The Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF) invites you to participate in the collaboration and conversations about College and Career Pathways as educators and business leaders plan for the skills needed for graduates in the future.
Education and business leaders of San Diego County are invited to attend an exclusive event—CFF’s 9th Annual “College and Career Pathways Summit”—on Tuesday, February 26, 2026, from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm at National University Scripps Ranch at 9980 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92131. This event will highlight innovative strategies in College and Career Readiness (CCR) and Career and Technical Education (CTE).
Since this year’s theme is “Sustaining Innovation — Innovating Sustainability“, many of the speakers’ topics will be related to innovating for a green workforce, sustaining educational innovation, green and blue career pathways, and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into sustainability solutions.
The select guest list of approximately 180 attendees will include San Diego County superintendents and school district officials, representatives from the San Diego County Office of Education, principals, CTE Directors, and leaders from local colleges, businesses, and community organizations. Educator tickets are available for $50 and business tickets available for $150 online through CFF at ClassroomOfTheFuture.org/CCPSTIX. Tickets are required for this event and seating is limited.
Since CFF’s establishment in 1997, preparing students to be successful in the workforce has been central to the identity of our organization. CFF provides programs, training, curriculum, and opportunities for historically marginalized students to help them discover college and career pathways while developing hands-on skills—specifically within the realm of STEM—for high-demand jobs. To achieve the goal of helping students with their career choices, CFF is bringing great minds in education, business, and our community together again for this eighth annual summit.
EVENT DETAILS
The event will include networking opportunities over a continental breakfast, lunch, and during breaks. To discover CTE solutions, the CCPS9 event features space for exhibitors to showcase their products, services, and solutions. For event sponsorship and exhibit table opportunities, please contact Jane Turk-Schlosberg, Director of Development and Operations, at jane@classroomofthefuture.org.
- Location: National University Scripps Ranch, 9980 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92131
- 8:30 AM to 9:45 AM – Registration, Networking & Continental Breakfast
- 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM – General Session presentations, including two panel discussions with CTE business partners
- 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM – Breakout Sessions #1
- 12:00 PM to 12:50 PM – Breakout Sessions #2
- 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Lunch, Networking and Raffle
- Continental breakfast & lunch included
- *Schedule subject to change
- See the Agenda/Program at the end of this article for full details
TICKET INFORMATION
Educator tickets are available for $50 and business tickets available for $150 online through the Classroom of the Future Foundation at ClassroomOfTheFuture.org/CCPSTIX. Tickets are required for this event and seating is limited. Registration deadline is February 12, 2026
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Our eight breakout sessions provide educators and business/community leaders with strategies to prepare students for a sustainability-focused workforce through community partnerships and hands-on learning. Participants will explore talent pipelines for green and blue economy careers while learning to balance AI integration with essential human skills and skills-based career navigation.
| ROOM | BREAKOUT SESSION #1 (11AM) | BREAKOUT SESSION #2 (12PM) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Floor Canyonside |
Title: Developing our Next Gen Water, Climate and Sustainability LeadersSpeakers: Kathleen Porter, Executive Director; Mike Gizzo, Career Education Specialist; Dr. Ben Churchill, Superintendent – Poway Unified School District Discover how Poway USD is building an innovative, future-ready talent pipeline that prepares every student for high-wage, high-skill careers in water, environmental technology, climate resilience, and other fast-growing and in-demand industries. This engaging session showcases innovative partnerships with colleges, utilities, government agencies, and industry leaders that launch new inter-disciplinary pathways, embed sustainability and industry-specific AI literacy into programs, and expand early college credit, certifications, and meaningful work-based learning. Learn how targeted outreach, case management, and wraparound supports ensures access and success for all learners. Walk away with practical strategies to align curriculum with workforce demand and inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders! |
Title: Leveraging Maritime Heritage to Strengthen Future Blue Economy: Building Pathways to Success in Sustainable Maritime IndustriesSpeakers: Dr. Christina Connett Brophy, President and CEO; Peter DiSimone, Director of Education – Maritime Museum of San Diego The Maritime Museum is developing a replicable and scalable model that positions maritime museums worldwide as essential partners with port authorities, industry leaders, universities, and policy makers in driving workforce development pathways for a sustainable maritime future. Augmenting our existing programs in living history, oceanography and maritime skills training with new partnerships with local schools, universities, industry entrepreneurs and leaders, we are creating a collaborative maritime hub of opportunity support and training for the youth of San Diego. |
| 2nd Floor Room Board of Trustees |
Title: The Chamber of Commerce Connection: CTE, Sustainability, and Regional Business NeedsSpeaker: Chris Thorne, CEO, North San Diego Business Chamber Sustainability is now a core business driver shaping competitiveness, profitability, and workforce demand in the San Diego region. This session explores how Chambers of Commerce connect Career Technical Education programs with employer needs as industries integrate sustainability into operations and innovation. Designed for educators and administrators, the discussion highlights CTE’s role in preparing students for green and blue economy careers, emerging technologies, and the evolving business economics driving regional growth. |
Title: Environmental Literacy – K-12 Pathways to a Green CareerSpeaker: Dr. Tim Baird, Classroom of the Future Foundation and Green Schools National Network; Dr. Christine Corrao, Coordinator of CTE and Future Readiness, San Marcos Unified School District Our job market is adapting to meet the challenges of our changing climate. Our students need to be prepared to succeed in this emerging sector. This session will focus on understanding the changes in our new green economy and the jobs that are changing and also being created within it. Participants will learn about the job skills and learner attributes that we should be teaching, so that our students will have the tools to thrive in the green economy. Authentic K-12 learning experiences and models that support this shift will be highlighted. Come to this session to learn how to support our students’ journey on the green pathway! |
| Room 121 |
Title: The Power of Symbiosis: 10 Years of Community-Driven EducationSpeaker: Jen Nation, Executive Director, Olivewood Gardens What started as a single seat at a wellness committee table has blossomed into a model for district-wide sustainability and student success within the National School District. Join Olivewood Gardens to discover how a nonprofit-school partnership can scale from simple classroom participation to high-impact career pipelines. For educators, this is a blueprint for bringing hands-on, real-world learning into your curriculum without reinventing the wheel. We will discuss the art of leveraging community resources to address educator “pain points,” supplement student learning from elementary to high school, and provide life-changing internship opportunities. For business leaders wanting to enter the school space, this session offers a proven, ten-year roadmap for building a deeply rooted partnership that creates a lasting legacy. Come learn how to create a symbiosis of your own and cultivate a collaboration that yields results for years to come. |
Title: Human Abilities AI Can’t TouchSpeakers: Dr. Leighangela Brady, Superintendent, National School District; Charles Parisi, Founder and CEO, Cloudcast Media As AI reshapes education and the workforce, the most valuable skills remain deeply human. This session explores a central question: does technology improve outcomes for people, or must people learn to use technology in ways that lift others? Using a human–AI collaboration framework, the session highlights five essential abilities AI cannot replicate—Teamability, Coachability, Accountability, Reliability, and Likability. Using practical examples from elementary education and student leadership, the session illustrates how these abilities are deliberately taught and practiced to prepare learners for an AI-augmented future. |
| Room 113 |
Title: Teaching Ethical and Effective Use of AI (K-8)Speaker: Gina Thackrey, Founder and CEO, NextGenEducation Effective use of AI technologies will prove to be critical employability skills for the next generation of young people. Educators are faced with the challenges of allowing students to develop mastery of the newest technologies while at the same time ensuring fidelity to learning the skills we know are essential to lifelong success. Discover ways to teach AI while promoting ethics, critical thinking, and creativity. |
Title: New Rules: Skills-Powered Career NavigationSpeaker: Peter Sibley, Founder and CEO, Journeys Map As career paths become more complex and skill demands evolve rapidly, learners need more than job titles to navigate their futures. This session explores how skills-first career navigation helps translate education and experience into real employment opportunities. Drawing on workforce data and employer insight, participants will learn how skills visibility, pathway mapping, and AI-enabled tools are reshaping how learners move from education to work — and how educators can support career success in a changing economy. Participants will examine: (1) why skills translation is becoming the currency of career mobility; (2) how learners can build and communicate a living portfolio of skills across education, work, and life experiences; and (3) how AI-enabled tools are helping individuals navigate careers with greater clarity and confidence. Designed for educators, counselors, and workforce leaders, this session reframes career navigation as an evolving system — one where skills visibility, pathway alignment, and adaptability drive long-term success. |
AGENDA / PROGRAM
MAP OF NATIONAL UNIVERSITY SCRIPPS RANCH