Last call! 3 opportunities close TOMORROW (September 30) ⏰

There's still time to apply for one of these programs with us:

🎯 CLEAR CoP: A career readiness community of practice for middle school educators. $500 stipend.

🛠️ ELEVATE CTE: A statewide PLC for CTE educators. $500 stipend.

💡 Student Innovators: Mentorship and innovation projects for high school students.

Learn more and apply at theedventuregroup.org/fall-2026-opportunities

Applications are due by September 30. Don't wait, apply today! 📣 Tag an educator or student who should see this.

09/25/2026

We had a great time presenting three sessions and connecting with folks during the 2026 Student Support Conference! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to talk family engagement with us. 🎉

09/23/2026

Calling all West Virginia CTE educators! Applications for ELEVATE CTE are open through September 30. 📝🚀

Join a statewide virtual learning community from October to March, connect with colleagues, and earn a $500 stipend for completing the program.

Details and application: https://theedventuregroup.org/career-readiness/elevate-cte/

Applications are open for ELEVATE CTE! Elevate your teaching. Connect with educators across the state.

ELEVATE CTE is a statewide professional learning community that empowers career and technical educators to design more engaging, student-centered learning experiences. Through collaboration, coaching, and practical innovation strategies, educators strengthen classroom instruction while preparing students for future careers.

📌 Who: West Virginia high school CTE educators
📌 What: Virtual professional learning community with interactive sessions, collaborative learning, and classroom implementation
📌 When: October 2026 to March 2027 (virtual)
📌 Incentive: $500 stipend for successful completion
📌 Apply by: September 30, 2026 (notifications by October 2)

Check out the flyer for all the details, and apply today! https://theedventuregroup.org/career-readiness/elevate-cte/

09/22/2026

Time is running out to apply for Student Innovators! ⏰

This program pairs high school students with industry mentors for hands-on innovation projects across Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Hospitality & Tourism, Grow Your Own, Social Services, and Manufacturing pathways.👩‍💼Students earn a $500 stipend, mentors earn $200.

Applications close September 30, learn more and apply here: https://theedventuregroup.org/entrepreneurship-education/student-innovators/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUfc7hwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXgwSDdVeG12dEZFSlFIYUtzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEew5sM1yX5pxw9c4mUObKL6iCHm46sqh073cspLR1-fyhZWXF1CB5t61Mhyfs_aem_lSroX2GKxjaEqHMyGe07wA

Applications for Student Innovators close September 30!

Student Innovators connects high school students with industry mentors and authentic, community-based innovation that develops creativity, collaboration, and career-ready skills. Participants tackle real-world challenges while building leadership and professional experience.

📌 Who: High school students and adult mentors in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Hospitality & Tourism, Grow Your Own, Social Services, or Manufacturing pathways
📌 What: Innovation projects, mentorship, leadership development, and professional skill-building
📌 When: October 2026 to May 2027 (virtual)
📌 Incentive: $500 stipend for participating students, $200 stipend for mentors
📌 Apply by: September 30, 2026 (notifications by October 2)

Spots are limited, learn more and apply today: https://theedventuregroup.org/entrepreneurship-education/student-innovators/

09/21/2026

This Friday! Join The EdVenture Group and Youth Service America for a virtual conversation on the future of youth service in West Virginia. Youth and adults are welcome.

Friday, Sept. 25 | 1:00 to 2:00 PM

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nHOuHjl4RhSYaTkRVv40lQ #/registration

We Serve to Remember: A West Virginia Conversation on Youth Service

Join The EdVenture Group and Youth Service America(YSA) for a virtual State Forum connected to the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance and YSA’s new national strategy to expand youth participation in service and civic life.

💡 What we'll explore:
• The New Era of Youth Service in America
• YSA and the 9/11 Day of Service
• How the national strategy connects to work already happening in WV
• West Virginia’s priorities for the future of youth service

🗓️ September 25, 2026
⏰ 1:00–2:00 PM
🗣️ Youth and adults are encouraged to participate!
👉 Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nHOuHjl4RhSYaTkRVv40lQ #/registration

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Wotring at [email protected].