Teaches:

Embedding Student Partners into Student Learning

About ME

Sandra is the Vice President for Administration with the ACTE Board of Directors. Sandra currently serves as a CTE administrator with a large urban district. Her passion for active learning and high-quality instruction led her to author four books on CTE instruction and meaningful teacher collaboration, including her top-selling “But I’m Not a Reading Teacher.”

Sandra has worked with numerous school districts across the US and is a regular contributor for ACTE’s Techniques magazine. She has provided multiple presentations for state, regional, and national ACTE conferences. Most recently, she is sharing her keynote address, Possibility Thinking with the 5Ps of WBL-- How to embed WBL into any CTE Program to promote student performance.

About Me

masterclass DESCRIPTION

Delivering content is no longer the goal. We are now charged to increase authentic work based learning experiences for all students. But how do we achieve this? Done correctly and consistently, work-based learning creates a win – win – win situation. Students, partners and educators all win as we leverage partner connections to advance authentic learning environments

This masterclass provides a continuum of lessons that connect students and partners in multiple ways for technical and professional skill development. The simple truth is that we cannot construct meaning for someone else. Students need to experience novel learning environments and opportunities to make new connections that result in their construction of learning and efficacy building. The WBL lessons shared here are applicable to all program areas and are intentionally designed to foster progress and recognition for students.

MASTERCLASS TRAILER

Services

Program

Work-Based Learning

Even when the US economy is humming along, it contains a strange paradox. Employers have a hard time finding workers, yet simultaneously many workers have a hard time finding appropriate employment. WBL helps learners enter and succeed in their first or next career, yet it remains a tiny percentage of our student experience. We’re proud to feature the most dynamic and sought-after speakers who are true Industry Thought Leaders at the forefront of career-connected learning.

It is time to solve our workforce paradox once and for all.

Discover WBL

KRISTY VOLESKY

Transformational Work-Based Learning

Getting to Know Sandra

1

What sparked your interest in your keynote topic?

I have self-published four educational books, each of which reflects the work I was engaged with during that time. I don’t just encourage people to share their best practices, I try hard to model this belief to all of my audiences. I think it is our duty as educators to shape the future by sharing the field-tested high quality practices.

For career and technical educators, it is obvious that advisory board and partner involvement with students and teachers on a weekly basis is powerful. I had the privilege

9 years ago to launch the first CTE High School Internship program in Fort Wayne. We have never turned back.

For me personally, I see a future of education where partner-student networking while in high school is the exact piece of education needed to transform learning experiences and finally reach the true 21st century model. Teachers and leaders need support with the HOW, not the WHY. This is what has led to my current work.

2

What was your first teaching experience? What did you learn from it?

My very first teaching experience was a long-term one-on-one tutoring with a student who just couldn’t function in the traditional classroom. This continued one hour a day for two years, just me and my student.

This experience was invaluable to all future students I encountered. I learned from this student while supporting his growth and learning, amidst a life full of problems and pains that would send anyone into a tailspin.

3

Where/who do you look to in order to stay updated and motivated?

My reading and listening lists above are how I start. I have at least 2-3 coffee dates each week with valued partners or potential partners to listen to their current work and consider ways that our work should match. Of course, I am a lover of my Linked In inspirational educators and business leaders. I am always looking to the next trends in education. I love to write for Techniques magazine, publish my ideas in books, and lead professional learning sessions when I have time.

There is simply nothing more motivating than grassroots conversations with teachers around the country to consider what is working for them or what obstacles they are facing. In addition, I have the beautiful pleasure of having three adult daughters, all working in different industries than education. I just love our long chats about how their work challenges and growth can potentially connect to education and advancing CTE students--which is my WHY for all work life.