Report: Teacher shortage undermines career and technical education, potentially economic growth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Uy, euy@careertech.org

August 14, 2009 301.588.9630 (office), 301.641.9358 (mobile)

Report: Teacher shortage undermines career and technical education, potentially economic growth

SILVER SPRING, MD – The fastest growing jobs in the nation will be in career and technical education fields such as manufacturing – from aerospace to pharmaceuticals—and health care, however a shortage of qualified teachers may jeopardize the nation’s ability to prepare students for those professions, according to a recent issue brief released by the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education.

However, an opportunity to boost the supply of teachers may be opening, as a growing number of displaced industry workers are making a career shift into the education system. But to capitalize on what may be a silver lining of the nation’s economic downturn, schools, policymakers and accrediting institutions must create pathways to attract, support and retain teachers, according to Teacher Shortage Undermines CTE.

Urging action, the report notes that “in order to cultivate a workforce to fill these jobs, students will require training from quality secondary and postsecondary CTE teachers – resources that are lacking across the nation due to a teacher shortage.”

The issue brief recommends:

· States adopt flexible, but rigorous standards alternative certification programs. Research has shown that there is no statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of students whose teachers took different routes to certification.

· Schools provide professional development through various funding streams – from traditional CTE funding pots through Perkins to Title II of NCLB. Also, all professional development should be comprehensive and continuous.

· Proactively recruiting teachers from industry, particularly in fields where the economy is experiencing the most growth and transformation. Industry perspective can keep the school programs fresh and relevant to economic demands.

The report highlights examples of teacher training programs and standards in Oregon, Alabama and California that may serve as models for other states. Visit http://www.careertech.org/uploaded_files/Teacher_Shortage_Undermines_CTE.pdf

NASDCTEc is the Washington D.C.-area based professional society of the state and territory agency heads responsible for career technical education. The state directors are committed to leadership and results. The association has a growing membership of over 200 members who share the state directors’ commitment to quality education at the secondary, post secondary and adult levels.

We have all been undoubtedly frustrated by the lack and accuracy of information available as it relates to technology and engineering education. I believe it is important to be doing more to educate the public, policy makers, and school officials as to the value and benefit of children engaging in technology and engineering programs during their K-12 school experience. So, I am setting out to produce a series of multimedia tracks that will be posted in various forums. Once complete, I will create a new Podcast and post them to YouTube as well as other appropriate online venues. The title for this production is “Education for Innovation” and my goal is to launch the first six episodes by the fall of 2009, then continue on to produce other episodes building on the first six.

Each episode will focus on a particular topic or concept important to technology and engineering education such as:
Workforce Issues
Innovation
Academic Achievement
Technological Literacy
Sustainability
Engineering
Architecture
Industrial Design
Design
Manufacturing
Impacts of Technology
Systems
STEM Integration

I am inviting your participation and contribution to this material in the following way. I will be scheduling a recorded thirty to sixty minute telephone interview or teleconference panel discussion with willing individuals. I will ask each individual to sign an appearance release for this production. I will then edit/select illustrative audio samples from these discussions and pair them with appropriate visuals and use the final productions in the manner described above.

My goal is to begin production as soon as possible and I am ready to proceed as soon as I can line up a few interviews with knowledgeable people such as you. I hope that you are willing to help illustrate the issues that are so important to society yet remain misunderstood.

Will you please send a message back if you are willing to participate?

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Dave Janosz

dave@janosz.us

Helen Keller program will teach ‘real-life’ technology

Helen Keller program will teach ‘real-life’ technology

Written by Brad Durrell
Thursday, 13 August 2009 13:51

Linking course work to real life.

That’s the goal of the Project Lead the Way initiative to be implemented at Helen Keller Middle School during the next five years.

The program teaches youngsters about math, science and technology in a way that exposes them to the different types of careers available in engineering and related fields.

“We want to connect course work to real life, especially when students’ interests in careers are still forming,” said Keller Principal Joan Parker.

Few students really understand what engineers and technology workers do, and the variety of opportunities available to them in the medical, environmental, manufacturing, research, design and computer industries.

The private, nonprofit Easton Learning Foundation (ELF) has agreed to fully fund the five-year implementation plan at a cost of $115,700. The costs include room alteration, equipment, software, and teacher and guidance counselor training.

Beginning in 2014-15, it is expected the program’s ongoing annual expenses of $3,900 to $8,900 would be paid by the Easton Board of Education. The initiative would become part of Keller’s regular curriculum.

The school system is unable to pay the five-year implementation costs now due to budget constraints.

School Supt. Allen Fossbender is excited about the program’s potential, noting students would learn about the variety of jobs in engineering at a young age. “It opens up career exploration and makes class relevant to them,” he said.

National program

Project Lead the Way is a national nonprofit organization that designs pre-engineering courses for middle school and high school students.

The goal is to show students how engineers use technology to solve everyday problems. The Project Lead the Way curriculum has been used at 300 schools across the nation, including in Simsbury and Stratford in Connecticut.

A brochure for Project Lead the Way explains that today’s engineers don’t necessary fit the stereotype held by most young people.

“Aren’t they those brainy nerds, the unfashionable introverts who always dream about math and science, computers, and schematics?” states the brochure. “No...The days of the pocket-protector-wearing engineer are gone.”

In fact, the brochure points out, the people who become engineers aren’t necessarily the best math and science students when young.

“The key is early exposure,” Parker said.

The United States is in dire need of engineers, especially when compared to China and India. Many experts fear the lack of trained engineers could hamper America’s competitiveness in the global economy.

New teacher, classroom

Students will begin the new course work in year two of the plan, or in the 2010-11 academic year.

The students will be taught about design and modeling, automation and robotics, electrons, the science of technology, and aerospace.

“The curriculum,” states the brochure, “gives them hands-on experience applying math and science concepts to solving real-life problems.” Students also will be taught the importance of communication skills.

The woodshop at Keller will be renovated, with new computers and other equipment added. Some of the existing equipment may be used for certain tasks.

A new teacher, Betty Noone, has been hired to teach technology, engineering and design. She replaces longtime woodshop teacher Ted Gass, who school officials praised for his expertise and years of service.

Noone has strong computer skills and has worked in the private sector, school officials said.

Fossbender said the Project Lead the Way approach will change lives for the better. “It really makes the curriculum come alive,” he said. “It’s engaging. It’s tested and relevant, and has been put in place by others.”

Foundation is thanked

Parker and Fossbender said ELF’s willingness to fund the initial costs should be applauded, noting the foundation has focused on the importance of science, technology and math in the past.

“They are taking this one on, and we are just thrilled about it,” Parker said. “There would be no other way to get this started.”

Fossbender said ELF “will partner with us once again, leading to a positive program.”

Keller officials worked closely with Greg Kane of the state Department of Education to pursue the program. Kane has since retired.

Fossbender also said he admired the efforts of Parker and Assistant Principal Susan Kaplan to start the program. “They persisted despite the budget issues,” he said.

Parker said one reason for her persistence is because early adolescence is a time when youngsters are open to more activities, so it’s the right time to teach them more about the career potential for engineers.

“The excitement of discovery and the passion of investigating one’s interests generates an energy that is electric,” she said.

State Education Chief Outlines New Vision For Schools

Courant.com

REFORM PLANS

State Education Chief Outlines New Vision For Schools

By GRACE E. MERRITT

The Hartford Courant

August 19, 2009

HARTFORD —

State Education Commissioner Mark K. McQuillan Tuesday outlined an ambitious plan to apply for at least $200 million in stimulus money to reform the high school curriculum, enhance preschool instruction and restructure several school districts through an urban initiative.

McQuillan sketched out his vision at his annual back-to-school address for school superintendents, in which he acknowledged that educators have been through an extraordinarily difficult year that included budget tightening, teacher shortages and other challenges. But he urged them to band together and take the opportunity to build a new future.

"Leadership in tough times does not warrant a pass. We've got to move forward and innovate together," he said.

To that end, McQuillan said he will apply for a competitive, federal "Race to the Top" grant in December that he hopes will capitalize on initiatives the state is already making and introduce new ones.

McQuillan's vision — still being developed — calls for spending half the money on an "urban initiative" over four years. The plan would form a partnership with four to six urban school districts.

School officials would not reveal many details of the plan, but said it would involve "a restructuring and re-emphasis that would address improving student achievement and closing the achievement gap," state Department of Education spokesman Tom Murphy said.

The other half of the money would be spent on districts that volunteer to participate in secondary school reform and early childhood instruction.

McQuillan has been working on reforming the state's secondary school curriculum for about two years. He submitted a reform bill in January, but the legislature did not approve it, saying it fell in the category of unfunded mandates. McQuillan's reform calls for tougher graduation requirements, including a senior project as well as math and language arts labs and other improvements.

The grant would also expand preschool instruction with a focus on building literacy and socialization skills to help youngsters prepare for kindergarten.

In addition to unveiling his proposal, McQuillan on Tuesday said the state should focus on improving the test scores of English language learners, who are falling further behind other students; building adolescent literacy; and incorporating technology in classrooms through a Web-based curriculum.

McQuillan also highlighted progress the Middletown, Meriden and Naugatuck school systems have made during the past year on the Connecticut Mastery Test. He also praised the effectiveness of the state-run Connecticut Accountability for Learning Initiative, which relies on data-driven decision-making to help teachers pinpoint students' needs.

This should be posted in every school Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail= on the head with this! Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world. Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up,it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. If you agree, pass it on. If you don't agree stick your head in the sand and take a deep breath! If you can read this -Thank a teacher!

Great Site from New Zealand

Techlink is a site dedicated to Technology teachers, students and all those with an interest in technology education in New Zealand.

Techlink showcases examples of contemporary teaching and learning in Technology and provides curriculum support and encouragement for teachers in their ongoing planning and implementation of classroom programmes.

LINK TO SITE

Appropriations Bills Voted on in July-Perkins funding likely flat for FY 2010
July 31 - The Senate took their turn at writing and approving an FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor HHS, Education) . On Tuesday the Labor HHS Education Subcommittee approved their version of the bill and on Thursday the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill. The bill maintains flat funding for Perkins Basic State Grants, National Programs, and Tech Prep. This is consistent with what was included in President Obama's budget submission and in the version of the Labor HHS Education Appropriations Bill approved by the House of Representatives last week. Reliable sources in the Senate have reported that the Senate will likely not vote on this bill before the Senate adjourns for August recess and that they will consider the bill in September.

Appropriations Bills Voted on in July-Perkins funding likely flat for FY 2010
July 31 - The Senate took their turn at writing and approving an FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor HHS, Education) . On Tuesday the Labor HHS Education Subcommittee approved their version of the bill and on Thursday the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill. The bill maintains flat funding for Perkins Basic State Grants, National Programs, and Tech Prep. This is consistent with what was included in President Obama's budget submission and in the version of the Labor HHS Education Appropriations Bill approved by the House of Representatives last week. Reliable sources in the Senate have reported that the Senate will likely not vote on this bill before the Senate adjourns for August recess and that they will consider the bill in September.