Hey y’all! My name is Brenna Bartlett, and I am beyond thrilled to join the Advance CTE team as the director of technical assistance. In this reimagined role, I’ll be working closely with members, states, and organizations to design and deliver tailored technical assistance that expands access to—and drives success in—high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE). As a lifelong advocate for CTE, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to collaborate with passionate leaders and learners from all across the country, working together to achieve even greater outcomes for our communities. Let’s get started!
A true Midwesterner at heart, I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, before moving to Kentucky to pursue a degree in Public Administration. Although I had always sworn to my educator mother that I had no interest in teaching, I soon realized my passion for public service stemmed from a deep desire to help others succeed, thrive, and contribute to their communities. Early in my career, I worked with nonprofit organizations focused on workforce development and education, which ultimately granted me the opportunity to lead, teach, and discover in a variety of unique and traditional school settings, engaging with learners of all ages, backgrounds, and needs.
My diverse educational experiences ultimately led to nearly seven years at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, where I most recently served as assistant director of the Office of Career Technical Education. In this role, I led the development and implementation of Ohio’s work-based learning framework and co-founded the Ohio Equity Labs, a statewide initiative aimed at promoting data-driven strategies to enhance learner access, engagement, and outcomes. My team also expanded and reimagined Ohio’s regional support systems to ensure the success of local CTE programs during these recent times of rapid change and growth. I’m incredibly proud of the work we did to create greater opportunities for learners and build a brighter future for Ohio. I’m excited to carry this momentum forward in my new role, partnering with you to foster continued success and positive change in your states and across the country.
I currently live in Columbus, Ohio, and when I’m not immersed in my latest work project, I love to travel and seek out unique experiences – I’m currently planning a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest next year! At home, I enjoy volunteering, appreciating the arts, and exploring the city with my husband and our two dogs.
Brenna Bartlett, director of technical assistance
Tags: Access and Equity, Ohio