The Illinois Education and Career Success Network’s 13th annual conference is designed for a diverse group of stakeholders committed to enhancing equitable postsecondary attainment across Illinois. The conference serves as an engaging learning opportunity where attendees collaborate to share best practices, explore innovative strategies, and discuss systemic challenges affecting students, particularly those from marginalized communities. Participants can expect a dynamic environment that fosters networking, knowledge exchange, and actionable insights aimed at driving systemic change to support student success throughout Illinois. Explore recordings, photos, and resources from past conferences.
Dr. Strohl was one of the founding staff of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) and has served as director of research since 2008. He leads the center’s research agenda, focused on the intersection of education and labor market analyses and their impact on policy. Dr. Strohl also researches biases in postsecondary and labor market outcomes.
Previously, Dr. Strohl was a senior analyst and project director at Westat, Inc., and was primarily involved in program evaluation and analysis of education outcomes. He helped design and direct several projects that investigated socioeconomic diversity in American education and sought to affect postsecondary admissions policies. Dr. Strohl received his BA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MA and PhD in economics from American University. His dissertation was a cross-country study of how education can enhance overall economic flexibility in times of economic crisis and structural shift.
with keynote speaker Jeff Strohl, PhD, Research Professor & Director, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
As the pace of technological change accelerates and global labor markets evolve, understanding the future of work has never been more critical. This opening plenary sets the stage with a forward-looking analysis of projected employment trends, educational demands, and training requirements through 2031. Drawing on the latest data and research, Dr. Strohl will explore the evolving role of education and credentials in workforce readiness, the emerging skill sets and training pathways needed to meet future demand, and how demographic shifts and automation will reshape job opportunities.
Following his remarks, Dr. Strohl will have a conversation with Robin Steans, president of Advance Illinois, about practices and policies from across the country aimed at increasing opportunities for good jobs.
Plus, Edith Njuguna, Director of the Illinois Education and Career Success Network, will share reflections on the Network’s vision for 2026 and beyond.
with Deb Barnett, Southern Illinois Now; Josh Stafford, Vienna High School; Kathy Lively Southern Illinois Now; and Stephanie Robinson, CEO, ManTraCon
Discover how Southern Illinois is building bridges between education and employment through its Regional Career Connections Calendar. This session will showcase innovative partnerships, hands-on career events, and immersive experiences, including A Day in the Trades, that empower students to explore high-demand fields such as healthcare, skilled trades, manufacturing, and more. Learn how schools, employers, and communities are working together to prepare the next generation for meaningful careers in their communities.
with Eddie Brambila and Victoria Spivak, Illinois Student Assistance Commission
Historic systemic inequities have widened educational attainment gaps for Black and Latinx communities. The Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission each have a unique perspective of the community we serve, yet by working together and exchanging our ideas on how we define that term, we are building a Direct Admission process designed to meet the needs of all Illinois students. Come learn how these agencies are collaborating to bring the dream of a college education to all Illinois students.
with Arleen Mercado, CTE Teacher at Waukegan Public Schools; Lisa Dallacqua, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development at Homewood Flossmoor High School; and Jazlyn Pulliam, Career Pathways Supervisor at East St. Louis Senior High School
Effectively engaging families is essential to helping students make informed choices about their educational and career pathways. This session explores strategies and tools for communicating complex information about career pathways in clear, accessible, and culturally responsive ways. Participants will learn how to frame pathways in terms that resonate with families’ values and aspirations and highlight opportunities for postsecondary success. The session will include examples of successful outreach materials, family engagement events, and partnerships that have strengthened understanding and support for college and career pathways.
with Jeff Strohl, PhD, Research Professor & Director, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
What skills will Illinois workers need to thrive in 2031? Which industries are poised for growth, and how can we align education and training to meet the moment? This interactive session invites participants to explore the latest projections for Illinois’ labor market over the next decade. Through small-group discussions, attendees will analyze Illinois-specific data on job growth and transformation across key sectors, identify emerging education and credentialing needs for high-demand occupations, and collaborate on strategies to close skills gaps and expand access to training.
with Jim O’Connor and Leticia Mercado, Advance Illinois
Federal education policy is shifting fast—and Illinois educators, policymakers, and advocates need to stay one step ahead. This session will unpack how federal decisions are reshaping education across the continuum.
The session will explain how federal funding works—and how this administration’s education policies have changed budgets from early childhood education and care through postsecondary. We’ll look at norm-shattering grant cancellations, new strategies to pressure institutions to conform to executive preference, and the long-term effects of policy changes. Participants will learn which key grants have been cancelled in Illinois and which grants to look out for. We’ll examine some executive orders, Department of Education investigations, and litigation strategies used to encourage overcompliance in K-12 districts and higher education. Finally, we’ll share practical steps Illinois stakeholders can take to stay informed about how their district, institution of higher education, or child care providers are being affected by recent developments.
with Dominique McKoy, Executive Director, and Alexandra Ritson, Director of Learning & Engagement, at the UChicago To&Through Project
Join the To&Through Project in a workshop where we will read and discuss our latest learning case, “A Seat at the Table: A Perspective on College Pathways for Students with Disabilities.” Our learning cases are real stories of practitioners grappling with the complex challenges of post-secondary advising and support. Through reading and collaborative discussion of the case, participants will build empathy for the experiences of students with IEPs and the school counselors supporting them as they navigate college pathways, will collaborate with others on potential ideas and promising practices to create more inclusive experiences for students with IEPs in college planning, and will walk away with a resource they can take back to their organizations and school communities.
The To&Through Project is a research/practice partnership at the Kersten Institute at the University of Chicago focused on bringing qualitative and quantitative data to practitioners and education stakeholders for inquiry and impact. We work to improve equitable outcomes and experiences for Chicago Public Schools students from middle grades through college completion.
with Antoinette Taylor, Ph.D., A. T. Exceptional Consulting
Chronic absenteeism impedes academic achievement, social-emotional development, and long-term student success, which impacts college and career readiness. This interactive session offers a holistic exploration of the factors contributing to chronic absenteeism and practical strategies for addressing it. Together, we will explore cross-sector partnerships that cultivate consistent attendance for all students.
with Shavina Baker, Room to Grow Project Lead, Northern Illinois University; Andrew Martin, Highland Community College; Nick Chatterton, Education for Employment System #400; and Jodi Ingram, Vermilion Advantage
Student success is a shared responsibility, and when K–12 schools, colleges, employers, and community-based organizations collaborate, the results can be transformative. This session spotlights two Leadership Communities that bring together cross-sector leaders to expand opportunities for learners. Presenters will share how they built innovative partnerships to prepare students for postsecondary success, highlighting key achievements and lessons learned. Whether you’re an educator, workforce strategist, or nonprofit partner, you’ll gain practical insights and replicable models to strengthen collaboration and improve outcomes, especially for students who are furthest from opportunity.
with Erin Volk and Cyndi Boyce, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
Equitable access is part of our core mission. We recognize that students may face barriers preventing equitable access to education. For Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC), this includes dual-credit courses for rural students. Learn how IECC addresses this issue by implementing synchronous lecture halls across our four campuses and 16 local high schools to bring dual-credit instruction to rural high school students. In addition, IECC hosts annual dual-credit summits for high school faculty and orientations for parents/students.
with Eric Santos, The Illinois Learning Technology Center
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the future of work, and creating new opportunities and challenges for today’s students. In this session, we will explore fun and practical ways to teach AI literacy and demonstrate how these tools are already being used in schools and various industries. We will also discuss current and pending legislation, business trends, and economic changes that will impact our classrooms and workforce development efforts. You will learn strategies to help you support students in pursuing postsecondary pathways that lead to economic mobility.
with Jennifer Foil, Director of Policy and Programs, Workforce Policy Lab at Northern Illinois University, and Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Team Lead, Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB)
Illinois is making significant strides in building a statewide apprenticeship ecosystem grounded in cross-sector collaboration and shared responsibility among education, workforce, and employer partners. This session will introduce the Apprenticeship Expansion Framework and highlight the emerging supports and tools stakeholders around the state are designing to help expand apprenticeships as sustainable pathways within secondary and post-secondary learning. We will discuss practical approaches to business engagement, how to connect with local workforce partners, Apprenticeship Specialists, and Intermediaries, and funding opportunities that can reduce startup and implementation barriers. We will also explore how apprenticeship pathways can lead individuals into high-demand occupations and careers that provide family-sustaining wages. Participants will be invited to help shape the statewide infrastructure to ensure apprenticeship works for schools, students, and businesses across Illinois.
with Erin Steva and Meghan McShan, Chicago State University
Join us as we share new research from the Illinois Center for Education Equity at Chicago State University exploring what drives, and deters, the next generation of college students. Discover what today’s students think about the value and accessibility of higher education, their ambitions for the future, and how institutions can better support those who feel uncertain or disengaged about attending college.
with members of the Success Network’s Student Advisory Council
How prepared are our students for life after high school? In this session, members of the Success Network Student Advisory Council will share their experiences analyzing their districts’ college and career readiness metrics. You will learn how these student leaders examined quantitative indicators such as graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment and combined them with qualitative insights from focus groups to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The session will highlight students’ perspectives on how to better support their readiness for life after high school and provide ideas for involving students in data-driven decision-making to foster a culture of shared accountability for college and career success.
with Meagan Mitchell, PhD, Pathways Director, and Laura Monteagudo, Pathways Manager, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
Illinois currently operates with two complementary frameworks guiding career and technical education and postsecondary transitions. To ensure consistency and stronger alignment with workforce needs, Education Systems Center at NIU, in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois State Board of Education, is developing a unified model that integrates the Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides and ISBE CTE Model Programs of Study. This session will share the collaborative process and stakeholder engagement strategies, and solicit feedback on these processes.
with Dr. Jason Helfer, Special Advisor to the State Superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education; Dr. Adrienne Pickett, Senior Director for Academic Innovation and Partnerships, Illinois Community College Board; Myka Kennedy, Assistant Director of Postsecondary Success, School District U-46, and President, Illinois Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (ILACEP)
In Illinois, dual credit is a cornerstone strategy within a broader movement to make college more affordable, relevant, and accessible, accelerating thousands of students statewide toward postsecondary success. The Dual Credit Quality Act, amended most recently in June 2025, anchors the state’s dual credit policy and reflects the state’s commitment to local partnerships scaling rigorous, high-quality, and strategic dual credit courses. State leaders (ISBE, ICCB, and ILACEP) will share details about the current state of dual credit policy in Illinois, highlighting new and emerging resources, guidance, and administrative rules, to help participants improve their local dual credit efforts.
with Sam Nelson, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and Davon Maxey, University of St. Frances
This session explores how colleges and universities are navigating federal policy changes impacting students, staff, and campus efforts to foster inclusive access, equitable outcomes, belonging, and student success in their education and career goals. Participants will hear about a variety of approaches and solutions that institutions are using to support students’ and staff’s well-being.
with Darryl Hogue, Superintendent at River Bend School District and Michele James, Senior Sales Account Executive at Veregy
Discover how Peoria Schools, Oak Park River Forest High School District, River Bend School District, and Veregy have transformed school construction and renovation projects into immersive “Live Learning Labs.” These initiatives offer students hands-on experiences in STEM and Construction Management by integrating real-world applications into their educational environment. Learn how these districts leveraged partnerships and infrastructure upgrades—such as geothermal systems, solar installations, EV technology, and new building construction—to create impactful internship programs that prepare students for future careers in engineering, sustainability, and the trades.
Gain practical strategies to design and implement high school internship programs that provide experiential learning in STEM and Construction Management and learn how to identify upcoming district improvement projects and build partnerships that foster meaningful student engagement and career readiness.
Panelists will share success stories from three Illinois districts where students actively participated in construction projects at their schools. These internships offered exposure to cutting-edge technologies and career pathways, empowering students to explore future opportunities in engineering, sustainability, and construction-related fields.
with Emily Owen, Belvidere Community Unit School District 100, and LaShanna Clark, Rich Township High School District 227
School counselors are essential in helping students understand what it means to be on a career pathway and what it takes to complete one successfully. This session will explore practical strategies counselors can use to help students connect their interests to pathways, interpret labor market information, and make informed course and credential decisions. Participants will also discuss effective collaboration with educators and partners to ensure students stay on track and fully benefit from pathway opportunities.
with Kelsey Bakken, Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois produces a biennial report on Illinois’ educational performance from early childhood through postsecondary. The report tracks key metrics related to enrollment and access, learning conditions, and outcomes over the last 15 years, with a special focus on how the state is progressing post-pandemic. Join us for a presentation on the most recent report and a round-table discussion on the state’s progress and what this might mean for schools, districts, and the state moving forward.
with Benjamin Boer, Sr. Director of Data, Dominique Janvier, Data Analyst, and Kate Eischens, Data Project Coordinator, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
During this session, Education Systems Center (EdSystems) will present on its data playbook, which provides an inclusive approach to data use. EdSystems’ goal is to bring data together in unique ways that allow participants to better understand the policies and practices they are implementing. EdSystems starts with the key questions participants want to ask about their systems, identifying analyses and data that support continuous improvement. EdSystems will demonstrate how leveraging secure, cloud-based technologies and collaborating with partners through data identification and legal processes can enable powerful insights. The presentation will include examples from EdSystems’ work with the Rockford Research Collaborative, state agencies focused on transitional instruction, and STAMP and AMP-IT projects supporting pathways implementation. Presenters will also discuss how the Success Network Dashboard can serve as an entry point to data conversations for districts and colleges.
with Christina Warden, Vice President of Policy and Programs, Women Employed
At the same time as funding for barrier-reduction supports dwindles, and the social safety net unravels, students’ need for housing, food, transportation, childcare, and other supports grows. Along with the National Skills Coalition, under the umbrella of the Lumina FutureReady States Initiative, Women Employed is convening stakeholders to create a framework for holistic student supports in Illinois. This will lead to a policy and strategic action plan to ensure more learners have the support they need to earn workforce credentials that make them better off economically. Women Employed welcomes collaboration from partners throughout the state to move this effort to reduce barriers to student support funding forward. Join this session to learn about what role you can play in supporting this effort.
with Christi Chadwick, Project Director, Workforce, Illinois Department of Early Childhood
During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) and the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (convened by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board) and efforts to increase postsecondary attainment for the early childhood workforce and those interested in entering the field. A panel will discuss some productive and innovative approaches they have implemented, including competency-based pathways, seamless articulation, community college and four-year partnerships, and dual credit to ensure a robust, well-prepared early childhood workforce for Illinois.
with Neil Gambow, Founder and Director of Operations, Trade Collective; Tris O’Shaughnessy, Executive Director, Trade Collective; and Dale Leibforth, Director of Early College and Career Experiences, Evanston Township High School
In the next ten years, an estiamted 41% of the six million skilled trades professionals are expected to leave the working world nationally. This is a crisis that has been developing for many years and is now directly in front of our country and our communities. The Trade Collective was established in early 2024 to provide career awareness opportunities for high school students interested in the skilled trades and get them “Trade Ready” for entry into those careers when they graduate. We “Light the Fire” in our young people and show them that a 4-year college path is not the only path to a successful life. Our model approaches the problem of the dwindling population of skilled trades professionals as one of supply and demand. The supply is the high school students in Evanston. The demand is the local companies’ need for skilled trade professionals. We work with Evanston Township High School (ETHS) at all grade levels and, together, bring interested students along on a journey that leads to a career in the skilled trades.
We will discuss our mission, organizational structure, collaboration with ETHS and Oakton College, and ETHS programming and student experiences. We will also cover the critical element of our success, including the formation of industrial collectives focused on plumbing, auto tech, HVAC, pipefitters, electrical, commercial landscaping, and manufacturing sectors.
with Emily Rusca, Policy Director, and Madeleine Greene, Policy Manager, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
Join this session to learn about how recent state college and career readiness policy changes and emerging priorities can shape how partners across Illinois can serve their communities to achieve more equitable outcomes in secondary, postsecondary, and beyond. Participants will also engage in a deeper dive discussion into challenges and opportunities in learners’ ability to meet the multi-layered high school graduation requirements in the state.
Early bird pricing is available now through December 31, 2025, or until the first 150 tickets are sold — whichever comes first.
Having trouble? Register on the Eventbrite website.
Yes, professional development and continuing education hours are available. Attendees must complete the digital evaluation available at the end of the conference to earn their hours. The credits are administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
We do not have a conference hotel room block. However, Moraine Valley Community College recommends the following hotels:
Free parking is available on site.
No, atteendees must register in advance. Registration will close on February 24, 2026, at 12 p.m.
We understand that some organizations require purchase orders and payment by check. While we encourage registration through Eventbrite to take advantage of early bird pricing and streamlined processing, we can accommodate alternative payment arrangements when necessary.
If your organization requires an invoice and check payment, please contact us at connect@ilsuccessnetwork.org with your registration details. Note that registrations paid by check are subject to standard pricing (early bird discounts do not apply) and will include a processing fee to cover administrative costs.
For the fastest registration and best pricing, we recommend paying via credit card.
Early bird pricing is available through December 31, 2025, or until the first 150 tickets are sold — whichever comes first. Group discounts are not available.
Speakers are eligible for a discount and should reference the speaker guide, shared by their point person via email, for details.