Now more than ever, providing students with career-connected learning experiences helps students develop critical future-ready skills, leveling the playing field and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to chart a course toward an inspiring future.

We are excited to invite you to our Defined Symposium: Building Tomorrow's Skills Today: Career-Connected Learning. This Symposium is a 3-part series where education leaders and administrators from across the country will dive into how schools and districts are providing students with meaningful career-connected learning opportunities that build critical future-ready skills and expand career pathways.

Registering for the Symposium will automatically register you for all 3 sessions. Certificates of attendance will be awarded after each session. For additional details, check out the agenda below.

Can't attend? Register now and we'll email you a recording!

Symposium Agenda

Session #1: Click here to view the recording!

Overview: PBL and STEM expert and author Jorge Valenzuela and Dr. Karen Barber, the Superintendent of Santa Rosa County School District (FL), discuss how to engage students in project-based career-connected learning that prepares all students for future success. They delve into how to provide students with learning opportunities that help them build 21st-century and future-ready skills and provide examples of how Santa Rosa is achieving this through career-connected PBL and STEM. This session will also highlight the role and impact of Defined Learning in Santa Rosa's career-connected learning journey.

Learn more about our presenters!

Jorge Valenzuela - Coach, Author, & Speaker, Lifelong Learning Defined

Jorge is a well-regarded and nationally recognized education coach, author, and speaker at Lifelong Learning Defined. He got his start in education and has helped countless educators improve their leadership and instructional innovation skills. Jorge specializes in emphasizing core instruction and professional training, team building, project-based learning, STEM pathways, and AI integration across the curriculum. He has authored several books and is the host of the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast.

Dr. Karen Barber - Superintendent, Santa Rosa County School District

Dr. Barber has served over 30K students, including 3,500 military-connected students, during her 38-year career in education. She has been a teacher, school principal, adjunct professor, and Director of Federal Programs, developing initiatives like the DJJ Student Support Program for justice-involved youth and the One Family, One Year, One Home Program for homeless families. Her leadership also includes pioneering the K-12 STEAM Innovate Program, emphasizing STEM and career development. As a military spouse of 15 years, Dr. Barber is dedicated to supporting military-connected families and expanding partnerships with NAS Whiting Field, NAS Pensacola, and Eglin AFB. Under her tenure as Superintendent, the district secured a $9 million Triumph of the Gulf Coast Grant to establish the Santa Rosa Center for Innovation. Her recognitions include Woman of the Year 2022 (Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce), Florida’s Innovative Technology Principal of the Year (2008), and several community leadership awards.

Session #2: February 4th, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET

Overview: HQPBL expert Dr. David Reese, Charlin Knight from Santa Rosa County School District, and Irene Parisi from the Connecticut State Department of Education will dive into the impact of Defined Careers and how it prepares students for college and careers through career exploration, experiences, and career navigation.

Learn more about our presenters!

Dr. David L. Reese - Chief Academic Officer for Defined

During the past twenty years, Dr. Reese has served K-12 students as a science teacher, Curriculum Specialist, and Central Office Administrator. He has taught Masters and Doctoral courses in all areas of curriculum and professional development leadership. Dr. Reese's work focuses on providing students with engaging, relevant learning opportunities designed to encourage students to apply content from a local, national, and international perspective.

Charlin Knight - Director of Workforce Education, Santa Rosa County School District

Charlin Knight has served as the Director of Workforce Education for the Santa Rosa County School District since 2012. She provides leadership and technical expertise in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of adult, technical, and community education programs designed to meet the needs of students throughout Santa Rosa County. She is a graduate of the University of West Florida where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Career Education and Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught business education at the technical college, computer science, and teacher education at Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida, respectively. She serves in various community leadership roles including Chamber Board Member, CareerSource Escarosa Board Member, and various business and industry advisory committee roles. She has a strong history in career academy development across northwest Florida for both Santa Rosa and Escambia County school districts. Charlin strives to encourage education and business and industry to work collectively to ensure that today's students have the necessary training opportunities to be the skilled workforce needed by our region.

Irene Parisi - Chief Academic Officer, Connecticut State Department of Education

Session #3: February 25th, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET

Overview: More details to come!

Learn more about our presenters!

Jorge Valenzuela - Coach, Author, & Speaker, Lifelong Learning Defined

Jorge is a well-regarded and nationally recognized education coach, author, and speaker at Lifelong Learning Defined. He got his start in education and has helped countless educators improve their leadership and instructional innovation skills. Jorge specializes in emphasizing core instruction and professional training, team building, project-based learning, STEM pathways, and AI integration across the curriculum. He has authored several books and is the host of the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast.

Mike Thorpe - Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Santa Rosa County School District

Michael Thorpe serves as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Santa Rosa County District Schools, bringing over three decades of educational leadership experience. Since joining the district in 1992, he has progressed from teaching math, science, and technology to transformative leadership roles, including Principal of Milton High School, where he elevated the school's grade from D to A in just one year. In his current role, Thorpe has pioneered numerous innovations, including a groundbreaking broadcast classroom model to ensure equal access to specialized courses across the district and positioning Santa Rosa County as one of Florida's first districts to integrate AI in education. His leadership has been widely recognized with multiple awards, including Florida Innovative Principal of the Year and placement as a Top 3 Finalist for Florida Principal of the Year.