Pender County Schools’ Career and Technical Education program will soon share its work on a national stage.
The PCS CTE Leadership Team has been invited to present at the ACTE CareerTech VISION Conference, scheduled for December 2–5, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ACTE CareerTech VISION is the largest national conference for Career and Technical Education professionals, bringing together educators and leaders from across the country.
The team’s session, “Career Exploration That Works: Building a K-12 Work-Based Learning System,” was selected after being highly recommended by North Carolina ACTE representatives. The presentation will highlight the district’s efforts to build career exploration and work-based learning opportunities that help students connect classroom learning with future careers.
“This is an incredible honor for our team and for Pender County Schools,” said Dominique Bates, Director of Career and Technical Education. “Being invited to present nationally shows that the work happening in our schools is making an impact. Our teachers, students, school leaders, and community partners have helped create meaningful opportunities that prepare students for success beyond high school.”
The national invitation follows a year of strong recognition for PCS CTE. During the 2025–26 school year, Pender County Schools was recognized at the Career Technical Education Director’s Conference in Greensboro as the No. 2 district in North Carolina for credential attainment. PCS earned an 88.28 percent credential attainment rate, finishing just over one percentage point behind the top district.
That recognition continued in February during National Career and Technical Education Month, when Pender County Schools was highlighted by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as one of the state’s top-performing districts for CTE credential attainment. During the 2024–2025 school year, PCS students earned 7,427 credentials, reaching the district’s 88.28 percent attainment rate.
Career and Technical Education in Pender County Schools prepares students with real-world skills through career exploration, hands-on learning, industry-recognized credentials, and partnerships with local organizations and employers. PCS CTE programs help students explore fields such as healthcare, engineering, digital design, agriculture, construction, and more.
“We are grateful for the continued support of our district leadership, school administrators, teachers, families, and community partners,” Bates said. “This opportunity gives us the chance to share our story, celebrate our students, and represent Pender County Schools on a national stage.”
Pender County Schools congratulates the CTE Leadership Team on this honor and looks forward to seeing the district’s work shared with Career and Technical Education leaders from across the country.