RTI International will host the 2026 Early College Summit on June 9–10, 2026 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC. This two-day event for early college leaders and program teams will focus on research-based early college and dual enrollment strategies to improve practice and support student success in rigorous learning environments. The Summit is designed so that veteran and new early college practitioners and college partners can collaborate to learn and share expertise to improve learning and student outcomes. Join us as we strengthen our capabilities to empower learners for future ready success!
Interdisciplinary Days at Craven Early College offer a powerful model for Future‑Ready learning by immersing students in themed, cross‑curricular experiences that mirror real‑world problem solving. In this showcase, participants will explore how grade‑level teams design cohesive, standards‑aligned learning days—such as Journey to the New World, Viva La Revolution, Zombie Apocalypse, and CSI Owl Country—that integrate math, science, English, and social studies into authentic, hands‑on challenges. These experiences boost engagement, strengthen collaboration, and help students apply academic concepts in meaningful contexts, echoing the Next Generation Early College emphasis on innovative instruction, student voice, and active collaboration.
Attendees will see sample student products, hear about planning structures, watch video reflections from student participants, and learn how interdisciplinary days foster deep learning, SEL connections, and future‑focused skills. The session will highlight how this model strengthens teacher collaboration, supports diverse learners, and builds a unified school culture. Participants will leave with replicable frameworks and inspiration to design their own interdisciplinary learning experiences.
Craven Early College integrated AI literacy into its existing visible thinking framework to strengthen, not replace, rigorous, student-centered instruction. Through a phased professional learning model, faculty examined research on AI and learning, aligned their work with the North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate, and adapted thinking routines to support evaluation of AI-generated content and metacognition. Ongoing PLC collaboration and targeted workshops introduced tools such as Napkin, NotebookLM, Miro, ChatGPT for Educators, and Claude within a “learning levers” framework. The result is a practical, replicable model for instructional evolution that preserves academic rigor, supports equity, and prepares students for an AI-shaped future.
Ashlee Russell is the founder of AI Learning Central and a faculty member at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she teaches first-year seminar courses focused on information literacy and ethical AI use. With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education and... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Salem 1C
This session explores how intentional leadership can create a culture of collaboration, care, and college/career readiness at an Early College. Participants will examine strategies that strengthen connections among staff, students, and families while building meaningful bridges between high school and college partners. Emphasis will be placed on increasing access, exposure, and opportunity through a culture grounded in care, open communication, honest feedback, and encouragement. Attendees will reflect on practices that meet students and families where they are and elevate them toward success. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to foster inclusive, supportive systems that prepare all students for postsecondary pathways.
School Social Worker, Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School
Kiara Blue is an advocate for the youth's accessibility to resources and opportunities as well as their overall well-being. She knew that working with adolescents and young adults was her passion since she was a young teenager. These passions lead her to pursue a career in social... Read More →
Principal, Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School
Dr. Chrystal Brown is a leader whose dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to students and staff creates a culture of academic excellence and personal growth. She skillfully manages and supervises instructional programs, leads faculty and staff development, and ensures... Read More →
School Counselor, Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School
Amanda Cauthen serves as the School Counselor at Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School. With 13 years of experience in Cabarrus County Schools, she is deeply committed to supporting students and families within the community and helping them thrive both academically and personally. Ms... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Salem 3C
In this session, Texas school and higher education leaders will discuss their journey to enhance dual credit pathway programs. This collaborative group has strengthened existing programs and engaged every educational level from K-12 to state agencies.
Our facilitator will guide panelists in exploring how regional collectives strengthen dual credit pathways and four-year programs. [Original focus was on Teacher Preparation.] Panelists include leaders from school districts, community colleges, bachelor's programs, and Educate Texas, a statewide organization advancing public education reform.
This session provides foundational strategies to help participants establish regional learning communities and streamline academic pathways for all students.
Do you work with students who are driven to do good things in the world, help people, and who want to be guided in their work by a sense of passion? They could be a good fit for NC's newly-launched NC Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP). In this session, learners will gain a robust knowledge about NC’s Public Service Leadership Program’s pre-BSW certificate, including its origins, its curriculum, its benefits for early college students, how to connect interested students to the program, and how interested early college staff and leaders can get involved with the program’s development and stewardship.
Secondary Education Program Manager, Public Service Leadership Program
Nina Muller works as the Secondary Education Program Manager for the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP), housed at the UNC-CH School of Social Work. She joined the School of Social Work staff in 2023 as the School Behavioral Health Program Lead for the Behavioral Health Springboard... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Salem 1B
As early college and dual enrollment programs expand nationwide, states face a critical question: how do we scale access and outcomes without fragmenting efforts or pitting institutions against one another? This session explores how collaboration, rather than competition, serves as a foundational strategy for launching and sustaining effective statewide early college initiatives.
Grounded in research, policy analysis, and examining national leaders this session will examine how cross-sector collaboration among K–12 systems, community colleges, universities, and state agencies can strengthen pathways and produce measurable gains in postsecondary access and success. Participants will engage with data-informed practices and policy considerations that support cohesive systems, equitable student outcomes, and long-term sustainability.
Navigating the transition from high school to a university presents unique challenges and opportunities for Early College students. During this session, leadership from UNC Charlotte’s Admissions office and Transfer Center, will provide their insight from reviewing these applicants through the admissions process and advising them as they enter with large amounts of college credit. This session will provide you with the transition challenges we've noticed and identify resources that will build a bridge from high school to Early College student success at a 4-year university.
Belonging changes everything. When students feel known, valued, and connected, they show up differently, and so does their learning. This session invites educators to reimagine how schools intentionally create a sense of belonging that begins before students ever arrive and grows stronger with each passing year. Participants will explore meaningful ways to welcome students, build shared traditions, and design experiences that connect students across grade levels and milestones. With a focus on purpose and continuity, this session offers inspiration and practical strategies to build systems where every student feels they truly belong from their first day to graduation and beyond.
Vance Fishback is a veteran educational leader with more than 30 years of experience in public education with a strong background in Early College High School design, launch, and leadership. He has served the last 10 years as the Founding Principal of the Cabarrus Early College o... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Winston 3C
This session will enable participants to identify how mindfulness-based SEL programming may promote student success, including college readiness, when utilized in an intentional and systematic way. We will introduce the Mindful Educator framework that strengthens social-emotional capacities in a parallel process with staff and students and that builds connection and belonging within the ECHS context. Implementation lessons will be shared from the Be CALM program, which is being delivered in ECHSs across NC and is showing positive impact on both teachers and students. Participants will collaborate with peers to apply this framework to their school goals and needs.
Be CALM Trainer and Educational Consultant, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill
I started my teaching career way back in 1989 as a middle school language arts teacher in Tarboro, NC. Along the way, I taught in Buncombe and Cabarrus Counties before moving into school administration in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for 17 years. I retired with 25 years... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Winston 3A
Financial well-being is a critical component of student success, yet many students navigate college without the knowledge or tools to make informed financial decisions that can shape their future. This session will explore why financial education matters and how early college leaders can play a role in closing that gap. We’ll review the value of a strong financial education program that offers both a platform and thoughtful curriculum and how it can make a meaningful difference for students. Key areas will include foundational concepts, saving and budgeting, credit and debit, and specialized planning tools that support students throughout their financial journey. Attendees will gain a closer look at Truliant’s financial education program and platform, Money Bright, as a practical example in action.
Teachers and instructional leaders, join us for a transformative workshop wherewe'll delve into the ethical and equitable implications of AI in education. Through acollaborative design thinking process, participants will explore the potential benefits andchallenges of AI integration and develop innovative solutions to address critical issues.
What does high-quality teaching and learning look like in an early college setting, and how do we move from vision to consistent practice? In this interactive session, participants will explore the Essential Practices Framework as a tool for clarifying and strengthening instruction that prepares students for postsecondary success. Through collaborative analysis and application, participants will engage with key components of the framework and examine how aligned tools—including a teacher self-assessment and classroom walkthrough tool—can support reflection, feedback, and continuous improvement. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for using these tools to build coherence across classrooms and support meaningful learning experiences for all students.
Kristana Rogers is an education consultant at RTI International with over 23 years of experience in K-12 education. She worked as a strategic and innovative school based and district level administrator to support large-scale, sustainable change and positive student outcomes. Rogers... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT Salem 1C
How do we embrace AI in the classroom without letting it replace student thinking? This session shares a practical, classroom-ready model for “human-first, AI-enhanced” learning. Participants will see how to redesign assignments so students use AI to deepen understanding, not bypass it. We’ll explore scaffolded prompts, transparency routines, AI-use levels, and assessment strategies that preserve rigor, voice, and academic integrity. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use templates, a course integration roadmap, and concrete examples that help students become AI-literate, ethical, and workforce-ready learners.
This session introduces P.A.C.K. Skills—Presence, Academics, Conduct, and Knowledge, a college-readiness framework developed by New Heights Charter School of Brockton (NHCSB) and used as a college-readiness measure to guide student preparation for early college pathways. Participants will explore how everyday high school choices directly impact high school diploma completion and future college outcomes.
Assistant Executive Director, New Heights Charter School of Brockton
Maria Fernandes is a dedicated and mission-driven educational leader committed to creating equitable pathways to college and career success for all students. As Assistant Executive Director at New Heights Charter School of Brockton, Massachusetts’ first wall-to-wall Early College... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT Salem 1B
The University of Kentucky Next Gen Scholars Program (NXGS) has expanded a deeper learning early college (DLEC) model designed to increase dual credit access for high school students. By leveraging strong partnerships, collaborative networking, professional learning opportunities, innovative early college structures, deeper learning practices, and technology, the program broadens students' opportunities statewide. This session will highlight how the DLEC model reduces barriers to entry, scales dual credit offerings through flexible instructional delivery models, and provides comprehensive student support and professional training for dual credit educators. The DELC model enhances the high school experience and increases DC participation statewide.
This session will explore the history and growth of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, which began in Fall 2021. Presenters will share the ways in which Quincy High School, North Quincy High School, and Quincy College have worked together to provide students with strong post-secondary opportunities and ongoing support, made possible by Early College High School. Built on a strong, collaborative partnership, leaders and educators from Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools look forward to leading a dynamic and informative session. This session will explore the history and growth of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, which began in Fall 2021. Presenters will share the ways in which Quincy High School, North Quincy High School, and Quincy College have worked together to provide students with strong post-secondary opportunities and ongoing support, made possible by Early College High School. Built on a strong, collaborative partnership, leaders and educators from Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools look forward to leading a dynamic and informative session.
Vice President of Student Success & Partnerships, Quincy College
Meghan Giovannoni serves as the Vice President of Student Success and Partnerships at Quincy College. As a co-founder of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway, she is thrilled to share this exceptional program with summit participants. In her role at Quincy College she oversees... Read More →
Early College Transition Coach, North Quincy High School, Quincy High School
Dan Gould serves as the Early College Transition Coach at North Quincy High School. While he is employed by Quincy College, he works on campus at North Quincy High School each day supporting the Early College students. His role is to ensure that every student feels supported and has... Read More →
Early College Transition Coach, Quincy High School, Quincy High School
Eli Stewart serves as the college transition coach for the early college program at Quincy High School. Employed at Quincy College for the past 8 years and formerly the assistant to the dean of health sciences, he has been with the early college program since it began in the fall... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT Salem 1A
Dual enrollment and early college were designed to expand opportunity — particularly for students historically excluded from advanced coursework and postsecondary access. Yet national data continues to show disproportionate participation by students who are already college-bound.
This interactive workshop guides participants through a structured equity audit process to analyze enrollment, performance, and district-level data. Teams will identify participation gaps and design targeted, data-informed strategies to strengthen supports in underperforming school districts and underrepresented communities. Participants will leave with practical tools, and templates.
Regional Coordinator College Credit Plus, Columbus State Community College
Shaneece Green is a multifaceted professional with a diverse range of roles and achievements. She is the Regional Coordinator for College Credit Plus, where she works to expand equitable access to higher education for K12 students across Ohio. Her previous position as the inaugural... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT Salem 3C
During this collaborative workshop, participants will explore the systems of support across partner institutions, mapping their networks and intentionally structuring problem-solving teams that include college and high school partners. Session leaders will bring their experiences as both a long-standing member of the early college team and a new early college principal, providing unique insight into what works along with opportunities to identify and overcome barriers to collaborative approaches for student success. Session attendees should bring a student support challenge they are currently facing to analyze with a small group. While we welcome individuals, please come with your team if possible.
Dr. April Burko is an educator with 15 years of experience spanning classroom instruction and school leadership, including roles as a high school social studies teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and middle and high school principal. She currently serves as the principal... Read More →
Early College Liaison/Instructor, Anthropology, Central Carolina Community College/Chatham Early College
Fae Grace Goodman holds a split position at Central Carolina Community College, where she is the Early College Liaison for Chatham Early College, and an anthropology instructor. She has been with CEC since its students began taking college courses, serving as their college liaison... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT Salem 3A
Early College opens doors for students long pushed to the margins, but access alone doesn’t guarantee belonging or success. In this collaborative workshop, participants examine how advising, mentoring, family communication, academic monitoring, and behind-the-scenes coordination can either reproduce inequities or interrupt them. Using examples across different Early College sites, we focus on identifying where programs “shake,” the pressure points where hidden expectations hit hardest, and followthrough depends too much on one person. Participants leave with a practical toolkit: a Support Check, a Student Supports Map, and an Action Plan to strengthen shared structures and consistent support across contexts.
The featured student panel brings the voices of early college students to the forefront of the summit’s “Future Ready” conversation. Panelists will share how their schools are preparing them for success in college, careers, and life, highlighting the experiences and relationships that have shaped their journeys. As they reflect on what “future readiness” means and what matters most in their next steps, they will also explore common challenges students face and offer practical insights for educators seeking to better support student success.
I am a proud 2026 graduate of Hertford County Early College, where I will earn my high school diploma along with an Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, and a Business Certificate. Throughout my high school career, I have remained actively involved in my school and district, serving... Read More →
Senior Director, Center for Education Services, RTI International
Dr. Fredrica Nash is Senior Director of Education, Communication, and Training (ECT) at RTI International, where she leads a multidisciplinary team of staff delivering technical assistance, professional learning, and integrated communications and production services to federal, state... Read More →
My name is James Ortiz, I am 16 years old, and I am a student at the Middle College at GTCC Jamestown. My dream is to attend Duke University and become a heart surgeon. I love hanging out with my family and friends, biking, and playing video games.
I am a 2025 honors graduate of both Kingstree High School and Williamsburg Technical College. I am currently a junior at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Counselor Education. I am passionate about uplifting others and enjoy both singing... Read More →
Activating Excellence introduces a structured, high-impact instructional model that integrates collaborative protocols into daily classroom practice. Participants will explore how Rally Coach, Math Stations, Station Rotation, Jigsaw, and Numbered Heads Together align with the Essential Practice Framework to increase engagement, accountability, and academic rigor. This session demonstrates how structured routines reduce teacher overload while meeting diverse learning needs. Educators will leave with practical strategies to scaffold content-area literacy through gradual release, creating organized, student-centered classrooms where learners actively process, apply, and teach content to one another.
I am a dedicated high school math teacher currently teaching Math 1,2 at Duplin Early College High School. Since August 2024, I have been committed to creating a classroom environment where students feel supported, challenged, and capable of success. I believe all students can grow... Read More →
Felicia Beddingfield has a diverse work background expertise as an Executive Director over a domestic violence & rape crisis center advocating for survivors of violence (primarily women and children) in the court room, in the schools, and community, as a member of the Governor’s... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT Salem 3B
How can we design learning experiences that move beyond compliance to true transformation? This session highlights a year-long Junior Seminar project aligned to NCDPI’s Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Participants will examine a scaffolded framework featuring planning, product creation, community outreach, reflection, and feedback cycles. Through interactive protocols and a mini project-sprint, attendees will actively design elements of their own capstone experience. Participants will leave with a customizable blueprint for implementing a Portrait of a Graduate aligned project that fosters communication, collaboration, critical thinking, growth mindset, and personal responsibility in early college students.How can we design learning experiences that move beyond compliance to true transformation? This session highlights a year-long Junior Seminar project aligned to NCDPI’s Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Participants will examine a scaffolded framework featuring planning, product creation, community outreach, reflection, and feedback cycles. Through interactive protocols and a mini project-sprint, attendees will actively design elements of their own capstone experience. Participants will leave with a customizable blueprint for implementing a Portrait of a Graduate aligned project that fosters communication, collaboration, critical thinking, growth mindset, and personal responsibility in early college students.
This session will share how Josephine Dobbs Clement ECHS has established and maintained a culture of excellence within its 20+ year history through the partnership of Durham Public Schools and North Carolina Central University.
This session showcases a digital CAP system designed to help early college students reflect on growth, organize academic and extracurricular data, and plan for college and career pathways. Participants will explore how CAPs integrate state-required Career Development Plans, promote student agency, and strengthen advising practices. Through examples, artifacts, and practical strategies, attendees will gain actionable ideas for implementing a student-centered, scalable portfolio system that supports postsecondary readiness, engagement, and success.
School Counselor, Duplin Early College High School
Willoughby Newcomb is a certified school counselor at Duplin Early College High School in North Carolina and the founder of Whole Journey Navigation LLC, a consulting practice focused on academic planning, career development, and postsecondary transitions. She holds a Master of Arts... Read More →
Michael Schramm arrived to Duplin Early College High School in November of 2022. Prior formative instructional experiences include: teaching English Language & Composition with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system (3 years); mentoring Chinese nationals enrolled in language immersion... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT Winston 1A
This session examines how near-peer Teaching Fellows advance innovative instructional practice, individualized student support, and authentic IHE partnerships. National Education Opportunity Network Teaching Fellows—undergraduate and graduate students from partner institutions—support college-level coursework through synchronous recitations, small-group instruction, and academic coaching that build student self-efficacy, college-going identity, and persistence. Participants will explore how this role differs from traditional faculty, teaching assistants, or tutors, and how near-peer models operationalize framework priorities around personalization, collaboration, and postsecondary readiness, particularly for first-generation and underrepresented students.
High school can be stressful—academics, activities, relationships, and future plans can all feel overwhelming at times. A Health & Wellness Day provides a proactive, preventive approach to supporting the whole student—addressing mental, emotional, and physical health as essential components of academic success.This session explores the rationale behind implementing a Health & Wellness Day for your school and leave with a clearer understanding of why prioritizing student wellness is not an “extra,” but a necessary investment in student success.
How are students’ experiences different if they take their Early College classes in cohorts made up exclusively of high school students as opposed to mixed in with traditional-age, matriculated college students? This session will present the results of original research exploring how students who completed Early College courses describe learning college success skills. College student traits that Early College participants described learning will be reviewed as well as findings that show differences in cohort and mixed course student experiences. Directions for future research and practical suggestions for program improvement and policy design will be discussed.
This session will share several of the core principles of the Early College model that address instructional practices for dual credit instructors as well as examples of student support that allow for the critical thinking required in those dual credit courses. The supports in these dual credit courses encourage the higher level thinking of metacognition while giving them students agency in their own learning. The session will also reference the book The Disengaged Teen by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, which addresses the crisis that “one of three students is highly engaged in school” (U.S. Census).
Steve Combs serves as the Director of Early College at CELL, impacting Indiana schools through the Early College High School initiative. He came to CELL with 27 years of experience in secondary education. Steve began his career as a high school social studies teacher and varsity boys... Read More →
Early college counselors work at the intersection of secondary and postsecondary education, providing comprehensive supports that address students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development. This session highlights how one early college counseling program identified, aligned, and strengthened its existing practices to earn RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) recognition through the American School Counselor Association. Attendees will gain insight into practical structures, challenges, and lessons learned, leaving with ideas to better articulate and strengthen their own early college counseling programs.
Early College programs often focus on structures and outcomes—but less often center the voices of students who experience them. This panel elevates student perspectives from the Dearborn Early College Kickoff (DECK), a middle school–launched pathway that prepares students for full-time Early College enrollment. Students from DECK’s first cohort, now earning college credit in high school, will share how early academic acceleration, clear expectations, family engagement, and a paid learn-and-earn model shaped their readiness, confidence, and success. The session pairs student voice with outcome data to illustrate the impact of starting Early College preparation earlier.
Early College Manager, Dearborn STEM Academy/Boston Plan for Excellence
Jay Pedrero is the Early College Manager and Director of the Dearborn Early College Kickoff (DECK) program at Dearborn STEM Academy, where he has served for the past four years. In his role, Jay provides direct, individualized support to students enrolled in Early College, helping them succe... Read More →
Early College Liaison, Dearborn STEM Academy/Boston Plan for Excellence
Teddy Walker is an Early College Liaison at Dearborn STEM Academy and has been a vital member of the Early College team for the past three years. In his role, Teddy works directly in classrooms alongside college professors and students, serving as a key bridge between high school and college expe... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT Winston 3B
