Level Up: eSports, AI, and the Future of CTE

Esports is one of the fastest-growing and most misunderstood fields in education. Far from being just gaming, competitive esports builds strategic thinking, data analysis, team communication, performance under pressure and digital literacy. This session makes the case for esports as a serious CTE pathway. While it has not yet been universally formalized as one, its competencies map directly onto existing career clusters in Information Technology, Arts and Media, and Business Management. You will explore how AI tools are already used in competitive esports for performance analytics, strategic planning and team development, skills with direct workforce relevance. Real examples from a multi-campus program show how esports builds school culture, engagement and career readiness, and creates on-ramps for students who might otherwise be disengaged. You will leave with practical language and evidence for making the case to administrators, school boards and community stakeholders, and ideas for building a program that is competitive, academically meaningful and positioned for CTE recognition.