2025 High School High Tech Conference
Congratulations!
Using Guideposts for Success, the nationally recognized framework to support youth in transition to adulthood, The Able Trust recognizes High School High Tech instructors each year for their success in working with High School High Tech students. The following were recognized during the 2025 conference for their efforts in each category listed.
Congratulations to the award winning High School High Tech programs for your outstanding commitment to preparing students for postsecondary success!
Preparing HSHT Instructors to Strengthen Student Success Across Florida
What do microgreens agribusiness, simulation games about finance, and IEP meetings have in common?
They are all opportunities for students with disabilities to be better prepared for life after high school. They are also just a few of the topics discussed at the 2025-26 High School High Tech (HSHT) Conference which brought together HSHT program instructors from 36 counties across Florida.
This annual event provides professional development training for instructors who work with the 1,200+ students with disabilities who participate in HSHT. Bringing instructors together each year helps The Able Trust strengthen the HSHT program and gives instructors new ideas and practical tools to better support student outcomes.
Through their participation, HSHT instructors increase their knowledge on secondary transition resources, learn about best practices from their peers, and explore postsecondary planning tools. This professional development meeting ensures these transition professionals leave the event with stronger skills that enable them to help students with disabilities transition successfully from high school to their next step.
Resources and Best Practices
HSHT Conference sessions cover a wide range of essential topics designed to ensure ongoing program improvement and provide new resources. The 2024-25 conference included a variety of guest speakers who presented information on the following:
- Project 10 led a workshop on how to better involve students in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, focusing on ways to help students speak up and take part in planning their future.
- The Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida provided information on changes students can expect as they enter a new education environment and how they can prepare for new expectations and responsibilities.
- Autism Speaks offered insights on creating employment pathways for neurodivergent students.
- Blooom illustrated an innovative agribusiness idea for HSHT programs to consider as a school based enterprise that would teach students of all abilities a variety of skills.
- HSHT instructors also held workshops illustrating best practices and strategies for program improvement:
- Local innovation was spotlighted with the DeSoto County HSHT program discussing their classroom financial literacy game that teaches students about real-world money management and economic concepts.
- Orange County HSHT discussed how to meet transition-related education goals, offering attendees actionable strategies for creating a long-term plan that addresses individual student needs and leads to successful post-school outcomes.
Student Success
Preparing students for life after high school is our main focus and The Able Trust works with partners, local school districts and other nonprofits around Florida to ensure students with disabilities have the experiences, resources, and tools they need to succeed. Our instructors use the nationally recognized Guideposts for Success as the framework for HSHT to provide each participant with the following:
- Access to coursework and learning supports that help students graduate high school ready for college or technical training.
- Internships, mentoring, and career exploration activities that expose students to real workplace settings and help strengthen their soft skills.
- Connecting activities linking students and families to resources, services, and community support, including Vocational Rehabilitation, that help them navigate the transition out of high school.
- Youth leadership development to help students build self-advocacy skills, develop confidence and take an active role in planning their future.
- Family involvement and support to engage families as partners in transition planning.
Honoring Excellence
The Guideposts provide benchmarks for measuring the impact of HSHT programs and during the conference, programs are recognized for their outstanding efforts.
- Broward County High School High Tech, operated by the Center for Independent Living of Broward, received the prestigious 2025 Program of the Year award for its student-centered culture, academic support systems, and commitment to expanding opportunities for youth with disabilities. Their program was also named a pilot site for a new partnership with the Helios Education Foundation to expand postsecondary success statewide.
- Julie Hurt of Brevard HSHT was honored with the Donna Mundy Award of Distinction, recognizing her long-standing leadership and transformative impact on students.
- Kodi Linton from Gulf County HSHT received the Rookie of the Year award for her outstanding work in nurturing student confidence and self-advocacy.
Five HSHT programs were recognized for excellence in integrating the Guideposts for Success into their HSHT activities:
- Hardee County HSHT – School-Based Preparatory Experiences
- Polk County HSHT – Career Preparatory Experiences
- Miami-Dade County HSHT – Youth Leadership and Development
- Putnam County HSHT – Connecting Activities
- Foster Care HSHT (Family Partnerships of Central Florida) – Family Involvement
Moving Student Success Forward
The annual HSHT conference helps strengthen our statewide network of transition professionals. Through collaboration, shared learning, and well-deserved recognition, HSHT instructors leave the event with a renewed commitment that ensures every HSHT student has a pathway to a meaningful future.