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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!
Type: Leadership clear filter
Tuesday, June 9
 

10:45am EDT

Building a College-Going Culture by Making College the Expectation, Not the Exception
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 1A
This session highlights the impact of early college exposure and how one Massachusetts school fostered a college-going culture for students, staff, and families. New Heights Charter School of Brockton has expanded early college access, with over 50% of graduates earning an associate degree while in high school and nearly all earning at least 12 college credits. Serving a culturally diverse community, the school created an accessible and equitable early college model that instills in ALL students the belief that they are college-bound from day one. Join this session to explore best practices for building a supportive college-going culture.
Presenters
MF

Maria Fernandes

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 →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 1A
  Leadership
  • global Y

10:45am EDT

Pour Over and Problem-Solving
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 2 Ballroom
This "Pour Over and Problem-Solving" coffee chat combines hands-on coffee brewing demonstrations with critical dialogue to explore how to thoughtfully integrate technology while prioritizing timeless human values. Attendees will engage in conversation on topics from mindful tech usage to human-centered design, gaining ideas to leverage technology ethically and foster more enriching interpersonal experiences.

Presenters
avatar for Dee Lanier

Dee Lanier

Lead Learning Experience Designer, Lanier Learning, LLC

Speakers
avatar for Dr. De McKenzie

Dr. De McKenzie

Education Consultant, RTI International
Dr. Demond “De” McKenzie is an expert in education and leadership development with over 20 years of experience. Currently he serves as an education consultant and leadership coach for RTI’s Education Services team, where he leads design and facilitation of professional development... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 2 Ballroom
  Leadership

1:00pm EDT

Building on What Works: Evolving Early College Instruction for an AI- Enabled Future
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem 1C
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.

Link to Presentation: https://bit.ly/4us93Lm
Presenters
avatar for Marlow Artis

Marlow Artis

Principal, Craven Early College High School

avatar for Ashlee Russell

Ashlee Russell

Chief Learning Consultant, AI Learning Central

Enhancing Instruction for AI Enabled Future pptx
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem 1C
  Leadership

1:00pm EDT

From Overload to Coherence: Driving Continuous Improvement with a Common Instructional Framework
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 3B
Early college leaders are inundated with expectations—state standards, district initiatives, evaluation tools, PLC structures, and professional development mandates. How do we bring clarity to the complexity? This session equips principals and system leaders to design a coherent instructional framework that aligns Essential Practices, professional learning, PLC processes, NCEES, and school/district expectations into one clear, usable document. Participants will leave with a plan to crosswalk key resources with expectations and evaluation criteria, drive targeted professional development, and deploy a framework that sustains continuous improvement.  
Presenters
avatar for Vance Fishback

Vance Fishback

Principal, Cabarrus Early College of Technology
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 →
NCEES CECT Look Fors doc
Instructional Framework Presentation pptx
Instructional Framework Updated docx
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 3B
  Leadership
  • global Y

1:00pm EDT

Mission in Motion: Aligning Vision, Goals, and Student Opportunities through the Next Generation Early Colleges Framework
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 3C
In this session, Kassie Mount, founding principal of Dare Early College, will highlight the intentional steps that her team has taken to create a cohesive, mission-driven culture. Participants will learn how the school established a clear mission and vision, used the Next Generation Early Colleges framework to develop School Improvement Team (SIT) goals and professional development priorities, and aligned staff-learning with these objectives. Kassie will also showcase how student opportunities were intentionally designed to reflect the mission and vision, creating a unified experience that shapes both academic outcomes and school culture. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to connect goals, professional learning, and student experiences in a meaningful, cohesive way.
Presenters
KM

Kassie Mount

Principal, Dare Early College

Mission in Motion pdf
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 3C
  Leadership
  • global Y

1:00pm EDT

Prompt Engineering for Productivity: Automating Administrative Responsibilities for School and Program Leaders.
Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 1A
This session is dedicated to making you a more efficient leader by automatingyour office tasks with precision AI. Discover the framework for writing effective prompts andbuild your own policy-aware AI 'clones' for consistent, rapid administrative output, with ethicsand leadership in mind.
Presenters
avatar for Dee Lanier

Dee Lanier

Lead Learning Experience Designer, Lanier Learning, LLC

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Winston 1A
  Leadership
 
Wednesday, June 10
 

8:30am EDT

Leading to Create a Culture of Collaboration, Caring, and College/Career-Readiness
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Salem 3C
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.
Presenters
KB

Kiara Blue

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 →
avatar for Dr. Chrystal Brown

Dr. Chrystal Brown

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 →
AC

Amanda Cauthen

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 →
Leading to Create a Culture of Collaboration, Caring, and CollegeCareer Readiness pdf
Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Salem 3C
  Leadership

12:40pm EDT

Establishing and Maintaining a Culture and Climate of Success
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Salem 3C
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.  
Presenters
avatar for Lori Bruce

Lori Bruce

Principal, JD Clement Early College High School

ECN Conference JD Clement ECHS pptx
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Salem 3C
  Leadership

12:40pm EDT

From Planning to Purpose: Building Future-Ready Students with Digital Comprehensive Academic Portfolios (CAPs)
Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT
Winston 1A
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.
Presenters
avatar for Willoughby Newcomb

Willoughby Newcomb

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 →
MS

Michael Schramm

English Teacher, Duplin Early College High School
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
  Leadership
 

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