2026 Early College Summit: Full Schedule

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!

10:45am EDT

It’s Not Just One More Thing – It’s EVERYTHING: Aligning Connections, MTSS, and Personal Adult Advocacy to Support Every Early College Student

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Salem 1B

Early Colleges offer both a powerful opportunity and a complex challenge: ensuring every student is truly known, supported, and monitored across four years and multiple college pathways. At Challenger, we meet this challenge through a cohesive support system that intentionally aligns our Connections seminar course, MTSS, and Personal Adult Advocate (PAA) model. Connections is a credit-bearing course taken every semester, designed with a tiered curriculum that builds college-ready and life-ready skills while monitoring academic and social-emotional growth. Each student is paired with a Personal Adult Advocate from before ninth grade through graduation, creating continuity, mentorship, and proactive intervention. This session explores how this integrated model strengthens equity, reduces fragmentation, and ensures no student slips through the cracks.

Presenters

Jessica Guyer

Student Success Coordinator, Challenger ECHS

Jess Guyer is an alumni of Challenger Early College HS’s first entering and graduating class where she returned a few years later as an English teacher. She has since earned her Master of Arts in Executive Leadership and her National Board Certification. She has recently made the... Read More →

Catie Kale

Lead Counselor, Challenger Early College High School

I have served as a school counselor at Challenger Early College High School since 2018 and bring 17 years of experience in school counseling, including seven years working directly with early college students. While I enjoy working with students at all grade levels, I specialize in... Read More →

Grace Ann Sevier

Assistant Principal, Challenger Early College High School

I have dedicated 24 years to public education within the Catawba County and Iredell-Statesville School Systems, serving students, families, and educators through a variety of leadership and support roles. My professional experience includes two years as an elementary school counselor... Read More →

Dr. Rene Spry

Principal, Challenger Early College High School

This is my third year at Challenger Early College High School, where I am proud to serve as principal and continue my commitment to student achievement and whole-child education. I have 29 years of experience in public education, serving as a teacher and school leader, grounded in... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salem 1B

Student Supports

global Y

1:00pm EDT

From Early College to Long-Term Success: What Students Wish Educators Knew About the Transition to College

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Salem 1B

Early college programs expand access to higher education, but what happens after students graduate or go to a higher education institution? This interactive session invites educators and leaders to explore the academic, social, and institutional challenges early college graduates encounter during the transition to four-year institutions and career pathways. Through collaborative mapping, case analysis, and design-thinking activities, participants will identify gaps in current support structures and develop actionable strategies to strengthen postsecondary persistence. Attendees will leave with practical tools and a concrete next step to ensure early college success extends beyond graduation and truly prepares students to be future-ready.

Presenters

Britney Funez-Hernandez

Student, Stanford University

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salem 1B

Student Supports

global Y

2:15pm EDT

Role-Alike Networking: State, District, Program Leaders

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT

Salem 1B

The power of any network lies in building strong connections among members. During this role-alike networking session, join peers and colleagues to connect around role-alike discussion of topics important to your work in the early college ecosystem through a facilitated networking conversation.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Salem 1B

Role-Alike Networking

8:30am EDT

Empowering Learners to be Public Service Leaders: NC’s Public Service Leadership Program

Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Salem 1B

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.

Presenters

Nina Muller

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

Partnerships

9:45am EDT

P.A.C.K. Skills - A College Readiness Game

Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT

Salem 1B

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.

Presenters

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 →

Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:45am - 11:15am EDT
Salem 1B

Innovative Instruction

global Y

12:40pm EDT

“Because You Matter: The Power of Health & Wellness Day”

Wednesday June 10, 2026 12:40pm - 1:40pm EDT

Salem 1B

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.

Presenters