Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Renita Miller
Miller, Renita
Program & Workforce Development Coordinator
Gilbert Public Schools
Sessions:
[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.
