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The Edventure Group at the 2025 SAIL Conference: Bridging Connections and Sparking Innovation 
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The 2025 SAIL Conference brought together educators, innovators, and community leaders from across West Virginia to explore strategies that support student success. The EdVenture Group was proud to participate, showcasing two of its programs making a real impact in classrooms and communities: the West Virginia Family Engagement Center (WVFEC) and West Virginia CAREERS. Through these programs, The EdVenture Group highlighted the power of meaningful connections and hands-on learning experiences to equip students, families, and educators with practical tools and inspiration. 

The West Virginia Family Engagement Center (WVFEC) team facilitated a fireside chat session titled “Bridging Connections: WV Family Engagement in Action.” Led by WVFEC Director Kayla Benson and Fellows Lisa Hayes and Michell Craddock, the session explored how strong family-school-community partnerships can transform student outcomes.

The Fellows shared their personal “why,” using words like anchor, lifeline, and lead with heart to describe their dedication to family engagement. They emphasized that meaningful connection requires being intentional, approachable, available, persistent, and consistent.  

WVFEC Director Kayla Benson and Fellows Lisa Hayes and Michell Craddock

Attendees left with practical strategies and renewed purpose, reminded that true family engagement is built one relationship at a time. Leading with heart helps foster trust, build bridges, and create spaces where families feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to participate in a child’s success. 

West Virginia Careers also presented “Mind Your Business: Early Entrepreneurship” at SAIL. Facilitated by educator innovators Stephen Turbanic (Wheeling Park High School) and Abigail Goode (Nitro High School), the session highlighted the Elementary Entrepreneurship Pilot Program and featured insights from educators across the state: 

  • Kim Cremeans – Village of Barboursville Elementary 
  • Karlee Edwards – Scott Teays Elementary 
  • Dancey Howes – Hacker Valley Elementary 
  • Lisa Sydnor – Culloden Elementary 
  • Jennifer Tupa – New Creek Primary 

The session explored how Design Thinking empowers even young learners to think like entrepreneurs—embracing failure, practicing flexibility, and using play as a powerful learning tool. Educators shared how entrepreneurship education builds confidence, ownership, and problem-solving skills, creating hands-on experiences that engage students of all learning styles. 

Through WV Careers, The EdVenture Group is proud to bring innovative programming to classrooms statewide, helping students develop skills that prepare them for future success. 

The 2025 SAIL Conference was a powerful reminder that meaningful change in education begins with connection, creativity, and collaboration. From family engagement initiatives to innovative entrepreneurship programs, The EdVenture Group continues to demonstrate the impact of leading with heart, building trust, and creating opportunities for students, families, and educators to thrive. A heartfelt thank you to the WVDE for hosting such an inspiring event and to the dedicated educators and school service personnel who show up every day to help West Virginia’s kids succeed. 

We are honored to support West Virginia communities in building brighter futures, one connection and one innovative idea at a time. 

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