October 2022 • Volume 3 • Issue 2
THE CTE "WHY?"
Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares all students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers. The experience begins with career inspiration in Pre-K, awareness in elementary school, exploration in middle school, and preparation in high school. CTE equips students for post-secondary education and immediate employment opportunities to compete worldwide successfully.
• Featured Articles •
CTE Business Advisory Council Matters!
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department hosted its first CTE Business Advisory Council Meeting of the 2022-2023 school year in the first week of October. Twenty-one business/industry, post-secondary, and county agencies engaged and provided insights into ways to improve CTE. The meeting featured an interactive conversation with Guilford County’s new Superintendent, Dr. Whitney Oakley. Dr. Oakley launched Better Together, a series of community conversations to discuss our hopes and dreams for our graduates, envision our shared future as a community, and determine a strategic direction to make our vision a reality. To learn more, click here.
The CTE Business Advisory Council will commit to improving four strategic focus areas:
- Recommitting CTE Business Advisory Council Participation
- Connecting with GIIT (Get into Industry Tours)
- Strengthening Work-based Learning
- Engaging with GCS Choice Schools & Programs, and Signature Career Academies (SCAs)
A Few CTE Data Points of Pride:
- Total CTE Student Enrollment | 24,740
- Middle School CTE Enrollment | 11,637
- High School CTE Enrollment | 13,103
- CTE Career Pathway Concentrators | 4,371
- Total Industry-Recognized Credentials Earned by Students | 7,118 (140% increase from the 2020-2021 school year)
5th Grade Future Day Career Expo
In October, the Guilford County Schools (GCS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) department held a “Future Day Career Expo” event at the Greensboro Coliseum for more than 860 5th-grade students at its restart schools. A restart school is a school improvement model that provides schools with additional operational flexibility. In GCS, those flexibilities allow for an alternate calendar that allows more student learning and staff development opportunities.
The Future Day Career Expo ignited inspiration, generated career awareness, and began the exploration of CTE career pathways through middle school exploration and high school preparation. Students were encouraged to dream big as they learned about the secondary and post-secondary paths toward Employment, Enrollment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship. Over 50 diverse businesses/industries within the triad provided insights to the next generation of leaders, who will be our entrepreneurs, firefighters, drone pilots, engineers, and more!
To learn more about the “5th Grade Future Day Career Expo”, click on the GCS News Video or the WFMY 2 News Article Link.
Are You Career and College Ready?
Northern Guilford High School (NGHS) hosted its Career and College Fair. The purpose of this fair was to allow students, families, employers, post-secondary education partners, school/district staff, and other community members to meet one another, establish a professional network, and discuss placement options for students after high school graduation. A college panel was a special part of this experience wherein a questions and answers session were held based on questions from NGHS high school seniors, providing a customized conversation between panelists and students. Special thanks to Leigh Smith, CTE Career and College Manager at NGHS, the NGHS school counseling department and administration team, and others who assisted in coordinating the Career and College Fair.
CTE Public Safety Trunk-or-Treat
In October, the CTE Public Safety Department at Northern Guilford High School hosted a trunk-or-treat career awareness event for elementary-aged students. Approximately ten local businesses and civic organizations joined in on the fun to showcase the world of work in Public Safety, including the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army. Health Science pathways students demonstrated health and safety skills as the weather shifts and illness and sickness may increase. Thank you, NGHS, for treating students to a safe and fun community engagement event!
• EDUCATION & BUSINESS & INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT•
NCATE Fall CDC/SPC Mini Conference Presentation
NCATE Fall CDC/SPC Mini Conference Presentation
The NCACTE Fall CDC/SPC Mini Conference in October was represented by two CTE Career & College Managers (CCMs) as conference speakers. Ms. Keesha Sinclair and Ms. Latasha Yancey presented on the topic “What’s in Your Toolkit?” The presentation covered topics such as the CCM Welcome Toolkit, Marketing, Brand Promotion, Social Media, and Work Based Learning.
In addition, to their school-level CTE leadership role, Ms. Sinclair also serves as one of the CCM Pathway Innovators, while Ms. Yancey is the 2022-2023 Career Development Coordinator Champion for the Piedmont Triad Region. Ms. Sinclair and Ms. Yancey have received and accepted an invitation to present at the annual North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Career and Technical Education Summer Conference, which will be held July 17-21, 2023, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Connect for Success NC 2022 Conference Overview
In October, Pamela Bunch, Western Guilford High School (WGHS) Business Teacher, Tom Basham, GCS Curriculum & Instructional Management Coordinator (CIMC), and Bruce Lockwood, Southern Guilford High School (SGHS) Construction Technology Educator attended the 2nd Annual Breaking Barriers Conference, hosted by Connect for Success North Carolina. This dynamic three-day event took place at the Lumina Hotel in Wrightsville Beach, NC. The conference brought together various stakeholders such as state education public policymakers, skilled trade and apprenticeship partners, contractors, CTE Educators, CTE Career & College Managers (CCMs), as well as representatives from the Department of Commerce. Keynote speakers included Michelle Lewter, Founder of CFSNC, Chris Wilcox, former NBA player, Dan Belcher, NCCER Director of Strategic Partnerships, Pamela Howze, of Wake Tech Community College, Catherine Truitt, the NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Gary Salamido, NC Chamber President as well as other invited guests.
The purpose of this conference was to have courageous conversations and collaboration around how to break barriers in order to bridge the skills gap and educate youth on the plethora of certifications, careers, and job opportunities in the skills/trade industry. Engaging activities were shared about the S.H.E.D. and V.O.L.T. Carpentry and Electrical Competitive events that take place across the state of North Carolina through CFSNC. Students of skilled trades gave inspiring testimonials about the benefits of construction management job opportunities, and the positive impact that skilled trade courses, and certifications have had on their lives and career objectives. This engaging conference left all stakeholders with valuable information, and essential tools to build courageous partnerships in order to revive the skilled trades and provide livable wage income-earning as well as continuing education opportunities for CTE students in districts across the state. The conference also included a Tour of the Riverlights master-planned community set on a three-mile stretch of the Cape Fear River, totaling 1400 acres. Construction started in 2014 and will carry on through 2025.
GCS CTE/Chambers Get Into Industry Tours (GIIT)
Our GIIT for the month of November will be at Honda Aircraft Company.
Goal 1:
GCS-CTE Get into Industry Tours are for government, business, industry, and education to "engage and explore" what an innovative school or classroom looks like, how the spaces simulate industry, and stimulate the workforce. More importantly, it is an intentional focus on why state-of-the-art or cutting-edge redesigns and upfits require properly allocated funding and increased advocacy to rebuild schools in GCS.
Goal Two:
GCS-CTE Get into Industry Tours (GIIT) is designed to increase the CTE department's (district/school-level) knowledge of today's business and industry trends; place students in positions to fulfill industry needs and satisfy a student's career ambition. GCS is committed to fostering relationships with businesses/industries that provide a clear investment and sustainable return. A GIIT model allows for a common language amongst both entities to improve workforce and economic development in Guilford County and beyond.
In October, more than 90 students from Dudley High School were visited by Deloitte, the largest accounting firm in the world. Of the 90 students in attendance, 13 were invited to continue in the Deloitte Academy and will visit the Deloitte booth in November during one of the North Carolina A&T State University football games. Deloitte Academy is a signature mentoring program that helps to advance equity by connecting Deloitte professionals with high school students who aspire to attend college but may be unfamiliar with the critical skills and pathways to success. Deloitte Academy employs a student-centered, active-learning approach to help students explore fundamental business concepts. The research-based workshops meet students where they are and engage students to explore and adopt the ideas to support their growth. The introductory seminar of the Deloitte Academy, Accounting Edition, is a career exploration experience that opens with students reflecting upon who they are and the life they aspire to have in ten years. Business and Accounting are explored as possible career pathways to achieve their life goals.
Job well done to Jason Snead, the CTE Special Populations Coordinator, and Frank McNeil, CTE Career and College Manager, at Dudley High School.
Did You Know?
October is Workforce Development Professionals Appreciation Month!
NC Governor Roy Cooper proclaims that October is Workforce Development Professionals Appreciation Month. Three core principles anchor NC Job Ready initiatives: skills and education attainment, employer leadership, and local innovation. Our state’s educational attainment goal of 2 million North Carolinians between the ages of 25-44 is the earning of a post-secondary degree or credential by 2030, and our workforce development partners are so essential in the achievement of this goal. Guilford County Schools provides its students with the opportunity to earn college credit and/or degrees; and additionally, in Career and Technical Education, students have the opportunity to attain industry-recognized credentials. We salute all of our Workforce Development Professionals, Happy Appreciation Month!
To learn more of Governor Cooper’s proclamation, click HERE.
A LOOK AHEAD...NOVEMBER 2022
SAVE THE DATE: Builder's Vibe Community Night Out
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at the Elm & Bain Event Center
Guilford County Schools (GCS) in partnership with The Innovation Office and Career & Technical Education (CTE), the Fannie Mae Safer Together Green Housing Project addresses the affordable housing crisis within the Guilford County community. You are invited to the Builder's Vibe Community Night Out to experience a culminating showcase of the development and growth of GCS Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Students who are a part of the Fannie Mae Safer Together Green Housing Project. In North Carolina, over 1 million households use more than 1/3 of their income to pay for their housing. GCS' CTE Carpentry Pathway students engage, innovate, and rebuild affordable single-family homes, gaining technical skills, credentials, professional mentors, and $15-$20 per hour! Join us on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm at the Elm & Bain Event Center at 620-B South Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27406.
SAVE THE DATE: Discover Your W.o.W., 3.0
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at the Greensboro Coliseum
Guilford County Schools (GCS) Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department will host a career exploration event preparing students for careers in the various NC Career Clusters. Discover Your W.o.W., 3.0 is purposed for 10th grade high school students who are making decisions with upcoming course registration about which CTE career pathway they would like to be a CTE completer, a pathway trajectory earning foundational and advanced knowledge and skills. This event will take place on Wednesday, November 9th, at the Greensboro Coliseum from 10 am-12:30 pm. Discover Your W.o.W., 3.0 will highlight career clusters that are high-skill, high-wage, and/or in-demand. Students will use their career inventory assessment through a platform called YouScience to map out their career cluster visits during this event based on individualized career interests and natural aptitudes.
GCS CTE Staff
Dr. Holly Pore • CTE Executive Director
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
GCS Teachers/Students/Staff: Click HERE to submit an article.
Business/Community Partners: Click HERE to submit an article.
CHECK OUT OUR PAST ISSUES
CTE Connections Chronicle Archives