Three Ohio high schools involved with college partnerships are reporting that a total of 35 students this year will earn their high school diploma, their career-technical certificate of completion and their two-year associate degree all at once when they graduate this spring.

One program that allows students to accomplish this from Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center will be presented by the school's superintendent, Michael McDaniel, at the 2013 Ohio ACTE Annual Conference.

Here is the description for that presentation:

Last year, Ohio ACTE partnered with the Ohio Ophthalmological Society (OOS) for the fourth year in a row to promote the importance of eye safety in the classroom.  Over 9,000 pieces of free protective eye wear were provided to multiple programs from 26 schools.  This was made possible by a generous grant from the Ohio Department of Health's Save Our Sight Fund.  Pending funding, we hope to be able to offer this program again for the 2013-2014 school year.

We will not know if funding is being provided for a few months, but OOS is requesting that you fill out your applications now.  This way if funding is provided, programs will be notified if their application was accepted (and will hopefully receive the eye wear) before the school year begins.  Applications are due by July 15, 2013.

Click here to download an application.

If you have any questions contact Stephanie Haas at membership@ohioacte.org.

Business First newspaper in Central Ohio has been conducting roundtables in specific areas, sponsored by Clark Schaefer Hackett, an accounting firm in Ohio.  Called "In the Room" these discussions cover education, health care and human resources.   Professionals and leaders from these specific areas are brought together to discuss issues and share ideas. Christine Gardner, Executive Director of Ohio ACTE,  was in attendance at the education round table, along with ten other individuals, including Barb Mattei-Smith, Gov. Kasich's Assistant Policy Director - Education and other representatives of for-profit and non-profit education groups.

The goal of the round tables are to gather insight from the invited professionals and to learn all they can about these three areas and help their clients benefit from the insight provided.

Here is some of the insight they gathered from Gardner on educational workforce development and economic growth:

"Our association (members) work in tandem with business and industry...So students gain a lot of targeted skills and knowledge from the local industry. That serves and grows the already-existing businesses within that sector. We’re also always looking to the future to gauge what industries are going to be important next in Ohio. We work with the current industries to determine what’s upcoming, what’s new. It’s quite a challenge, but it’s important in preparing our students and to developing a strong and attractive statewide workforce."

I think we need to re-instill professional pride in the skilled workforce and make it an attractive career option. Whatever skill you have, it’s something you should be proud of."

The round table also discussed educational governance in Ohio and and Regional Diversity affects education.

To see the entire publication put together after the roundatble, please click here.

Congratulations to our 2013 Darrell Parks Scholarship winners!

Matthew King, Lakota East/Butler Tech, Digital Media Arts Program
Courtney Ross, Auburn Career Center, Sports Medicine Program

These winners will each receive a $1,000 dollar scholarship to further their education.

Click here to read about the winners.

The Office of Career Technical Education at the Ohio Department of Education is currently accepting nominations for their showcase titled Student Success Stories. They are asking that superintendents and administrators nominate one student from each career field. The selected finalist will be displayed within the networks of the ODE and the CTE and used throughout the 2013-2014 school year.

The purpose of selecting these students is to further show how CTE is significant in preparing students for colleges and careers. At least 15 stories and photos will be selected and shared. Nominations are due by May 1, and the winners will be notified on May 15.

Below is a link to the application. Please email completed applications to Joyce Sheets at joyce.sheets@education.ohio.gov

2013 Ohio CTE Success Story Nomination Form-1.pdf

Congratulations to the winners of the Ohio ACTE Educator Awards!  Winners will be recognized during the Awards Luncheon on Thursday, August 1 at 12:15 at the Connections to Education Conference.

The following are the winners of the 2013 awards:

Ambassador Award

Bunny Brooks, Lebanon High School

 

Teacher of the Year

Teresa Bodey, Greene County Career Center

 

Outstanding Career and Technical Educator

Daniel Frederick, Four County Career Center

 

Outstanding New Career and Technical Educator

Matt Simpson, Buchtel Community Learning Center

 

Outstanding CTE Professional in Community Service

Adam Schlosser, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

 

Image Award (non-eductor)

Eric Myles, Cleveland Public Power/Cleveland Metropolitan School District

 

Career Guidance Award

Janet Baughn, Greene County Career Center

 

Outstanding School Board Members

Rusty Roberts, Mid-East Career and Technology Centers

Doug Maggied, Tolles Career and Technical Center

Sue Steele, Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development

Gail Martindale, Greene County Career Center

Click here to read about the award winners.

 

 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2013-2014 Byrl R. Shoemaker Institute.  The Insitute promotes leadership in CTE and is open to all educators and others connected with CTE who would like to increase their knowledge of career-techncial and adult education.  For an application and more information, visit this web page. 

Almost 60 Ohio ACTE members traveled to the nations Capitol March 5-7 to meet with federal legislators and attend the 2013 ACTE National Policy Seminar.   

In addition to the focus on Congress and the Obama Administration, NPS included sessions on broader policy topics affecting the CTE community.

Pictured here (left to right) is Dan Murphy, Ohio ACTE Treasurer; Christine Gardner, Ohio ACTE Executive Director; Larry Hickman, Ohio ACTE President Elect; and Joseph Dannemiller, Ohio ACTE President in Washington, DC.

Ohio ACTE will host a “CTE Showcase” on March 7, 2013, at the Statehouse in Columbus.  The purpose of the event is for students to demonstrate to Ohio’s legislators and lawmakers what they learn in career-technical education programs.  This day-long  “show and tell” event also provides an opportunity to show off the diversity of career-technical education and introduce new programs being taught in our schools.  

Thirty schools have been selected to participate and will share programs inlcuding

agriculture, biotechnology, helath care, engineering and electrical science, auto technology plus many others in order to provide legisltors with an understanding of the many different opportunities CTE provides students.

 

The family of Dr. Byrl R. Shoemaker donated many of the numerous awards he received during his lifetime to the Ohio ACTE office to display in his honor.

Dr. Shoemaker died March 1, 2012 at the age of 93.  Described by everyone who knew him as a life-long advocate of CTE, he never stopped advocating for career-technical and adult education and attended SkillsUSA competitions. 

 

As a tribute to Dr.Shoemaker, the Byrl R. Shoemaker CTE Institute has been formed to provide the opportunity for all individuals involved with CTE to gain a broader knowledge and understanding of career-technical education, as well as develop personal and professional leadership characteristics that will benefit their schools/organizations and CTE students throughout Ohio.

 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 - 2014 Shoemaker Institute.

Dr. Shoemaker’s major contributions to career-technical education include the development of the system of Vocational and Career Programs over the State of Ohio; development of the two-year post high school technician education centers that have grown into Ohio’s system of community colleges.  

The Byrl R. Shoemaker CTE Institute is a collaboration of the Ohio Department of Education Office of CTE and CTE-related organizations.    Individuals may donate to the Shoemaker Fund, which supports leadership growth in CTE educators and advocates.