Britebound Programming
Spark & Tell: Practical Strategies for Turning Middle Schoolers’ Passions into Career Dreams
Thursday, November 6 | 8:00 – 8:50 AM | Room 117
When you think middle school, “career exploration” might not be the first phrase that comes to mind. But according to Britebound research, middle schoolers already say they’re stressed about deciding on their future career path—a sentiment likely exacerbated by how we frame the “career question” to kids. What if, rather than what do you want to be when you grow up, we asked kids what makes their hearts sing? Or, what do they love to do in their spare time? This interactive session empowers educators, administrators, and other stakeholders to leverage middle school students’ natural interests as the foundation for career exploration.
Presenters:
- Mike Murphy, Director, Strategic Communications & Campaign Management, Britebound
- Jing Cox-Orrell, Associate Director, Youth Initiatives, Britebound
Resources in the Real World: Supporting Educators and Parents
Thursday November 6 | 11:00 – 12:00 PM | Room 106
Britebound and AMLE are excited to share an updated, interactive playbook for Middle Level Educators. During this session participants will be first to view this updated tool and will have a chance to preview a connected resource at Britebound, a searchable, filterable database of tools, policies, case studies, and research on Middle School Career Exploration, High School Work-Based Learning, and Postsecondary transitions. Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback, navigate through the site, and help identify gaps and areas for expansion based on their current needs. Help Britebound and AMLE ensure that educators have the tools and resources they need to support students!
Presenters:
- Liz Texeira, VP of Social Impact, Britebound
- Stephanie Simpson, CEO of AMLE
The Kids Are Alright: Britebound and Roadtrip Nation’s New Middle School Partnership
Thursday, November 6 | 3:20 – 4:10 PM | Sagamore 3-5
For more than 20 years, young people aboard the green Roadtrip Nation RV have been crisscrossing the country to talk with professionals who share their thoughts and insights about overcoming struggle and finding personal success.
Earlier this year, Britebound and Roadtrip Nation launched the new middle school career expedition project “Explore Your Interests.” Over the course of this multi-week, nation-wide venture, three young adult roadtrippers will introduce middle schoolers to inspiring role models and mentors to help spur students’ own career and self exploration journeys. From these travels, Roadtrip Nation will produce both a documentary and video guide that will give middle schoolers the tools to begin thinking beyond just “What do I want to do?” but, more deeply, “What am I good at?” and “What do I love?” when exploring the career landscape.
During this interactive session, moderated by Julie Lammers, President & CEO of Britebound, and featuring Mike Marriner, Co-Founder & President of Roadtrip Nation, participants will:
- Get an insider’s look at the making of Explore Your Interests and its impact on student motivation and self-discovery.
- Hear directly from the Roadtrippers about their journeys, pivotal moments, and what they learned from the people they met.
- Explore how this new content will support educators in integrating career-connected learning in middle grades classrooms.
Join us for an inspiring conversation about how storytelling, self-discovery, and representation can ignite curiosity and confidence in every middle school learner.
Moderated by:
- Julie Lammers, President & CEO, Britebound
Panelists Include:
- Mike Marriner, Co-Founder & President, Roadtrip Nation
- Arnaud Turner, Roadtripper
- Catherine Alves, Roadtripper
- Joana Hernandez Ponce, Roadtripper
Salon Roundtable
Friday, November 7 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM | Room 116
Join Britebound and the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) for an interactive, salon-style roundtable designed as a follow-up to Resources in the Real World: Supporting Educators and Parents.
In this deeper dive, participants will explore Britebound’s updated, interactive Playbook for Middle Level Educators—a practical tool that helps educators link classroom learning to future career possibilities—and take a hands-on look at CareerReady HQ, Britebound’s new searchable, filterable database of tools, policies, case studies, and research focused on Middle School Career Exploration, High School Work-Based Learning, and Postsecondary Transitions.
Through guided small-group discussions and live demonstrations, participants will:
- Navigate both the Playbook and CareerReady HQ to discover new resources and approaches.
- Share experiences and insights from their own schools and districts.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the national ecosystem for career-connected learning.
Your feedback will help Britebound and AMLE refine these tools to better serve educators nationwide, ensuring every student can explore, plan, and thrive in their future.
Listen to the Kids: Designing Middle School Career Exploration for Today’s Youth
Friday, November 7 | 2:20 – 3:30 PM | Room 114
Many states are building strong policies around middle school career exploration. But is good policy translating into effective experiences for youth? This session will explore what students want from career exploration programming by examining the results of focus groups and surveys with past and current middle schoolers. Panelists will also discuss a new initiative to catalyze the work of leading states in this field to produce model policies that will inspire this work across the country.
Presenters:
- Liz Texeira, Britebound
- Casey Haugner Wrenn, Director, Career Readiness Team, Education Strategy Group (ESG)