Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Jennie Kale (Jerome)
Kale (Jerome), Jennie
Occupational Program Director
Jennie Kale Long (Jerome) is widely recognized as a value‑driven educator and business development leader committed to creating memorable brand identity systems around the globe. Specializing in cross‑cultural and cross‑functional visual communication, Jennie is known as an early adopter who excels at spotting emerging trends in markets and consumer behavior. Her ability to integrate those insights into design and strategy has consistently led to first‑mover advantages, strong market positioning, exceptional student employability outcomes, and highly engaging online experiences. Jennie earned her Master’s degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and holds multiple Bachelor's degrees from Arizona State University, along with certificates in Digital Marketing from Cornell University. She currently serves as the Occupational Program Director for Visual Communication at Scottsdale Community College—ranked #4 among community colleges in the United States and a recipient of the prestigious Frederick D. Kagy Design Award. A coffee enthusiast, Anglophile, national‑level equestrian, and lifelong learner, Jennie contributes broadly to her field. She serves on the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, sits on two advisory boards for the Arizona Department of Education, and helped develop the Marketing Education Standards for the State of Arizona. Her work has been published in nine countries in addition to the United States.
Sessions:
[5735] Design That Engages: Using Visual Communication to Boost Learning
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Westin La Paloma
- Communications Media Technologies
- Interdisciplinary
Want students to pay attention faster—and remember more? This practical, hands-on session shows educators how simple design principles can dramatically improve student engagement and understanding. Learn easy ways to use typography, color, layout, and visual hierarchy to make slides, handouts, and digital content clearer and more impactful. No design degree required. We’ll break down what works, why it works, and how to apply it immediately in your classroom. Whether you teach business, marketing, media, or core academics, you’ll leave with straightforward strategies to make your lessons more visually engaging, more organized, and easier for students to process. If you’re ready to level up your materials and energize your classroom, this workshop gives you practical tools you can use the very next day.
[5734] From Idea to Impact: Teaching Students to Tell Better Stories
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Westin La Paloma
- Communications Media Technologies
- Interdisciplinary
Help your students move from “I have an idea…” to clear, confident communication. This practical, teacher-friendly session focuses on simple, repeatable ways to teach brainstorming, storyboarding, and content planning in any classroom. Learn how to guide students step-by-step through organizing their thoughts, shaping a strong beginning–middle–end, and creating content that actually connects with a real audience. We’ll share easy frameworks, classroom activities, and tools you can use right away—whether you teach media, marketing, design, or another CTE pathway. If you want students who think more clearly, plan before they create, and present their ideas with confidence, this workshop will give you approachable strategies that make storytelling easier to teach—and more fun to learn.
