The Ford NGL community is proud to once again represent at ACTE CareerTech Vision, bringing the voice of educators, business leaders, and communities who believe in the power of career academies to transform learning. Through sessions, workshops, and networking, we will showcase how the Ford NGL approach to the Career Academy Model provides a framework for aligning schools, industry, and community to prepare all students for college, career, and life.
Sessions You Will Not Want to Miss
Pre Conference Workshop
Industry Partnerships That Scale: Strengthening Career Academies and Workforce
Ford NGL’s dynamic duo, Jenn Edge and Paula Chaon, along with additional practitioner voices, will lead a deep dive into strategies for scaling partnerships that strengthen workforce readiness.
45 Minute Spotlight Sessions
- Louisville, KY: All Eyes on Impact: Amplifying Career Academies Through Strategic CTE — Ryan Cummings, PhD, and Justin Richards highlight the communications strategy behind the Academies of Louisville. Hosted on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
- Fort Wayne, IN: From Vision to Victory: District Transformation Powered by Community Connected Learning — Jesse Webb and Kendra Bowser share how community partnerships are driving districtwide change. Hosted on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
- Knox, TN: Creating a System to Scale Business Education Partnerships for All Students — Marc Hill and Knox representatives present sustainable systems that reach every learner. Hosted on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
- Ford NGL Network: Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Transformational: How Career Academies Drive College, Career, and Life Readiness for All Students — Cheryl Carrier will lead this session, demonstrating the Ford NGL Community Connected Academy Model in action. Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM
- NAHB & Ford NGL: Building Powerful Partnerships: How Educators Can Leverage Local Industry Associations (Like NAHB) for Work-Based Learning Success — Greg Zick, VP of Workforce Development and Jenn Edge, Director, Ford NGL introduce educators to a new national playbook from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the system-building framework of Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL). Together, these partners offer a powerful combination: practical tools from the field and a proven approach to creating scalable, student-centered, and workforce-aligned partnerships. Hosted on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
Learn more about our sessions by searching for them here.
Career Academy Section: Join the Movement
Ford NGL is proud to sponsor the Career Academy Section at ACTE. This is more than a professional group. It is a growing movement. Our goal is to elevate the section into a full ACTE division, creating greater influence, visibility, and support for advancing the work of career academies across the nation.
We are hosting a membership drive, and this is the perfect time to join. One new member will also win a free ticket to ACTE CareerTech Vision 2026. Membership is an opportunity to help shape the future of this work on a national scale. Learn more and sign up here.
Community Connections and Social Events
In addition to sessions, we will be offering opportunities to connect and celebrate as a community. Details about special FNGL social events at CareerTech Vision are coming soon. These gatherings will provide time to meet, share ideas, and build lasting connections.
Why It Matters
From Louisville to Fort Wayne to Knox and beyond, FNGL communities are showing that when schools, business, and community partners align, transformation follows. At ACTE CareerTech Vision, participants will gain strategies, stories, and tools to scale the FNGL Community Connected Academy Model, strengthen the Career Academy Section, and ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life.
