Explore • Engage • Excel
Career Connections that Make Learning Real
Free, in-person, two-day event for New Mexico educators
June 17–18, 2026 • Berna Facio Professional Development Center, Albuquerque
Event Overview
The 2026 P2C New Mexico Summer Summit is a two‑day, in‑person professional learning experience designed for educators who want to make learning more relevant, engaging, and connected to students’ future goals.
This Summit brings together teachers, counselors, instructional leaders, and school teams from across New Mexico to explore career‑connected learning strategies that work in real classrooms. Whether you are new to Pathway2Careers or looking to deepen your implementation, sessions are designed to provide practical ideas, ready‑to‑use tools, and time to collaborate with peers.
Participants will engage in hands‑on sessions focused on using the P2C Career‑Connected Learning Suite to support instruction, strengthen career exploration, and help students see the purpose behind what they are learning. The Summit also includes dedicated transition‑focused learning to support educators serving students with disabilities as they prepare students for postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.
This is a free, two‑day, in‑person event taking place at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center in Albuquerque from June 17–18, 2026.
The event is funded by the federal Disability Innovation Fund and supports statewide work to expand career-connected learning for students with disabilities and strengthen transitions to college and competitive, integrated employment.
All 2026 P2C Summer Summit and Transition Conference presentations, handouts, and session resources will be available through the NM P2C Educator Resource Course.
Summit Agenda
Day One: June 17
Wednesday sessions will focus on career-connected learning and implementation of the P2C Career-Connected Learning Suite.
7:30 - 8:45 | Registration + Breakfast
Start the day with breakfast, pick up your name badge, and connect with fellow attendees.
8:00 - 8:45 AM | Pre-Conference Access Lab (New P2C Users)
For attendees who need P2C platform access or assistance with login issues.
Location: Tech Lab—room 102 AB
9:00 - 10:15 AM | Welcome + Keynote
Speaker: Dr. Bill Daggett
Topic: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Its Implications for Education (Keynote)
Where: Room 100
10:15 - 10:30 | Break
Enjoy a 15-minute break between sessions.
10:30 - 12:00 | Breakout Session A (90 min)
Session A-1: P2C in the Classroom: Engaging Students through Career Showcases
Who: Stacy Verdin and Crystal Boland
Where: Room 101 AB
Session A-2: P2C Math Bridge in Action: Use Cases and Examples for Algebra Readiness
Who: Shelly Robinson and Charles Santistevan
Where: Room 102 AB
Session A-4: Using Data to Guide Career Pathways & Student Decision-Making
Who: Gabriela Marquez
Where: Room 111
12:00 - 1:00 | Lunch & Teacher Leader Cadre Gallery Walk
Enjoy lunch while networking with members of our Teacher Leader Cadre. Visit cadre tables, meet and engage with teacher leaders, explore instructional artifacts and resources, and learn about successful strategies and takeaways being implemented in schools and classrooms.
1:00 - 1:15 | Break
Enjoy a 15-minute break between sessions.
1:15 - 2:45 | Breakout Session B (90 minutes)
Session B-1: From Compliance to Curiosity: Building Thinking Classrooms with Any Curriculum
Who: Jenni Monteblanco & Natalie Rainey
Where: Room 101 AB
Session B – 5: Discover P2C: Career Exploration, Labor Market Insights, and Math Connections
Who: Shelly Robinson and Nicole Stanley
Where: Room 112
Session B-2 Topic: Two Pathways, One Standard: Implementing Differentiated Math Lessons for Co-Taught and D-Level Classrooms
Who: Dr. Reynaldo Belen and Luz Ferrer
Where: Room 102 AB
Session B-3: Quantile 101 for New Mexico Educators: Putting Math Measures to Work in Career-Connected Learning
Who: Lisa Wolf and Jordan Berryhill
Where: Room 103
Session B – 4: Helping Students who Struggle in Math with the Science of Learning
Who: Katie Lake
Where: Room 111
2:45 - 2:50 | Break
Enjoy a 5-minute break between sessions.
2:50 - 3:30 | Closing Session + Door Prizes
Be sure to stick around for our closing session as we give away exciting raffle prizes!
Day Two: June 18
- Morning sessions will focus on career-connected learning and implementation of the P2C Career-Connected Learning Suite.
- Afternoon sessions will focus on transition to support educators serving students with disabilities as they prepare students for postsecondary education, employment, and independent living.
7:30 - 8:30 | Registration + Breakfast
Start Day 2 with breakfast, networking, and check-in for newly arriving attendees.
8:30 - 10:00 AM | Breakout Session C (90 min)
Session C – 1: Ready, Set, Puzzle! Low-Prep Math That Engages
Where: Room 101 AB
Session C – 2: P2C Career Discovery in Action: Helping Students Discover Careers, Work Styles, and Future Pathways
Who: Shelly Robinson
Where: Room 102 AB
Session C – 3: Crack the Code: Real-World Inquiry and Co-Teaching in Thinking Classrooms
Who: Bobbie Jean McDonough and Brandy Tillian
Where: Room 103
Session C – 4: Building a Career-Connected Learning Culture
Who: Kari Stillman and Gabriela Marquez
Where: Room 111
10:00 - 10:15 AM | Break
Enjoy a 15-minute break between sessions.
10:15 - 11:45 AM | Breakout Session D (90 min)
Session D-1: P2C in the Classroom: Engaging Students Through Career Showcases
Who: Stacy Verdin and Crystal Boland
Where: Room 101 AB
Session D-2: P2C Financial Literacy Math in Action: Helping Students Make Money-Smart Decisions
Who: Shelly Robinson
Where: Room 102 AB
Session D-3: Planting the Seeds for Future Success: Career-Connected Learning for Twice-Exceptional Gifted Students
Who: Dr. Jaime Acosta
Where: Room 103
11:45 - 12:45 | Working Lunch & Keynote: Graduation Pathways
Enjoy lunch as NMPED’s Breezy Gutierrez (the College and Career Readiness Bureau) and Ria Gill (the Office of Special Education) review high school graduation requirements. They’ll highlight updates and guidance from the Public Education Department, with a focus on supporting general education and special education teams.
12:45 - 1:00 | Break
Enjoy a 15-minute break between sessions.
1:00 - 2:10 | Transition Conference: Breakout Sessions 1
Transition Session 1 – A: From School to Community: Building Belonging Through Transition
Who: Krystal Wood (OSE) & Charlene B. Chavez (DVR).
Where: Room 101 AB
Transition Session 1 – B: Project SEARCH and Transition that Works: Universally applicable practices for supporting young adults and families with transitioning to employment
Who: Alex Rios, Project Search
Where: Room 102 AB
Transition Session 1 – C: Red to Green: Moving Transition IEPs from Compliance to Quality
Who: Brian Schobel & Maxine Cordova
Where: Room 103
Transition Session 1- D: Building Independence: How Centers for Independent Living Support Youth and Young Adults
Who: Kendra Garcia, Ashley Russell, GuruAmrit Smith
Where: Room 111
Transition Session 1 – E: Best Practices for School-to-Work Transition in New Mexico
Who: Shiloh Burton, Sophie Trusty, Jun Dai
Where: Room 112
Transition Session 1 – F: Fast Track to the Future: Speed Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Who: Jennifer Saavedra, Martha Castaneda, Toni Rodriguez, Maddie Carrell, Michelle Gabaldon, and Norma Amador
Where: Room 100
Transition Session 1-G: Seeds of Change: How One Vision Sparked a Movement for Employment, Integration, Advocacy and Opportunity in Rural New Mexico
Who: Arlean Murillo
Where: Room 113
2:10 - 2:20 | Break
Enjoy a 10-minute break between sessions.
2:20 - 3:30 | Transition Conference: Breakout Session 2
Transition Session 2 – A: From School to Community: Building Belonging Through Transition
Who: Krystal Wood (OSE) & Charlene B. Chavez (DVR).
Where: Room 101 AB
Transition Session 2 – C: Red to Green: Moving Transition IEPs from Compliance to Quality
Who: Brian Schobel & Maxine Cordova
Where: Room 103
Transition Session 2 – D: Building Independence: How Centers for Independent Living Support Youth and Young Adults
Who: Kendra Garcia, Ashley Russell, GuruAmrit Smith
Where: Room 111
Transition Session 2 – E: Best Practices for School-to-Work Transition in New Mexico
Who: Shiloh Burton, Sophie Trusty, Jun Dai
Where: Room 112
Transition Session 2 – F: Fast Track to the Future: Speed Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Who: Jennifer Saavedra, Martha Castaneda, Toni Rodriguez, Maddie Carrell, Michelle Gabaldon, and Norma Amador
Where: Room 100
Transition Session 2 – G: Seeds of Change: How One Vision Sparked a Movement for Employment, Integration, Advocacy and Opportunity in Rural New Mexico
Who: Arlean Murillo
Where: Room 113
3:30 - 4:00 | Stipend Distribution (must be pre-approved)
Eligible attendees who were pre-approved for a stipend may collect it during this time.
Where: Room 102 AB
Transition Conference Speakers
Who should attend?
- Special education staff
- transition coordinators
- Teachers, including CTE, general education, and special education
- School and career counselors
- District and school administrators
- Instructional leaders
- School teams, district teams, and individual educators
Why Attend?
- Hands-on, interactive sessions for all experience levels
- Practical classroom and school implementation ideas using P2C tools, curriculum, and resources
- Strategies that make learning more relevant through meaningful career connections
- Opportunities to connect and collaborate with educators and partners from across New Mexico
- Participate in a transition-focused afternoon on June 18 in partnership with OSE and NMDVR, centered on transition planning and services that support life after high school
- Eligible attendees may receive a $300 attendance stipend for participating in the two-day event.
Presenter Opportunity
- Accepting presenter proposals now through May 8. (Application window closed)
- P2C users with expertise in career-connected learning or innovative strategies are encouraged to apply.
- Teacher presenters receive a $75 stipend and will participate in a panel discussion.
Information Table Opportunity
- A limited number of tables will be available on Thursday, June 18
- Organizations, agencies, and aligned partners are invited
- Tables should support career-connected learning, transition planning, postsecondary pathways, independent living, competitive integrated employment, and student support services, especially for students with disabilities
Venue
Berna Facio Professional Development Center
3315 Louisiana Boulevard Northeast,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110