Professional Development 

and Symposiums

Our office provides a wide variety of professional development opportunities for educators and administrators throughout the region.  We also work with many partners to provide cutting edge professional development and encourage educators to attend many excellent statewide conferences that support Career and Technical Education.

EIEFES Professional Development Opportunities

Register by clicking a link below:

August 15 - Health Occ Back to School Meeting

September 7 - CTE Power Hour via Zoom Agenda

October 3 - Heath Occ/CTE (CCPE - Team-Based Challenges) Training

October 12 - CTE Power Hour via Zoom Agenda

October 13 - Student Services Symposium at LIFT Agenda

October 24 - CTE Co-op Teacher Meeting at LIFT Agenda

November 2 - CTE Power Hour via Zoom  Link to Recording

November 7 - CTE Industrial Tech & Ag Teacher Meeting Agenda

November 8 - CTE Family & Consumer Science Teacher Meeting Agenda

November 13 - CTE Business Teacher Meeting at Elevate Agenda

December 1 - Student Services Symposium     Agenda 

December 7 - CTE Power Hour via Zoom

January 26 - Middle School Student Services Symposium      Agenda

February 9 - Student Services Symposium     Agenda

March 11-13 - CTE Leaders Deep Dive (Choose ONE Session Only)

May 3 - Student Services Symposium





Curriculum Revitalization Project

www.ilcte.org  This group works with CTE teachers throughout the state with curriculum, tools, technology and many other things.  They meet with all CTE instructional areas each year in a variety of statewide meetings.  Be sure to check out the curriculum, MyCAERT - Free for Illinois teachers!

How to Teach Cooperative Education/ Workplace Experience

Cooperative Education has been redesigned into the Career Development Continuum - providing career development experiences to students K-12.  Workplace Experience is the capstone course that includes job placement.  There are two required classes for CTE teachers who will be teaching a co-op course at their school to take at the university level.  These courses will now be submitted to ISBE for Workplace Education Coordinator (WECO) endorsement on your teaching license.  Please contact our office to let us know of your intent to take the classes and verify that the courses have been completed.  Courses are offered throughout the state, on-campus and online.  Visit the Educator Resources page for additional information.

Check with these local Universities:

Illinois State University: on-line and run for 3 weeks each, www.perfectpeoria.com

Eastern IL University: online courses run for 6 weeks --CTE 4913, Organization and Administration of Cooperative Education and CTE 4923--Coordinating Techniques for Cooperative Education, Jeff Duck, jaduck@eiu.edu

Chicago State University: online and will be held for 5 weeks each, Patrice C. Boyles, Ed.D., 773-995-2271

Recorded Sessions  from previous PD events

Power Hour November 2023 - Posted on our YouTube Page HERE

Power Hour October 2023 - Will be posted on our YouTube Page (not recorded)

Power Hour September 2023 Posted on our YouTube Page HERE

Session 7: iCTE: Getting Started with Realityworks Online Employability Skills Program   Merri Johnson, Account Manager with Realityworks

This session will cover how to implement the online Employability Skills Program at your School including an overview of the program, the importance of Soft Skills, how to use the Instructor Guide, assign and receive lessons, and a demonstration of the program.  This program was purchased by Lake Land College and the EIEFES Office through FY 2026 and is free to our districts!

     Session 7 recording can be viewed here .  Visit the Program website to log in at: https://sms.realityworks.com/   Visit here to get some implementation resources.


Session 6: iCTE: Using Advisory Committees to Improve CTE - March 17, 2021  Laura Sullivan, Director, Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System 340 and Laura Roberts, Print Media Technology/Graphic Arts Instructor, Mattoon High School

This session will cover information on how to set up a program advisory committee, why they are needed in CTE, and how they can benefit your program and students.

       Session 6 recording can be viewed here.   View handouts: http://bit.ly/iCTEAdvisory and  Laura R's Prezi here.  View the ISCPS Advisory Committee Handbook here.

Session 5: iCTE: CTE Programs of Study and Program Approval Changes - February 11, 2021, Laura Sullivan, Director, Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System 340

This session will cover ISBE changes to CTE Program Approval as well as some course alignment changes.  This session will help educators in determining the best sequence of courses to use to maximize CTE grant funding.

Session 5 recording can be viewed here.    Print Handouts: http://bit.ly/ICTEPOS

Session 4: iCTE: How to Use Career Cruising grades 6-12 - January 21, 2021, Sally Shawver, Project Coordinator, Eastern Illinois Education for Employment System 340

This session will provide participants with a brief overview of both the Student and Administrator sides of Career Cruising.  This is a free resources provided to our districts with CTE grant funds.  Career Cruising is a great way to help students match their interests with career ideas and meet one of the required College and Career Readiness Indicators.

     Session 4 recording  can be viewed here.  View the powerpoint  here.  View additional Career Cruising resources here.

Session 3: iCTE: Using Labor Market Data to Support CTE using JobsEQ - January 20, 2021, Wilson Cox, Senior Account Manager with Chmura JobsEQ

This session will provide an overview of using the ISBE supported Chmura Jobs EQ online system.  The system provides districts access to see a variety of labor market data points including, occupation forecasts, wage forecasts, skills gap, open positions as well as the names of local employers who are hiring.  This is a great resource to inform curriculum changes, enhance rigor, discover employers who are looking for employees and connect your students with them!

        Session 3 resources can be easily found by logging into your school's account and clicking on Training & Resources at the bottom of the Home Screen.  This is an on-demand training available through JobsEQ.

Session 2: iCTE: College & Career Readiness Overview, Amanda Mendez, Guidance Counselor - Argenta-Oreana Middle & High School 

This Session will provide information and documents regarding the College & Career Readiness initiatives from ISBE and their relationship to the PaCE Framework from ISAC.  We will discuss how a student can be deemed College & Career Ready and how the State will collect the data from school districts.  This Session is appropriate for School Counselors, Principals, and any staff who work with CCRI student data.

         View Session 2 recording here. View handouts here.

Session 1:  iCTE: Strengthening Career and Technical Education, Laura Sullivan, Director of Eastern IL Education for Employment System 340

The Session will provide an update on Career and Technical Education Programs of Study, obtaining grant support, improving student academic and technical skills and additional resources provided by EIEFES.  The Session is appropriate for CTE Instructors, Counselors, Principals, and any staff who work with CTE students.

          View Session 1 recording here.   View handouts here.