Keynote Session
Personalizing Pathways: How Virtual Roadtrip Spark Self-Discovery in Middle School
Thursday, November 5 | 3:20 PM - 4:20 PM
Location: Keynote Stage
Today’s young people need earlier, more engaging opportunities to discover who they are and where they’re headed. This keynote explores how Britebound and Roadtrip Nation are using Virtual Roadtrip—an AI-powered career exploration experience—to help middle grades students connect their interests, curiosities, and experiences to real-world career pathways. Attendees will learn how immersive, personalized career exploration can build confidence, expand possibilities, and support future-ready learning for all students.
Panelists
- Liz Texeira, VP & Managing Director, High School Experiential Learning Hub, Britebound (Moderator)
- Mike Marriner, Co-Founder & President, Roadtrip Nation
- Arnaud Turner, Roadtripper, Roadtrip Nation
- Tim Taylor, Co-founder & President, America Succeeds
- Rachel Lipson, Research Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
Join us for a Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall with the big green RV directly following the session 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM.
Breakout Sessions
Career Exploration for All: Students With Disabilities Connecting Dreams to Future Work
Thursday, November 5 | 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Delta Mezzanine 5
Many students with disabilities face limited access to career exploration, leading to higher rates of dropout and unemployment. Middle school is a critical window to change this trajectory. This session highlights organizations centering student voice, creating hands-on learning opportunities, and scaling inclusive, research-backed curricula to build educator capacity so all young people can connect their passions to careers earlier and navigate paths to a rewarding future.
Panelists
- Jing Cox-Orrell, Associate Director, Youth Initiatives, Britebound (Moderator)
- Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, Ph.D., CEO, National Center for Learning Disabilities
- Christine Reich, Ph.D., President, TERC
- Jason C. Sutton, M.P.A., Executive Director of School Programs, PHILLIP
Follow the Curiosity: Expanding the Field of Middle School Career Exploration
Friday, November 6 | 10:05 AM - 11:05 AM
Location: Volunteer Breakout 1
Middle schoolers are curious and eager to connect passions to careers. Many states value quality career exploration, but the field as a whole remains nascent. The Middle School Career Exploration Impact and Learning Network, formed by Britebound and ESG, convenes a growing coalition of states and intermediaries to produce resources and aligned visions. This session explores the Network’s continued progress and key policy considerations to expand access to career exploration in the middle grades.
- Liz Texeira, VP & Managing Director, High School Experiential Learning Hub, Britebound (Moderator)
- Casey Wrenn, Director, K-12, Education Strategy Group (ESG)
- Mitzi Holland, Director, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
- Susie Burkhardt, Senior Fellow, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Discover Roadtrip Nation’s Virtual Roadtrip
Stop by the big green RV Thursday & Friday to peek at Virtual Roadtrip and discover new ways to help students explore their futures.
Career exploration should feel more like a road trip than a worksheet. Virtual Roadtrip takes students on a journey, bringing 13,500+ real career stories to life through a personalized experience that connects their interests to real people, possibilities, and career paths. Get a firsthand look at Virtual Roadtrip when you visit Roadtrip Nation’s big green RV Thursday and Friday in the Exhibit Hall and discover how it can help students expand what they imagine for their future, build confidence, and spark meaningful career conversations about what’s possible.
Research
Mind the Gap: Opportunities, Participation, and Alignment in Middle School Career Exploration
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Middle Schoolers Turn Curiosity into Career Direction