This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the National Career Clusters® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers, and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June. Today’s guest blogger is Gregg Christensen, Entrepreneurship and Career Education Specialist, Nebraska Department of Education, Lincoln, NE.

Building Strategic Alliances with Business/Industry, Workforce Development, and Economic Development

Nebraska Career Education
SYSTEM

Business-Industry Linkages…

Partnering with Workforce Development and Economic Development

Stakeholder Involvement…

Do all these sound like familiar themes related to Career Technical Education?  It’s easy to give lip service to them, but difficult to make a reality in effective and efficient ways.

Bringing together key partners to achieve buy-in, support and advocacy for important career technical education initiatives and projects has never been more crucial. The bottom line for many business and industry professionals is that they feel called upon for money, equipment, and advice, but not really “heard.”

Workforce Development and Economic Development agencies have different missions, different measures of success, and different “alphabet soups” of programs and initiatives.  Bridging that divide is difficult but doable.

Engagement of key stakeholders has to be more than a surface “bring ‘em in, talk at ‘em and let ‘em go” exercise to meet a state or federal requirement.  Identifying who needs to be at the table, why they would want to be there, and what they (and you) will gain from working together is crucial, but an often overlooked step.

This session will share best practices for building strategic alliances with diverse group and review examples of strategic alliances built by the Nebraska Career Education (NCE) team and explore the tangible outcomes of these NCE system-driven collaborations including:

• Nebraska Standards for Career Ready Practice
• Career Readiness Modules
• Professional Development Modules
• H3 Website
• Preparation for Tomorrow Food and Nutritional Sciences project

Gregg’s breakout session, Building Strategic Alliances with Business/Industry, Workforce Development, and Economic Development is Monday, June 10 from 3:35 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the National Career Clusters® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers, and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June. Today’s guest blogger is Terry Carlile, Director, TLC Workforce Solutions.

How are you preparing students in the competitive job market? Whose pipeline are we filing? Gaining the effective partnerships of local employers for workforce exposure and training remains the key attribute of successful career programs. Learn how youth’s career interest assessment and the local high demand career outlook was meshed together to provide a training platform.

How to partner with workforce, educators and businesses for win-win-win scenarios will be the highlight of this subject. I’ve worked in the trenches of at-risk youth workforce programs and will share the reality of “how to”. It’ll be a fast, fun, informative and practical 1 hour and 25 minute excursion.

Resource:   www.tlcworkforcesolutions.com

Terry Carlile’s breakout session, Exposing and Engaging Students in Careers, will be held Wednesday, June 12 from 8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.

 Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the National Career Clusters® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers, and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June. Today’s guest blogger is Logan Newman, Ophthalmic Fabrication Teacher at East High School in the Rochester City School District, New York.

Having been teachers in the Rochester City School District in New York for 12 years there are specific things we have noticed about our economically troubled area. Below are some important facts:

Fact: According to New York State data, 45.5% of students who start 9^th grade graduate high school after 4 years (2008 data)

Fact: According to NYS education department data only 5% of students are college or career ready

Fact: Students who participate in a Career Technical Experience (CTE) program are 3 times more likely to graduate from High School than a student with no CTE classes.

Fact: The Monroe County workforce data states that 39% of the current workforce and 26% of new hires have basic skill deficiencies

Fact: As many as 60 percent of the children described as “problem learners” have vision problems (American Optometric Association)

Fact: Students from economically disadvantaged families (we have the highest poverty rate of all school districts in NYS) who need glasses have opportunities to get free ones, but it requires they miss time from school, resulting in greater loss of education.

Fact: A teacher at our building (me) had experience and an associate’s degree in opticianary, but no materials to make glasses and no class was offered or developed to teach it

Taking these facts together gave us some insights into what we could do to make a difference within our school and community. Our community needs skilled workers to work in the ophthalmic fabrication industry and our students need both skills for available jobs and glasses to be able to see and improve their education classes. Unfortunately, funds to purchase the tools for these programs aren’t in most education budgets. Fortunately, a grant was offered to us that did allow us to develop our plan.

Using the money from the grant we purchased materials for an ophthalmic fabrication lab (photo of lab at right). We taught a small group of students the skills of opticians and developed a full year class curriculum.

During this full year course students have learned about the shape of the eye, why people need glasses, how to correct vision with glasses, and how to make glasses. They have learned about face shape and frame selection, as well as lens selection and needs for patients.

Students in the program are working with students within the building who need eyeglass repair and fitting. Within the next several months they will begin manufacturing glasses for students who need vision correction help.

Erie Community College in Williamsville, NY has one of two Ophthalmic Dispensing degree programs in New York State. Seven of the 20 graduating seniors who have taken the high school course applied, and were accepted, into the ECC program. Because of the partnership we have formed with ECC they will be forgiven a second semester fabrication class, helping the students save time and money.

Students have also had the opportunity to talk with employees of Rochester Optical, as well as touring their production facility and dispensing shop. Students stated the time was useful because they got to see the skills they were using in class in use as a job. (Photo of group tour at right)

Our next step is to enroll juniors into a second year of the program and have them work with optometrists and student-patients. This second year will focus on making glasses for students who need them, learning how to deal with patients, and preparing for job opportunities. (In photo below, students are practicing taking pupillary measurements)

I’m hoping that, as you read this, you thought to yourself: “Wow! This is a great idea and I can see something like this in my area!” Your assignment between the time you read this and the time we meet is to look for local industry in your area and see what you might be able to link to your school to help your students.

Logan Neman’s breakout session, A Vision for the 21st: Industry and High School Collaboration in Optics, will be held Wednesday, June 12 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Newman’s co-presenter is Paul Conrow, Teacher of Precision Optical Fabrication. 

East High School is an urban high school in Rochester, NY that is collaborating with local optics companies to help meet the high demand for optical technicians in the local economy. With state grant money, the school has created two lab spaces where students may learn ophthalmics (making prescription glasses) or precision optical fabrication (machining precision lenses for telescopes, cameras, etc.) using the machines and instruments found in industry. High school courses designed with input from local experts can simultaneously help students and the local economy succeed.

More about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the National Career Clusters Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers, and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June. Today’s guest blogger is Amber O’Casey, the Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security (LPSCS) and Government and Public Administration (GPA) Career Cluster Specialist at the University of North Texas.

LPSCS and GPA Resources from the Texas Education Agency and the University of North Texas

Would you like to save time and money? Are you looking for free lesson ideas, project-based activities, or professional development? Are you an LPSCS or GPA educator? Then join us as we discuss the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Educational Excellence grant resources and instructional materials provided at no cost on the University of North Texas (UNT) Career and Technical Education (CTE) website.

Here are some of the materials that we will discuss:

• Professional development modules that are based on research and experience and focus on “best practices” in education
• Over 180 GPA and LPSCS secondary lesson plans that are standards- and project-based
• Elementary and Middle School GPA/LPSCS career awareness curricula
• Cluster-specific Implementation Guides
•   Cluster-specific Scope and Sequence documents
• Tools for accommodating learning differences
• And more…

All of the session attendees will leave with an understanding of the GPA and LPSCS resources and hardcopies of a GPA lesson, an LPSCS lesson, and a quick guide to our lesson plan template.

Amber’s breakout session, “LPSCS and GPA Resources from the Texas Education Agency and the University of North Texas” is Tuesday, June 11, 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

More about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing the final installment of the Institute Pre Sessions. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session: Partner Series: Partnerships in a Career Pathways System  

The Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) recently collaborated on the development of the book, The Career Pathways Effect: Linking Education and Economic Prosperity. CORD and NASDCTEc have developed a series of professional development workshops based on the major themes of the book to support practitioners in the implementation or improvement of career pathways. The preconference “Partnerships in a Career Pathways System” is from the Partner Series Workshops. A career pathways system requires multiple partnerships within a community. This workshop is designed to help you develop or improve your partnerships. Workshop topics include:

• Partnership Advantages
• Partner Identification
• Goal Setting
• Model Structures
• Partner Roles and Responsibilities
• Action Plan Development
• Partnership Management – Operating and Sustaining

Participants identify strategies and processes to improve their partnerships. Different stakeholders from your local partnerships are encouraged to attend this workshop together but it is not a requirement. Participants will also receive a copy of The Career Pathways Effect: Linking Education and Economic Prosperity book as a participant.

Fee: $200

Date and Time: Monday, June 10 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing an Institute Pre Session. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session: Become a Career Advising Idol  

Make colleagues idolize your commitment to excellence and clients worship the guidance you give, simply by engaging in professional development that focuses on career advising. No matter your occupation or intended level of understanding career guidance, Kuder, Inc. will help you quickly grow with flexible online training.

By attending this session, you’ll learn about Kuder’s new Career Advisor Training program that offers three course options to fit the schedules of busy professionals. The program covers the 12 core competencies of career development, which are also used by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and Kuder^® Career Development Facilitator Training™ curriculum, in a fast-paced, condensed format requiring an investment of only 10, 30, or 40 course hours. This signature training program lays the foundation for supporting and guiding students and adults in making informed career decisions throughout their lifetimes.

Fee: This is a seminar; there are no fees to attend.

When: June 9, 2013

Time: June 9, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing an Institute Pre Session. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session: Positioning High School MBA Programs in a STEM World  

Build a nationally accredited exemplary Business Administration program for entrepreneurship, finance, management, and marketing via industry-validated,   contemporary curricula.  Address the States’ Career Cluster initiatives via substantive, research-based program-of-study models (free!). Engage students in the classroom as you help them prepare for a 21st century work environment.  Learn to better position your program to meet the rigor and relevance demanded in today’s educational environment. Leave this highly interactive workshop with specific ideas for both strategic positioning and ready-to-use classroom ideas.

Lead Facilitator:

Dr. Brenda Clark, CTE Director/STC Coordinator, Jenison Public Schools bclark@jpsonline.org

This session is offered over two days:

Sunday, June 9 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. AND Monday, June 10 from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Fee: $179

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing a Pre Session. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session: Career Pathways Overview  

The Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) recently collaborated on the development of the book, The Career Pathways Effect: Linking Education and Economic Prosperity. CORD and NASDCTEc have developed a series of professional development workshops based on the major themes of the book to support practitioners in the implementation or improvement of career pathways. The preconference “Career Pathways Overview” is the introductory workshop in the series designed to be the catalyst for the development and implementation of a career pathways system. The workshop is based on the Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education’s Programs of Study (POS) Design Framework. Topics include:

• Legislation and Policies
• Partnerships
• Professional Development
• Accountability and Evaluation Systems
• College and Career Readiness Standards
• Course Sequences
• Credit Transfer Agreements
• Guidance and Counseling and Academic Advisement
• Teaching and Learning Strategies
• Technical Skills Assessments

Participants complete a self-assessment for each of the ten components of the POS framework and are encouraged to attend the workshop in a team (Minimum of two per team). Team members might include secondary and post-secondary administrators, faculty, and counselors. Participants will also receive a copy of The Career Pathways Effect: Linking Education and Economic Prosperity book as a participant.

Fee: $200

This pre session is offered Sunday, June 9, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing an Institute Pre Session. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session: Lessons Learned in Seven States  

Recent state-wide evaluations were completed of school counseling programs in six states. Results showed that when more fully implemented programs and practices were in place, student results showed significantly higher achievement on NCLB and Perkins accountability measures. School guidance and counseling programs do make a difference! This pre session will focus on evaluation results completed by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Additionally, New Jersey implemented a pilot program for implementing Personalized Student Learning Plans (PSLPs) in 2009, and has learned many valuable lessons from participating schools. A PSLP is defined as a formalized plan and process that involves students setting learning goals based on personal, academic and career interests, beginning in the middle school grades and continuing throughout high school with the close support of adult mentors that include teachers, counselors and parents. New Jersey’s Personalized Student Learning Plan Pilot Program has focused on exploring meaningful, creative and flexible ways to personalize the learning environment for students in a variety of settings. Come learn about the successes and challenges in implementation of PSLP from the experiences of participating pilot schools and the results of an evaluation study completed by Rutgers University.

Presenters:

Ms. Marie Barry, Director, Office of Career and Technical Education, New Jersey Department of Education
Ms. Donna Hoffman, Nebraska Department of Education, School Guidance and Counseling Programs

Date: Sunday, June 9, 2013
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Fee: $100

For more information, please Donna Hoffman at donna.hoffman@nebraska.gov

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager

This blog series provides readers with insight on the valuable content that is being shared at the Career Clusters ® Institute. Guest bloggers are among teachers, faculty, researchers and other experts that will present at the national gathering in Fort Worth, TX in June.

Today we are sharing an Institute Pre Session. Attendees can register for a Pre Session and attend the Sunday or Monday before the Institute begins. There is a nominal fee to attend these sessions and registration can be made in addition to general registration online. There are several topics to choose from.

Highlighted Pre Session New Tools for Beginning CTE Teachers

CTE schools require industry experience of their teachers and in some cases, the tradeoff for that experience is limited preparation in teaching pedagogies. The culmination of the needs of the CTE community and current research have brought together university experts, researchers and NOCTI to produce several modules designed to provided new teachers with research based information about assessments, certifications and third party testing.

This pre-session will explain the evolution, the collaboration and walk participants through one of the 2 modules. This information could also be used as professional development information. Each participant completing this training session will be rewarded with $100.00 gift certificate for pre test use!

Presenters:

Dr. John C. Foster, john.foster@nocti.org

Amie Bloomfield amie.bloomfield@nocti.org

Time Slot: June 9, 2013 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Fees: $125 NOTE: on-site rate $150

Already registered? You can add a Pre Session even if you’ve already registered. If you have questions, please send them to institute@careertech.org and we will be happy to add a Pre Session to your registration.

The National Career Clusters® Institute is June 9-12 at the Omni Fort Worth, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102

More information about the National Career Clusters® Institute

Ramona Schescke, Member Services Manager