About the Conference
The upcoming Curriculum to Career: STEM Conference for Secondary Educators, is a three-day professional learning experience taking place Tuesday, March 24 through Thursday, March 26, 2026.
This dynamic conference will equip educators with innovative strategies, industry-aligned resources, and real-world applications that connect classroom curriculum to emerging career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
While the title reflects a focus on secondary educators, the primary participants for this inaugural conference will be elementary school teachers from the Caribbean and rural communities. These educators serve students who are often underrepresented in STEM pathways and face geographic, economic, and technological barriers to exposure and opportunity.
The conference theme, “Inspiring Young Innovators Through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math,” reflects our commitment to:
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Strengthening early STEM instruction
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Integrating career awareness into elementary curriculum
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Building global and rural educator partnerships
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Increasing equity in access to STEM tools and training
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Preparing students for future workforce demands
Conference participants will engage in:
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Hands-on STEM workshops
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Industry-led sessions and demonstrations
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Curriculum-to-career alignment strategies
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Technology integration training
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Cross-cultural collaboration opportunities
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Action-planning for classroom implementation
The Speakers
(Tentative)
05
FEATURED INDUSTRY EXPERTS
01
Rick Wade
Rick Wade
Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Rick C. Wade is senior vice president of Strategic Alliances and Outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wade develops and implements programs and initiatives to help the Chamber create new business relationships and partnerships across diverse audiences. He also provides counsel on policy issues and leads special projects. Wade’s wealth of knowledge and experience in both the public and private sectors enable him to give a megaphone to the voice of business across the country and share the positive impacts of the free enterprise system.
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Ron Wages
Director, Talent Acquisition and Diversity and Inclusion
Duke Energy
Ron Wages is Director of Talent Acquisition and Diversity and
Inclusion at Duke Energy Corporation, where he leads
strategies to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent. With a
career spanning multiple industries, he has held executive
roles overseeing operations in sales, marketing,
manufacturing, and finance. Wages is recognized for his
leadership in building inclusive talent pipelines and driving
organizational performance
02
Ron Wages
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03
Beyond Wider, Ph.D.
Beyonka Wider, Ph.D.
Career and Technology Education Program Coordinator for Richland School District One
Dr. Beyonka S. Wider is the Career and Technology Education
Program Coordinator for Richland School District One. With a background in business, marketing, and education, she has
served as a teacher, instructor, and professor across multiple learning environments. Her work focuses on expanding access to career pathways and empowering students through education and workforce readiness.
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04
Steven Brown
Steven Brown
Steven prides himself on helping others secure their dreams through confidence and strength building, teaching others how to market those strengths as assets, and helping others position themselves in the marketplace where they possess the greatest value. Steven has trained professionals globally as an Entrepreneur and Engineer. From traveling to Europe and the middle east to train electricians and engineers, Steven is intentional about implementing and institutionalizing development opportunities for all. As founder and CEO of Dreams Imagination & Gift Development (DIG), Steven has helped to cultivate his mission into a 50 employee driven leadership development platform that seeks to change the world through STEM one rural community at a time.
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05
Dr. Deanna Taylor
Dr. Deanna Taylor
Founder & CEO
Interactive Learning Solutions, LLC
Dr. Taylor is an education consultant, wellness-based entrepreneur, and STEAM content developer dedicated to helping school districts, organizations, and families build community grounded, sustainable learning pathways. With more than 20 years in education, as an educator, program evaluator, mentor, and consultant, she specializes in collaborative innovative teacher-preparation pathways, facilitating professional learning and advising districts on strategic talent development. As Founder and Principal Consultant of Interactive Learning Solutions (ILS), she has spent the past several years supporting partners such as the Smithsonian Science Education Center, Carolina Collaborative for Alternative Preparation, universities and colleges, and district leaders across the nation. Her work spans pathway design, rural district support, grant evaluation, and community responsive practice.
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The Agenda
1
DAY
"STEM Advocacy & Industry Connections"
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8:00-9:00 AM - Breakfast & Registration
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9:00-9:30 AM - Welcome & Conference Overview
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10:00-11:15 AM - STEM Day at the Capitol
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Meet with legislators
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STEM Policy Briefing
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Student and Teacher Advocacy Sessions
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11:15 AM - 11:30 PM - Travel to Word of God Espanol (Garners Ferry Campus)
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11:30-12:15 PM - Compass Animation Studio Tour
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12:15-1:15 PM - Networking Lunch
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1:15- 4:15 PM – Industry and Technical College Tours
2
DAY
"Innovation in Elementary STEM Instruction"
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8:00-9:00 AM - Breakfast & Registration
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9:00-9:30 AM - Opening Plenary (Eric Davis, Bishop, WOG Church and Ministries)
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9:30-10:00 AM - Opening Plenary (Rick Wade, VP, Strategic Alliance and Outreach, US Chamber of Commerce)
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10:00-10:15 AM - Break
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10:15 – 11:00 AM – Featured Plenary (Ron Wages)
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11:00-11:30 AM - Speaker Sessions
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"Culturally Responsive STEM" Presented by Steven K. Brown
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11:30 AM - 12:15 PM - LUNCH
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12:15 - 12:45 PM - Tour of the I CAN Innovation Center
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12:45-1:20 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session I (Experiential Learning)
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(*Collaborative Learning Lab Sessions I through IV alternate.)
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CAD Lab – Gravity Sketch
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Virtual Reality & Gaming Project - Internal Structures & Survival
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EverBlocks - Structural Stability Challenge
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Health Sciences - Systems in Sync
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1:30-2:00 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session II (Experiential Learning)
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2:15-2:45 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session III (Experiential Learning)
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3:00-3:30 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session IV (Experiential Learning)
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3:30 PM – Wrap Up
3
DAY
"Leadership, Equity & Sustainability in STEM"
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8:00-9:00 AM - Breakfast & Networking
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9:00-9:30 AM - Closing Plenary
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"Equity and Access in Secondary STEM Education"
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Speaker: Dr. Deanna Taylor, Founder & CEO, Interactive Learning Solutions, LLC
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10:00 - 10:15 AM - Break
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10:15-10:45 AM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session V (Experiential Learning)
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Robotics – Energy in Motion
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Virtual Reality & Gaming Project - The Big Hit
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Engino - Structure and Stability
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Force, Energy, & Motion – Powering the Future
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11:00-11:30 AM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session VI (Experiential Learning)
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11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - LUNCH
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12:45-1:15 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session VII (Experiential Learning)
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1:30-2:00 PM - Collaborative Learning Lab Session VIII (Experiential Learning)
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2:15-2:45 PM - Plenary Session
Our Sponsors
LEADING IN THE INDUSTRY
