Career Conversations That Count: Building Workforce Bridges Early

Speakers

Juli Tipton, CDC, CIMC, Iredell-Statesville Schools

Juli Tipton is a career development coordinator with more than 10 years of experience in career and technical education at Iredell-Statesville Schools. Tipton specializes in leadership and spearheads the career and college readiness efforts for her school district. She is responsible for designing career exploration experiences for middle and high school students and developing district-wide career development continuum goals.

Claudia M. Jimenez, ML/DLI Director, Iredell-Statesville Schools

As a district-level director, Claudia Jimenez collaborates with leaders to share insights and data from Multilingual Learners and DL/I programs. Jimenez contributes to discussions on services, professional development, and resources needed for program improvement. She addresses challenges and works collaboratively to find solutions. Her commitment lies in fostering cultural awareness, supporting language acquisition for all learners, and providing opportunities for a bright future. 

Tim Woody, Executive Director of High Schools and CTE, Iredell-Statesville Schools

As Executive Director of High Schools and CTE, Tim Woody brings over 20 years of experience in education, beginning as a math teacher in Burke County where he was named Outstanding First Year Teacher. His leadership journey includes roles as assistant principal, high school principal, and CTE Director in Iredell-Statesville Schools. Known for his student-centered approach and guided by the motto “Every moment counts…Every student matters,” he is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for all learners. He lives in Catawba County with his spouse and their three wonderful children.

Gladys Recinos, Director of Client Relations, ACT

Gladys is Director of ACT Client Relations for the Pacific West Region, where she partners with district leaders across WA, OR, CA, UT, MT, AZ, and TX to support college and career readiness. Her team serves both rural communities and large, diverse districts like LAUSD and CCSD, aligning ACT solutions with local priorities. With a background as a bilingual literacy specialist and adult education teacher, Gladys brings a strong equity focus to her work, helping educators and families use data-informed practices to guide students on successful pathways. She spent 17 years in Las Vegas and now lives in California, proud mom to a classical musician and an entrepreneur.