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West Virginia University West Virginia Public Education Collaborative

INSPIRING WEST VIRGINIA’S NEXT GENERATION

Real stories. Real careers. Real inspiration.

The WV K-12 Speakers Bureau connects West Virginia students with passionate leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who share their career journeys, experiences and insights.

Educators can easily browse and schedule speakers from across the state, creating engaging experiences through classroom visits, speaker series, panel discussions, fireside chats and virtual presentations.

By introducing students to a diverse range of professions and career pathways, the K-12 Speakers Bureau sparks curiosity, broadens horizons and helps them envision their own futures right here in West Virginia.

THE SPEAKERS BUREAU EXPERIENCE

For Teachers

  • It’s quick and easy! Search and book a speaker directly from the website.
  • Flexible options. Choose from a pop-up event, speaker series, fireside chat, panel, and more.
  • A career-ready partnership. The WVPEC has partnered with the West Virginia Department of Education to align professional sectors with WVDE career clusters.
Find a Speaker

For Speakers

  • Share your passion. Inspire students with your story, on-the-job experiences, expertise, and accomplishments.
  • Flexible options. Choose from a pop-up event, speaker series, fireside chat, panel, and more.
  • A career-ready partnership. The WVPEC has partnered with the West Virginia Department of Education to align professional sectors with WVDE career clusters.
Become a Speaker

FIND A SPEAKER

It’s quick and simple! Browse speakers by name, title, county or area of expertise, choose your expert, click the “Request This Speaker” button, and fill out the form.

Start Browsing

CHOOSE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

students talking with speaker

Pop-Up Event

Host a speaker at your school in a small classroom setting for a more personalized session or in a large space to accommodate more students, like a career fair!

a speaker is having a speech

Speaker Series

Schedule multiple speakers to visit your school throughout the academic year to speak to specific grade levels/classes. 

people are taking on the way

Fireside Chat or Panel

Invite more than one speaker to talk to your class or grade in a panel format with a moderator. Speakers can be from the same company or organization and/or from the same field.

HOW IT WORKS

  • Teacher considers whether to: 
    • Invite multiple professionals through a speaker series so students are exposed to different people and careers throughout the academic year.
    • Or to invite just one or two speakers with certain specialties during the school year. 
  • Teacher browses the database, chooses an expert and submits a request form.
  • Teacher receives an automated email confirming the request is successfully submitted.
  • Speaker and teacher correspond directly to determine the best date and time for the speaker presentation. They communicate about the presentation length, discussion topics, technology needs and other logistics.
  • WVPEC confirms with the speaker that the visit is scheduled.
  • Speaker visits students in person or virtually.
  • Teacher encourages students to reflect on the speaker’s presentation and vocation.
  • Teacher fills out post-visit form.

Teachers and speakers work together to create the best experience for students.

Find out more information on how to optimize the Speakers Bureau experience for students.

Speaker Tips Teacher Tips

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Connecting West Virginia students and teachers with experts in the workforce to inspire the next generation of talent.

Dorothy Jo Headshot

Dorothy Jo Oberfoell

Education Director

Affiliation: Greenbrier Valley Theatre

Career Clusters: Arts, A/V Technology & Communications

Full Profile
Patrick Flora

Patrick Flora

Director of Industrial Design

Affiliation: Pickering Associates

Career Clusters: Architecture & Construction, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Full Profile
Amber Furman

Amber Furman

Director, Workforce Development

Affiliation: West Virginia Hospital Association

Career Clusters: Business Management & Administration

Full Profile
Arria Hines

Arria Hines

President and CEO

Affiliation: Allegheny Science & Technology

Career Clusters: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Full Profile

a career-ready partnership

The WVPEC is proud to oversee the K-12 Speakers Bureau. To help students discover career options at every grade level, the WVPEC is partnering with the West Virginia Department of Education to align professional sectors with WVDE career clusters.

WVPEC_Logo

WVPEC

wvdelogo

WVDE