BPCC TO HOST REGION 7 CTE CONFERENCE JAN. 6

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) will host the Region 7 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Conference on Monday, January 6, from 12pm until 4pm in the Stephen W. Slaughter Theatre in Building C on the Bossier campus, located at 6220 East Texas Street in Bossier City. The conference aims to bring together K-12 teachers, educators, and administrators from the eight parishes in the region that accept Carl Perkins federal funds to discuss and collaborate on ways to enhance career readiness and workforce development initiatives.

The keynote speaker will be Mark Perna, founder and CEO of TFS Results. TFS Results is a strategic consulting firm leading the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. Mark, who works daily with local and regional organizations at the tactical level, created the Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion movement to help communities connect their education, business, and economic pipelines.

Following Perna’s remarks, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) will provide an overview of the recent changes to the K-12 statewide accountability plan and their impact on career and technical education (CTE), with a specific focus on the Career Accelerator. LDOE will also host a breakout session delving deeper into the implications of these changes, highlighting new policies surrounding Work-Based Learning (WBL). The session will explore different types of WBL, such as cooperative learning, internships, and apprenticeships.

In the afternoon, attendees can participate in a series of breakout sessions covering key topics like building industry partnerships, dual enrollment, employability skills, SkillsUSA, Google Classroom, and a focused discussion on the computer science pathway. The final session will facilitate teacher collaboration by grouping educators based on their content areas and Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs). Teachers will discuss strategies for embedding IBCs into their courses, supporting student-led organizations like SkillsUSA and DECA, and ensuring students earn certifications while engaging in hands-on learning experiences.

WHAT: Region 7 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Conference

WHEN: Monday, January 6, from 12pm until 4pm

WHERE: Stephen W. Slaughter Theatre (Building C), Bossier Parish Community College, 6220 East Texas Street, Bossier City