***MEDIA ALERT***
It’s not your parent’s Vocational School!

2011 Career-Technical Education Showcase Demonstrates 21^st Century Education

Career-technical education (CTE) is part of Ohio’s public education system that prepares students for college and careers. In Ohio, CTE is delivered through career centers and comprehensive/compact high schools. The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) promotes innovative education and supports educators who inspire students of all ages and abilities. Ohio ACTE represents more than 2,400 members statewide including superintendents, teachers and administrators.

With Ohio’s unemployment rate at 11 percent, job-specific technical education is essential to increase marketability and employability for displaced adult workers. Having access to quality adult education programs designed with input from industry and business gives adults marketable skills.

Ohio has 57 Adult Workforce Education centers that focus on delivery of education quickly and efficiently to get Ohioans into jobs that exist in their communities. Many of these programs are designed with local business and industry to make sure students are getting relevant education that leads to jobs, evidenced by an 86% placement rate, according to Ohio Department of Education statistics.

In 2009, approximately 17,000 Ohioans took part in these programs, which are part of the University System of Ohio and Board of Regents.

The Ohio Association for Career & Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) recently compiled a report on Adult Workforce Education with examples of business and industry partnerships with career- technical programs and testimonials from students who have completed an Adult Workforce Education program.

The report, “Adult Workforce Education: Economy Driven – Life Changing,” was prepared to illustrate how essential Adult Workforce Education is in improving the economy and decreasing Ohio’s unemployment rate by providing Ohio business and industry the skilled and educated workforce they need.

With a completion rate of 91 percent, Adult Workforce Education serves students who understand the importance of obtaining marketable skills and want an education that is fast and focused on the skills they need. 

“Adult Workforce Education is community oriented.  It provides the skills and education that local business and industry needs so that it is beneficial to both the student and Ohio’s economy,” said Christine Gardner, Ohio ACTE Executive Director.   

A copy of the complete report is available at
http://www.ohioacte.org/Resources/Documents/AWDreport2010.pdf.

Kit Tyler, Adult Workforce Education Director at Four County Career Center, has provided more than 30 years of service to the field of career-technical education and will be retiring December 2010. During her career, she has held multiple leadership roles including Adult Workforce Education President and Ohio ACTE Board of Directors.

The staff of Four County Career Center Adult Workforce Education nominated Tyler without her knowledge and are happy to know that she is the recipient of the 2010 Ambassador Award.

“Kit’s tireless efforts, firm commitment and genuine love for Adult Workforce Education deserves recognition at this time,” says staff member, Terri Lavin, of Four County. “The fact that Kit continues to put forth her best effort so that others will have a solid foundation to build on after her retirement in December is testimony that Kit Tyler is truly an ambassador for adult and career-technical education.”

Tyler has been involved in creating and implementing four new programs: CT², Stackable Certificates, Dual Enrollment and Partnership with Community College Programs. She was also instrumental in developing the standards for post-secondary accreditation through North Central Association AdvancEd (NCA/AdvancEd).

“It is important to Ohio ACTE that the Ambassador Award goes to an educator who exceeds the expectations of this award,” says Christine Gardner, Executive Director of Ohio ACTE. “Tyler’s vast amount of involvement and leadership clearly show her passion and dedication to adult education.”

The Ambassador Award is given to an educator who has made the highest meritorious contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of career and technical education.

After working at Honeywell Lighting in Urbana for 27 years, in 2007 Frank Drain resigned, earned his teaching license and accepted a position at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center. The Urbana community requested that Ohio Hi-Point Career Center implement a high school aviation program, and Drain has been instrumental in that project, teaching eager students about aviation every day.

Because of his outstanding aviation program and what he brings from the field to the classroom, Drain is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher Award from Ohio ACTE. He was nominated by Satellite Director of Ohio-Hi Point Career Center, Debbie Wortman, according to Wortman because, “Frank consistently involves students in activities that take place at the airport.”

 “His networking is instrumental to the success of his program and students,” says Wortman. “He continuously communicates the value of career technical education to everyone he meets.”

Career and Technical Education is about discovering new and innovative ways to educate students and teach them current skills that will lead to successful careers or college education. Drain does this in many ways, including his project-based teaching methods. Students are also able to earn 14 college credit hours while participating in his high school program.

The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education annually recognizes a career-tech educator who is an outstanding professional in community service for Career Technical and Adult Education (CTAE). Crissy Lauterbach from Lakota East High School is this year’s recipient of the Ohio ACTE Outstanding CTAE Professional in Community Service Award.

Lauterbach’s community service involvement includes more than 25 projects done through the school and three projects she personally maintains. Some of her projects benefit the American Red Cross, Veterans Hospital, American Diabetes Association, the Ronald McDonald House and more.

“Crissy is an outstanding educator who always puts her students first,” says Tod Baldwin, Supervisor from Butler Technology and Career Development Schools. “It is my honor and pleasure to recommend Crissy Lauterbach for the Ohio ACTE Outstanding Professional in Community Service Award.”

Lauterbach’s experience with the Ronald McDonald House was full of a variety of service opportunities. The focus of the Ronald McDonald House is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.

Lauterbach represents all those involved in community service within the world of career-technical education. Executive Director of Ohio ACTE Christine Gardner says, “Crissy has done an outstanding job at representing career-technical education in the work that she does. Ohio ACTE is proud to have a representative so devoted to giving back to the community in which we live.”

For the past 42 years, Alice Karen Hite has dedicated her career to providing quality career-technical education for high school and adult students. Currently the director of the Zanesville Campus of Mid-East Career and Technology Center, Hite has been named the statewide Outstanding Career and Technical Educator by the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE). The award recognizes her dedication to helping students reach their college and career goals.

 “Student learning and success is at the heart of all her decisions,” says Barb Funk, a colleague of Hite’s. “She has set her expectations high for teachers to provide challenging lessons that prepare students for college and careers.”

During her employment, Hite has been instrumental in overseeing the development of three new career-technical programs, and Mid-East CTC has experienced a 35% increase in enrollment under Hite’s leadership. Her emphasis on improving recruiting and retention are two significant factors that have led to the increase in student enrollment.

The Ohio ACTE Outstanding Career and Technical Educator Award is given annually to a career-tech professional who has recently provided significant contributions to professional associations and career and technical education programs.

With 28 years of experience in electrical construction, Larry Higgins now brings his professional knowledge to the classroom as a full-time career-tech teacher at Butler Technology and Career Development Schools, D. Russel Lee Campus. The high school students in Higgins’ class benefit from his real world experience and dedication to their success.

Due to his excellent performance in the classroom and as a career-tech educator, Higgins has been named Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE). He continues to develop innovative and motivating programs for his students to benefit from.

“We value the quality of education our students receive, and that is completely dependent on the skills of the teachers,” says Christine Gardner, Executive Director of Ohio ACTE. “I consider Ohio ACTE lucky to have so many wonderful educators like Larry Higgins who are devoted to seeing students succeed.”

Higgins teaches challenging, industry-focused lessons. His classroom curriculum is developed by utilizing input from local electrical businesses and industries. He also acts as the advisor for the industry-related student organization. He is a model of student’s success. Higgins was nominated for this award by colleague Matt Lindley who recognized his dedication to students and their educational success. Higgins provides an enthusiastic learning environment in his classroom where students are excited to learn. Students feel that his professional field experience provide them with a better understanding of what to expect outside of the classroom.

The Ohio ACTE Teacher of the Year Award is given annually to a teacher who provides outstanding career and technical education programs for youth and adults in their specific field. Recipients are expected to have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique programs that serve to improve and promote career and technical education.

For the last two years, Danielle Williams has attended Miami Valley Career Technology Center as a part of the Graphic Commercial Arts program and hopes to attend Columbus College of Art and Design in the fall to further her education in art. The Ohio Association of Career and Technical Education (Ohio ACTE) is proud to announce Williams’ as the 2010 recipient of the Darrell Parks Scholarship. It has been Williams’ goal to be an artist ever since fourth grade, and she has worked hard to make that possible.

“I consider my attendance at MVCTC to be one of the major reasons I feel confident in pursuing a career in graphic design,” Williams says of her career-tech education. “I have been taught skills that transpire into all parts of my life and prepare me to be successful.”

Through her experience with career-technical education, Williams recognizes that it has really helped her get ahead in her field. MVCTC has fostered her desire to learn and provided her with opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience in the field of graphic design. Some of Williams’ achievements include competing in Skills USA, a national student organization for the promotion of career and technical education, as well as being named a Student Ambassador by MVCTC.

 “I consider myself blessed to have gotten the chance to be enrolled in such an influential technical school, and even though I must spend two hours a day in commute to and from, I don’t regret my decision for a second,” says Williams’ in appreciation to career-tech education. “I applied for the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education Darrell Parks Scholarship because I have done everything in my power to prepare myself for college, but I know financially I will need some help at CCAD.”

Ohio ACTE proudly offers the $1,000 Darrell Parks Student Scholarship to one deserving student each year. Any student enrolled in an Ohio Career and Technical Program is eligible to apply. All applications are read by a committee. The winner is selected based on academic achievements, future goals, involvement in career-technical education and financial need.