Mary Shumway, State Director of Career and Technical Education
The month of August marks the end of summer vacation and the first day of school for teachers and students. We hope the professional development educators received at the summer conferences have given you new tools to educate, train, encourage, inspire, and prepare your students.
The tools you obtained are invaluable to the success of each student and their preparation to complete in a global economy.
We encourage you to continue to promote student participation in CTE Pathways. CTE Pathways show students a direct connection between doing well in high school and being able to transition smoothly to postsecondary opportunities (college) or immediately entering the workforce (career).
Concentrating in and then completing a CTE Pathway will give students an advantage as they progress from high school to college and career. For answers to frequently asked questions about CTE Pathways read FAQ CTE Pathways.
As the school doors open for the 2012-13 school year we encourage you to consider the following:
- Teachers: Assist students in creating a portfolio in UtahFutures.org and/or add to their existing portfolio.
- School Counselors: Assist students in mapping out their CTE classes throughout high school and their postsecondary options most relevant to their chosen career choice.
- Encourage students to become a member of a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
- Let CTE students who are juniors know if they are on track to become a CTE Pathway completer. (A CTE Pathway completer is eligible to receive a Secondary Pathway Completer Recognition Award at graduation.)
- Encourage CTE students who are seniors to apply for CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award. Applications are due February 27, 2013.
- Join the UtahCTE.org online communities—Twitter, Facebook, Utah CTE blog—to connect with CTE throughout the year.
Teachers, let us know what activities you have planned during the year and what is happening in your classroom. Email your events and stories to UtahCTE@schools.utah.gov.
Mary Shumway is the Director of Career and Technical Education at the Utah State Office of Education. You may reach her via email at or by calling 801-538-7500. Learn more about Career and Technical Education on the UtahCTE.org website. This is a cross-post from the CTE Directions newsletter, August Educator Edition.
This looks like a terrific program. For more information on CTE and how it can help remedy the emerging economic skills gap, please visit the website for the newly created Industry Workforce Needs Council at http://www.iwnc.org. We would welcome any feedback and/or examples of successful CTE education on that site.