Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Jessica Howe
Mrs. Howe, Jessica
Director of My Future AZ
Pipeline AZ/ My Future AZ
Jessica Howe serves as the Director of Education with Pipeline AZ where she leads the My Future AZ initiative in Arizona. In this role she supports K12 students develop college and career pathways through ECAP exploration and completion. She is a career educator and is proud to have supported students, parents and teachers across Arizona for the last 18 years with most of her focus in the public schools of Pima County. Additionally, she serves as the Regional Director with the Arizona Science Teachers Association and as the VP of Membership with Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children. She is a small business owner in Tucson, proud wife and mother to three wonderful children.
Sessions:
[5413] Empowering Career Exploration with AI: Streamlining Career-Connected Learning in Any Classroom
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Loews Ventana Canyon
- Administration
As technology reshapes education, Arizona educators are embracing AI-driven tools to save time, personalize learning, and expand access to career-connected opportunities for every student. In this session, Pima JTED will share how their educators are integrating Magic School AI and My Future AZ to enhance career-connected learning, streamline teacher workflows, and expand equitable access for Arizona students. This session will explore how two education tools can work together to save teachers time while deepening student engagement in career exploration and employability skill development. Participants will see how Magic School AI can be used to create and customize My Future AZ-aligned activities such as career reflections, goal-setting prompts, resume writing, and ECAP documentation. Presenters will also demonstrate how My Future AZ, which will also be featured as an exhibitor at the conference, connects students to Arizona-specific career pathways, labor market data, and postsecondary opportunities, making it easier for teachers to meet state requirements while supporting personalized student journeys.
[5480] Making Career Exploration Work for You: Embedding Connected Learning Across a District
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Loews Ventana Canyon
- Administration
Career-connected learning should be more than ECAP compliance—it should be part of a district’s culture, identity, and long-term strategic vision. In this session, Gilbert Public Schools will share how they designed an approach to career exploration that honors the uniqueness of each school while still aligning with Continuous District Improvement goals. District CTE leader Renita Miller will introduce three innovation pillars used to drive this work: embedding career exploration into core content areas, creating site-specific annual progression metrics, and beginning career learning even earlier in junior high. Participants will see how My Future AZ supports this approach through pathway exploration, labor market data, and ECAP documentation that genuinely works for educators and students. The session will also highlight how data is used to drive program development and align with strategic plans across the district. Most importantly, attendees will explore how shifting the language and mindset around ECAP can move districts away from “checking boxes” and toward building a culture of connected learning. This model is flexible, replicable, and built to meet schools where they are—while helping students imagine where they could go.
