February 17, 2026

Academic Innovations / Get Focused Stay Focused!

Celebrate CTE — February is Career & Technical Education Month!

February is Career and Technical Education Month®, a national celebration led by ACTE to highlight the powerful impact of CTE programs. CTE prepares students for high-skill, in-demand careers by connecting classroom learning to real-world pathways— that's definitely worth celebrating. And what’s a celebration without music?

Check out page 11/27 in the Instructor’s and Administrator’s Guide for the Career Choices series and My10yearPlan.com to learn how to incorporate music into your daily lessons. In the meantime, listen to this song, written by author Mindy Bingham and lead My10yearPlan developer Brad Owen, that sings the praises of Career and Technical Education in today’s world.

Programs like Career Choices support the core mission of CTE by guiding students through meaningful career exploration and personalized planning, helping them build clear, confident plans for their futures.

Join us in celebrating the educators, students, and programs shaping tomorrow’s workforce today!

NEW: We’re Extending Our Olympic Opening Ceremonies Promotion 🏅

In honor of Career and Technical Education Month® and to celebrate your program’s success, we are extending our Olympic-sized thank-you. This is your final chance to be included in our $50 Amazon gift card giveaway. Educators who apply for a Career Choices Medal by February 20 will be eligible to receive their gift card once their interview is completed.

Already applied? You’re all set! No further action is needed to receive your gift after your interview. Thanks for being part of the Career Choices community. We’re excited to recognize your work.

Lifestyle Math — Your Questions, Answered

In our many conversations with educators, a few questions come up again and again. They are great questions, and the answers are key to understanding what makes Lifestyle Math so unique and effective.

Is there an online element to Lifestyle Math?

Yes. Lifestyle Math is a blended program that combines a comprehensive student workbook with an online correction tool at LifestyleMath.com. Students receive instant feedback on their calculations, reinforcing financial literacy and math skills in real time.

Do students walk away with anything?

Absolutely. Not only do students have their workbook to refer to for the rest of their lives, but each student completes the course with a personalized Financial Planning Portfolio report that reflects their lifestyle choices, budgeting decisions, and career connections. It’s a meaningful, tangible takeaway that shows them how financial concepts and math directly impact their future. It can also be used by advisors, counselors, and instructors for charting their education and career path.

Lifestyle Math makes financial literacy practical, engaging, and personal, preparing students for life beyond the classroom. You can learn more about this innovative financial literacy curriculum by requesting a review set or joining us for a FREE 30-minute informational webinar.