ACT College and Career Readiness Webinars 2024

ccrw-2024-blue-background

In addition to in-person events, the 2024 ACT College and Career Readiness Workshops (CCRW) include virtual events that take a deep dive into your challenges.

Presenters include ACT experts and educators nationwide who will highlight their success stories and offer best practices you can emulate at your school.

Register for as many virtual events below as you like. If you can’t make the live event, be sure to register anyway to watch the webinar on demand.

Deep Dive Virtual Events

Click on the webinar titles below to learn more about the agenda and presenters for each session. See below for dates/times.

National ACT College and Career Readiness Workshop Virtual Event

Tuesday, Nov. 19 | 11 a.m. CT | 1.5 hours

The national virtual ACT College and Career Readiness Workshop offers a review of the topics and insights we’ve been discussing at more than 100 workshops in 39 states throughout the fall. Learn how to set up a system of assessment with a holistic student view, improve curriculum, use best practices for preparation, help students plan for the future, and build other essential skills.

Presenters:

Linda Guidry, Strategic Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Emily Duplessis, Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT

George Schlott, Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Dominic Ioanne, Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT

Anthony Giudice, Senior Partnership Manager, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Schwann Logan, Account Executive, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Theodore Murray, Strategic Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT

MR028988_2024CCRW_Logo_Final

Deep Dive Virtual Events

monitoring-students-iconMonitoring Student Growth: Creating a Comprehensive Assessment System

Wednesday, Nov. 6 | Noon CT | 1 hour

Join us for an introduction to the ACT College and Career Readiness System and its Trusted Points of Reference. Discover how implementing this system at your school or district can effectively track student skill development and drive overall improvement. Our featured presenters from Grafton High School in Wisconsin will share their successful experience with integrating longitudinal ACT assessments to elevate student and school success.

Attendees will learn about:

  1. How the ACT College and Career Readiness System (longitudinal set of assessments) measures student readiness for college and career by utilizing ACT Trusted Points of Reference (ACT research and the ACT National Curriculum Survey®, The ACT Holistic Framework, the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards, and the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks).

  2. See a demonstration of the capabilities of the ACT Curriculum and Assessment Planning tool as a resource to create a comprehensive assessment system measuring student college and career readiness.

  3. Explore how one district created and implemented a longitudinal college and career readiness assessment plan to facilitate student and school improvement.

Presenters:

Kim Yunker, College and Career Instructional Specialist, Grafton High School, Grafton, WI

Scott Mantei, Principal, Grafton High School, Grafton, WI

George Schlott, Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Dr. Ashley Buchman, Director of Client Relations - Eastern Region, ACT


looking-at-curriculum-iconLooking at Curriculum: Using your Data in the Classroom

Thursday, Nov. 7 | 11 a.m. CT | 1 hour

Learn how to take data from your assessment system and use it as a tool for creating rigorous, comprehensive curriculum. Using ACT College and Career Readiness Standards, schools can set objective growth targets, map curriculum against ACT benchmarks, and create targeted interventions for individual students. Educators from the field will share some of their own experiences and best practices using ACT data to drive school improvement and student-centered outcomes.

Attendees will learn about:
  1. Mapping ACT standards against district curriculum.

  2. Developing plans for student improvement around intervention rosters.

  3. Identifying curricular needs based on data from reporting categories.

Presenters:

Drew Price, English Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator, Yukon Public Schools, Yukon, OK

Tim Collier, Secondary Academic Design Coordinator, McAlester Public Schools, McAlester, OK

Mary “Reenie” Laginess, Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT


best-practices-iconBest Practices in Preparation: Tools for Accelerating Student Growth

Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 1 p.m. CT | 1 hour

Join us for an in-depth webinar exploring ACT's professional services, with a focus on ACT® Instructional Mastery (AIM). AIM workshops empower educators by providing comprehensive insights into the structure and content of the ACT® test; effective test-taking strategies; and hands-on, interactive tasks that foster lasting understanding. Discover how AIM supports teachers in enhancing everyday classroom instruction to improve student performance on the ACT. The session will include insights from an experienced school district employee and a representative from ACT’s professional services department.

Attendees will:

  1. Gain a thorough understanding of the detailed structure and content of AIM workshops.

  2. Discover how experiential, hands-on tasks in AIM workshops foster deep, lasting comprehension of test-taking strategies and content areas, moving beyond traditional methods to build enduring skills.

  3. Learn how AIM workshops guide instructional strategies and classroom practices to enhance student learning and ACT performance.

Presenters:

Dr. Meri Kock, ACT Coordinator, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN

Jonathan Martin, Senior Program Director – ACT Professional Services 

Jess Duesler, Senior Account Executive, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT


support-all-students-iconHow Do You Support All Students for College and Career? Learn How from a School Counselor of the Year

Wednesday, Nov. 13 | Noon CT | 1 hour

With multiple first steps available after high school – college, apprenticeships/non-degree credentials, and military – leveraging individual student goals, interests, values, and skills to formulate each young person’s plan is critical. However, finding resources that engage and empower all students with information to explore both college and career can be challenging. Timothy Chamberlin, Vermont’s 2021 School Counselor of the Year, will share how he leverages Encourage to support his Graduate with a Plan effort, supporting students as they explore and make plans for college, career training, and military options.

Attendees will learn how to:

  1. Use ACT's free myOptions Encourage program to support your efforts in ensuring students are ready for success in college and career.

  2. Leverage the free college and career planning app, Encourage, to help students explore and match with colleges, scholarships, majors, and careers.

  3. Incorporate myOptions Encourage into your college and career planning efforts like Vermont’s 2021 School Counselor of the Year.

Presenters:

Timothy Chamberlin, Director of School Counseling, Lake Region Union High School, Barton, VT

Jessica McFeron, Product Marketing Manager, myOptions Encourage, OR


planning-for-future-iconPlanning for the Future: Student Choices and Postsecondary Success

Thursday, Nov. 14 | 1 p.m. CT | 1 hour

We invite you to participate in a forum-style workshop tailored for educators, counselors, and school administrators dedicated to steering students toward higher education and career paths. This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from experienced school leaders who have successfully integrated

ACT resources and data to broaden their students' academic and vocational horizons. Ideal for both newcomers to student advising and seasoned professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the ACT college and career preparedness solutions, our workshop equips you with the essential strategies to significantly influence your students' long-term success.

Attendees will learn how to:

  1. Identify and evaluate various postsecondary pathways and opportunities available to students, as illustrated through ACT solutions and score reports.

  2. Implement strategies to assist students in academic and career planning tailored to individual strengths and interests.

  3. Speak to learners and parents about the test-optional landscape, sharing timely updates and college entrance projections.

Presenters:

Lisa Molinar, Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability – Grand Prairie ISD, TX 

Emily Duplessis, Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT

Jonathan Delgado, Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT

Rose Gardner, Account Executive, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT


practical-application-icnThe Practical Application of Social Emotional Skills

Wednesday, Nov. 20 | 1 pm. CT | 1 hour

Studies have shown that essential skills, often called social emotional skills (SE skills), have been shown to improve student academic performance. Core SE skills, including Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, and Relationship Skills, can be used in all phases of life to overcome obstacles, reduce anxiety, and prepare students for life after high school. But how can we apply SE skills in our classrooms and beyond? Join us as we go into detail discussing how SE skills can be put into practical application in the classroom as well as at home and in the workplace.

Attendees will learn how to:

  1. Identify the need and value of SE skills

  2. Understand the Five Core Social Emotional Skills

  3. Find practical ways to implement SE skills into their classrooms for students and adults.

Presenters:

Anthony Giudice, Senior Partnership Manager, Client Relations – Eastern Region, ACT

Doug Powers, Partnership Manager, Client Relations – Western Region, ACT