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Statewide career technical education conference at NIC explores how to prepare students for high-demand careers

About 150 high school and college educators from throughout Idaho converged on North Idaho College’s Coeur d’Alene campus on Tuesday and Wednesday for the annual CONNECT Conference organized by the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.

“This provided NIC the opportunity to showcase some of our more than 35 career and technical programs ranging from culinary arts to hospitality,” said Vicki Isakson, NIC’s Dean of Instruction, Workforce Education. “Educators explored how AI can enhance learning outcomes, streamline operations and better align training with evolving industry needs.”

Attendees also shared ideas on how to improve the transition from high school to college for students and expand the role CTE plays in shaping the workforce. They toured NIC’s Meyer Health and Sciences Building that houses programs such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiography Technology and Surgical Technology. Vendors presented the capabilities of robots and simulators. 

“Attendees left motivated to welcome their next cohort of CTE students,” Isakson said.