Oregon ACTE Winter Newsletter

The Oregon ACTE conference is the largest gathering of CTE educators from K-12 and Post-Secondary educators in the state. Join over 500 of your colleagues to learn about key topics, best practices, to collaborate and connect, and to be inspired in your work. Breakfast and lunch are included in your registration.

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Wednesday: Industry and Inspiration

• Industry Tours: Registration required. Explore innovative local industries and connect learning to real-world applications.
• Workforce Panel: Hear from industry leaders about issues impacting the workforce today
• Innovation Spark Talks: Take the opportunity in small groups to have guided discussions about important topics in CTE and education.'
• Welcome Reception

Thursday: Learn. Lead. Collaborate.

• ACTE Award recipient recognition
• Opening General Session by Rachael Mann, an authority on career and technical education and workforce development. She champions forward-thinking in artificial intelligence and the changing landscape of work.
• Engage in dozens of breakout sessions
• Visit our sponsoring vendors
• Hear from Oregon legislators
• And, of course, have Ruby Jewel :) IYKYK

Friday: Inspire and Take Action

• Breakout sessions
• Closing General Session with Laura Kaufman

REGISTRATION LINK and more information HERE.

This year’s theme, Be Future Ready: Innovate. Inspire. Impact. invites you to look ahead and imagine what’s possible in Career and Technical Education. How are you preparing students — and yourself — for the future of work and learning? How do you innovate within your program, inspire those around you, and create impact that lasts beyond the classroom?

We’re seeking presenters who are ready to share creative ideas, practical strategies, and stories of success that reflect this year’s theme. Whether your expertise lies in hands-on teaching, program development, partnerships, or leadership — your voice and experience can help others grow.

Submit your proposal HERE. Deadline December 19.

Oregon ACTE administers the ACTE Excellence Awards. State award winners in these categories are eligible to move forward for Region V consideration. Nominations are now open and close December 12. This is a chance to recognize the great work that is happening around the state, so get your nominations in. Award winners will be recognized at the Seaside conference in the Spring.

• Teacher of the Year
• New Teacher of the Year
• Counseling and Career Development Professional of the Year
• Postsecondary Professional of the Year
• Administrator of the Year

Each year since 2022, the Oregon ACTE board of directors has offered scholarships to students who are planning to attend or are attending post-secondary CTE programs. This year, we plan to offer 15 $1,000 scholarships to deserving students from around the state. The deadline is February 9, 2026.

Link to scholarship information and application HERE.

The Oregon ACTE Chapter will be hosting a reception at the ACTE Vision Conference in Nashville. As an Oregon attendee, members and nonmembers alike are invited to attend. Mark your Convention calendar for Wednesday, December 10th from 5:00pm to 6:30pm at the Delta Pavilion (pictured), Opryland Hotel. Come join us for food, beverages, live music and fun!

Implications of Proposed Budget Reductions for Key CTE Programs in Oregon (K-12 Edition)

As the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) prepares for the 2026-2027 budget cycle, several key funding streams that support Career and Technical Education (CTE) are under threat of significant reductions. The following funding streams have been included in ODE’s recommended cuts to assist with balancing the state budget. While these cuts have not been finalized, they could have a far-reaching impact on CTE programs across the state, particularly those designed to equip students with the skills they need for successful careers in fields like agriculture, STEM, and vocational trades. Below are the specific program reductions and their potential consequences for CTE educators and students.

1. Agricultural Summer Program Grants
   The proposed reduction to Agricultural Summer Program Grants could severely limit the ability of schools to offer essential hands-on agricultural education during the summer months. These programs provide students with real-world experiences in farming, ranching, and agricultural technology. With reduced funding, fewer students may have access to these vital opportunities, which are key to developing future agricultural leaders.
2. CTE Career Pathway Fund
   The CTE Career Pathway Fund supports the development of specialized career pathways for students in fields like manufacturing, health sciences, and information technology. A reduction in this fund would hinder schools’ ability to develop and expand career pathways that prepare students for high-demand industries, potentially leading to fewer opportunities for students to gain industry-specific skills. These incentive funds have been a significant source of support to programs across the state.
3. CTE Revitalization Grants
   These grants help schools update their CTE programs with new equipment, technology, and curriculum. The proposed cuts to CTE Revitalization Grants would slow the modernization of CTE classrooms, leaving educators without the tools necessary to teach the latest industry skills. This could result in students receiving outdated training that fails to prepare them for the workforce.
4. High School Success (Commonly known as Measure 98)
   High School Success funding plays a crucial role in supporting students at risk of dropping out, particularly through programs like CTE, which offer hands-on, career-focused learning. A reduction in this funding could disproportionately impact at-risk students, making it harder for them to complete their education and enter the workforce. Because HSS funds are split into three categories (CTE, Dropout Prevention, and College Level Opportunities), school districts have the option to make cuts heavily in one category while preserving budget line items in other categories. Some districts already choose to fund CTE at lower levels through HSS.
5. STEM Innovation Grants
   STEM Innovation Grants support the integration of science, technology, engineering, and math into CTE programs, fostering a new generation of workers skilled in these essential fields. A reduction in this funding could limit schools’ ability to innovate and develop new STEM-focused CTE programs, undermining efforts to prepare students for a rapidly changing job market.
6. STEM Regional Network Grants
   These grants help establish regional networks that support STEM education and collaboration between schools, industry partners, and community organizations. Reductions in this funding could hinder regional partnerships and limit access to vital resources and expertise that drive STEM education initiatives across Oregon.
7. Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association
   The FFA Association plays a vital role in promoting leadership and career development for students in agricultural education programs. Reductions to FFA funding would limit students' access to state and national events, leadership training, and scholarships, which are essential for fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Each of these funding reductions poses a unique challenge for CTE teachers, limiting the resources and opportunities available to students. It’s essential that CTE educators reach out to their state legislators before the legislative session begins in January to explain the potential impacts of these cuts. By advocating for the value of CTE programs and the importance of these specific funding streams, teachers can help ensure that Oregon’s students continue to have access to high-quality, career-focused education.

To connect with your legislators, visit the Oregon State Legislature website for contact details. Your voice can make a difference in preserving the future of CTE in Oregon.

*Look for further information coming soon from ACTE regarding connecting with your legislator.

Last year, students at Yamhill-Carlton High School made history as the first high school team in the United States to build, fly, and successfully recover a fully liquid-fueled rocket.

The rocket—machined and manufactured entirely in-house—stood more than 11 feet tall, weighed 40 pounds, and was powered by a combination of 10 pounds of nitrous oxide and isopropyl alcohol.

In May 2024, the team launched their creation at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site in Mojave, California, where it reached an impressive altitude of 7,200 feet.

Fourteen students from Ashland High School, Grants Pass High School, Crater High School and Prospect Charter came together for a journalism and video production workshop learning how to create a 'Career Journey Video' led by Jordan Bentz with Journalistic Learning Initiatives from U of O.

The workshop took place in Southern Oregon for 2 days; day one consisted of an introduction to videography including camera nomenclature, lighting, color, sound, setting, introduction to interviewing, getting to know your client, interview questions and learning about the purpose of the career journey video they would create the next day. Each student practiced hands on with the equipment and with each other practicing the Q and A. In the afternoon, the client came to the training lab and met the students for a pre-interview.

Day 2 consisted of going directly to the client at NIC Industries in White City where they make powder coating and Cerakote and they engineer their own robotics for application and precision. Each student was assigned to a crew and they took turns behind the camera, managing lighting and interviewing and filming the client. The final product is now featured on the Career Journey's site as a 'Behind the Scenes' video with Q and A located under the 'Instruction' tab. NIC was impressed by the students attending and participating. NIC hosts industry tours frequently and in this activity, NIC commented that the students were more focused and attentive than any student group that had been there before. This attention and focus is likely due to the project based learning under way with the intent of making a product that would serve their peers across the state of Oregon with career exploration.

Their final product featured a young person by the name of Remington who in years passed had graduated from Eagle Point High School, participated in Agriculture and Automotive CTE classes and through his career path ended up at NIC Industries. Remington is part of a team of engineers that created a robot that applies Cerakote and these robots are now in over 40 countries around the world.

See the student created video below!

Nearly 900 students explored hands-on career pathways in manufacturing, trades, technology, and more at Clackamas Community College’s annual Manufacturing (MFG) Day and Taste of the Trades Career Fair this fall. The event welcomed 641 high school students and 247 middle school students from across Clackamas County and beyond.

Students experienced interactive demonstrations, employer exhibits, and apprenticeship showcases, discovering pathways to high-wage, high-demand careers in welding, machining, construction, automotive, and more. The “Taste of the Trades” component highlighted apprenticeship programs, giving students direct exposure to pre-apprenticeship opportunities and career-connected learning.

The Oregon Army National Guard played a standout role, providing equipment for hands-on activities, a mobile kitchen, and 30 volunteers who cooked and served hamburgers and hot dogs, funded through sponsor contributions.

“This event gives students an authentic look at what modern manufacturing and skilled trades have to offer,” said Tom Brown, Career Connected Learning Systems Navigator. With support from sponsors, faculty, and community partners, the fair continues to inspire Clackamas County’s future workforce.

The Elgin FFA Chapter in Elgin, Oregon is developing the Building Agricultural Resource Networks (BARN) project, a multi-use agricultural learning center that grew out of a 2021 donation of twelve sheep. To provide space for hands-on livestock and agricultural education, the school district purchased four acres in the local industrial zone.

The planned facility will include classrooms and labs, community meeting areas, and livestock housing for students who lack access to their own acreage. Strong community and grant support—over $455,000 raised by early 2025, including major contributions from the Oregon Department of Education and several foundations—has accelerated progress.

Students, guided by instructor and FFA advisor Daniel Bolen, are helping with construction, planning, and fencing, building skills and ownership. The BARN is also intended as a community hub, hosting events like Elementary AG Day and offering space for workshops and agricultural programs.

With a $1 million fundraising goal, the project continues to seek donations and sponsorships. The BARN represents Elgin’s commitment to experiential learning, community partnership, and preparing future agricultural leaders.

-Full article below!

In the last 5 years, Lebanon High School has gotten the amazing opportunity to be able to expand our health science programs, with the purpose to better give our students more opportunities to learn the knowledge about heath science. Lebanon High School is provided with the great opportunity to be able to teach various classes and programs for students; Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Health Occupations class, Pharmacy Technician class, and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. The EMR class at Lebanon teaches students information about medical and heath knowledge, provides students hands on practice, and gives students an opportunity to become a certified Emergency Medical Responder at the end of the course. Our CNA program here at Lebanon provides practice and knowledge about nursing, along with partnership teaching of the course through Lebanon High School and Linn Benton Community College. Students who take the CNA program will become a certified nursing assistant after completion of our CNA program at Lebanon. Another great health science program we offer at Lebanon High School is our Pharmacy Technician class. This class is available for any seniors attending Lebanon High School, and is a great way for students to learn about medications, handling medications, and amazing and knowledgeable terminology. Students have the opportunity to take a state test and get the chance to become a certified Pharmacy Technician in Oregon.

Waldport High School’s strong partnership with the Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened the door to innovative, hands-on learning experiences for students in the Digital Arts program. Their most recent project centered on creating interactive 3D models of comb jellies—an effort that blends marine science with cutting-edge design and technology. Students began by researching different species of comb jellies and using digital tools like Tinkercad and Blender to design accurate 3D forms. These models were then printed on the school’s 3D printers, allowing students to transform scientific understanding into tangible prototypes suitable for public display.
To bring the models to life, students incorporated sensors and coding into their designs, using both block coding and C++ to program sound, light, and touch interactions. Another team tackled the engineering challenge of creating custom acrylic stands with the school’s laser engraver, ensuring the models could fit securely within the aquarium’s display cases and remain accessible to visitors. This collaborative project showcases how the partnership between Waldport High School and the Oregon Coast Aquarium enriches student learning—merging creativity, technology, and real-world problem-solving to produce exhibition-ready digital art. See the work HERE!

A unique CTE (Career and Technical Education) Club was formed three years ago at Ashland HS to provide opportunities for students to hear directly from local company owners, managers, entrepreneurs and career-related nonprofits about career options, summer jobs, internships and apprenticeships in different fields of work. This format provides opportunities for hearing directly from people in their own home community who are engaged in many different fields of work and for asking questions about training and skills requirements for those careers. Speakers have so far been recruited from companies in construction, plumbing, hospitality, culinary, automotive, law enforcement, wildland fire fighting, solar power engineering, manufacturing and YWCA programs to name just a few.

A CTE Club Leadership Committee of Juniors and Seniors who have had some experience in CTE related courses works with the CTE Department faculty, the College and Career office, and Community Sponsors of the Club to identify a wide range of speakers from among the companies, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits of our community. The CTE Club also has a close association with the AHS Pre-Apprenticeship program and the school’s competitive DECA and Robotics Clubs. However, CTE Club seeks speakers that will introduce career options from Theater Tech to Engineering and Manufacturing/Woods, Automotive to Video Production and Visual Arts and Design and Culinary to Interior Design and Business. The Club’s Leadership Committee Members take turns meeting and hosting the speakers and are responsible for advertising and promoting each speakers event to the whole school community.

Nearly 90 industry partners and 1200 high school students attended the 9th annual Central Oregon Skilled Trade Fair on November 14 at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond. A wide variety of industry partners, community college programs, and trades were showcased with interactive activities and engaging displays.

Students were able to practice measuring, welding, drawing blood, connecting pipe parts, and many more activities to show them what happens on the job. One educator said, "The Skilled trades fair is so important for our kids to learn, interact, and get information about trades. It truly inspires them to keep pushing in their future."

Thank you for all who submitted CTE highlights for this newsletter, we were not able to include all of them in this edition but we will continue to spotlight as the year goes on! You can send submissions here: https://forms.gle/QZmc56Mj9ksqoEUSA