Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Debra Raeder
Ms. Raeder, Debra
Senior Consultant
Arizona Business & Education Coalition
Deb Raeder is a Senior Consultant for the Arizona Business & Education Coalition (ABEC) and for the past 14-years has served as the statewide Director for the ABEC Career Exploration & Development (ACED) Project. Through this initiative, she has spearheaded a model for community-based partnerships, connecting businesses and educators to enhance student career readiness and development in middle schools. Immediately prior to working with ABEC, she served for six years in the Governor's Office as part of the education policy team working collaboratively and in partnership with a wide spectrum of education, business, philanthropic and community leaders, as well as policy makers, to strengthen the education continuum in Arizona. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, Deb served as the Director of Policy for the Arizona Department of Commerce's Workforce Division. Deb also served for 12 years as an elected member of the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board.
Sessions:
5474: Igniting Futures: A Statewide Vision for Career-Connected Learning
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Loews Ventana Canyon
- Administration
- Interdisciplinary
What if every Arizona middle school student entered high school with clarity, confidence, and purpose? Arizona’s Middle School Career Exploration 3-Year Partnership Plan aims to make that vision a reality. This session highlights a statewide collaboration among key partners and invites others to join in building a system where all students experience high-quality, developmentally appropriate career literacy and exploration. Participants will explore recommended policy alignments, professional learning supports, and local implementation models that help students identify their strengths, connect learning to real-world opportunities, and design pathways to success. The session unpacks research-based components of quality career exploration, the development of early Education and Career Action Plans (eECAPs), and evidence of their impact on student engagement and learning. Attendees will leave inspired by how career-connected learning in middle school fuels motivation, strengthens skills, and expands opportunity, extending the runway to every learner’s future.
