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Virginia C apitol C onnections, Fall 2015
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Career and technical education doesn’t
stand alone, and career and technical
education doesn’t stand still. When one
breaks that statement down, it means CTE
is an integral part of public education and
reinforces not only technical skills but
academic skills. It isn’t a standalone course
focusing only on one subject. And CTE
doesn’t stand still. Just take a look back
on your high school career: What were the
course offerings then compared with what
students have the opportunity to take now?
Classes today include Cyber Security, Biotechnology Applications
in Agriculture, or Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Programs
today include Governor’s STEM Academies, Virginia Teachers
for Tomorrow and Project Lead the Way. These were not likely in
your course catalog. The CTE curriculum must change as the skills
needed in the workplace change. CTE doesn’t stand still.
CTE curriculum consistently evolves to meet the needs of
employers and the competitive and global workforce. Virginia
adopted the 16 Career Clusters as an organizing framework for CTE
programs, encompassing every industry, sector, and career, and all
states use Career Clusters in some way. By using this framework,
high-quality CTE curricula are delivered through programs of
study. The Career Cluster framework encompasses the knowledge
and skills expected by employers and needed in the workplace.
Career Clusters are a useful guide for students to develop their
program of studies and discover their interests and passions, which
will guide them to select educational pathways. In turn, it will lead
to their success in high school, in postsecondary programs, and in
their careers. Additional information on Career Clusters is available
on Virginia’s Career and Technical Education Resource Center’s
website, .
For more than 30 years, the CTE Resource Center has worked
with state and local educators and with Virginia employers to keep
Virginia’s CTE curricula up to date. CTE curricula are revised
every three to five years with the input and assistance of business/
industry panels and teachers. The CTE Resource Center works to
align CTE courses with Virginia’s Standards of Learning; provides
up-to-date, Virginia Board of Education-approved information
about certifications and licensure requirements for CTE teachers
and students; and aligns courses with national and state certification
standards, when available, and with competitive standards for
career and technical student organizations. These services plus
professional development and in-service meetings are provided at
no cost to Virginia public school teachers and divisions. The CTE
Resource Center is an integral component of the statement, “CTE
doesn’t stand still.”
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
BERNIE HENDERSON
President
Funeral Celebrant
PARHAM CHAPEL
1771 Parham Road
(804) 288-3013
HUGUENOT CHAPEL
1020 Huguenot Road
(804) 794-1000
ATLEE CHAPEL
9271 Shady Grove Road
(804) 730-0035
Kristen Bailey-Hardy
804.643.5554
DAVID BAILEY ASSOCIATESCapitol Square Group
WWW.DAVIDBAILEY ASSOCIATES.COM
1001 EAST BROAD STREET
SUITE 215
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23219
804.643.5554
INTEGRITY …EXPERIENCE…
R ELATIONSHIPS
CTE curricula are rigorous and relevant and address not only
technical skills but workplace readiness skills. The programs
provide students with a competitive edge to compete in college
and the workforce and are delivered with project-based learning
activities and simulations that mirror the workplace environment.
These simulations promote critical thinking, problem solving,
communication, and collaborative skills, all of which are important
parts of the CTE curriculum and needed traits within the STEM
fields and programs.
A recent article in Forbes by Nicholas Wyman entitled, “Why
We Desperately Need To Bring Back Vocational Training In
Schools,” notes the need for a diverse workforce that is equipped
with a variety of backgrounds and skills. The author states the value
of and need for increased support for CTE; students who enroll in
CTE programs are building the skills they will need for their future
careers and preparing themselves for success in whatever field they
choose.
Virginia CTE students have the opportunity to earn, not
only technical skills, but also nationally industry recognized
certifications, credentials, and licensures that provide an edge in
securing employment, as well as earning college credit through
the successful completion of a program. CTE pathways provide
opportunities for stackable credentials–certifications that build on
one another–which also increases the potential of higher earnings.
With the support of the Virginia Department of Education’s
Office of Career and Technical Education Services, the
Manufacturing Skills Institute (MSI) and theVirginia Manufacturers
Association recently announced the expansion of its industry-
education partnership in Virginia to include several high schools
throughout the Commonwealth.
Phoebus High School in Hampton and the Burton Center for
Arts and Technology–Roanoke County High Schools in Salem
are the first secondary education MSI Academic Partners in the
Commonwealth offering the MSI Manufacturing Specialist (MS)
and Manufacturing Technician Level 1 (MT1) certifications. Fifteen
additional Virginia high schools will become MSI Academic
Partners this year, including, but not limited to, Brooke Point High
School in Stafford, Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg, John
Handley High School and Millbrook High School in Winchester,
and Pittsylvania County High School in Chatham.
CTE doesn’t stand alone, and CTE doesn’t stand still. CTE is
the educational vehicle for the new Virginia economy, preparing
students for successful careers and engaging with business and
industry partners to continually provide updated curricula.
Dr. Brenda D. Long, Executive Director, Virginia Association
for Career and Technical Education, has more than 30 years of
experience as a CTE Director and Teacher.
Career and Technical Education:
Essential to the New Virginia Economy By Dr. Brenda D. Long
V