Vol, 7, No. 17: May 5, 2008		Get SEAchange by email

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3. Burmaster appoints new Technology and Engineering Education Council

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has appointed her new State Superintendent's Technology and Engineering Education Advisory Council.

The council, made up of industry representatives and educators, held its first meeting April 17. The group will ensure that technology and engineering remain a vital part of PK-12 education in Wisconsin. Dan Conroy of Nexen Group Inc. in Webster and Bob Riberich of Riberich Plumbing in Reedsburg co-chair the council.

"Collaboration between business and education is crucial to our efforts to provide a high quality education to all of our students. This advisory council will support those collaborative efforts and ensure that our high school students are graduating with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in postsecondary education, the work place, and as citizens of our 21st century global society," Burmaster said.

The council will provide recommendations for strengthening and growing the state's technology and engineering education (TEE) programs. It will address issues of rigor and relevance. Its recommendations also will ensure equity in those programs, strengthen alignment with postsecondary education, and build industry partnerships to support technology and engineering education.

A recent report by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy details an education and training gap in the state with shortages of skilled workers in the health care, manufacturing, information technology, and construction industries. The report calls for training for the un- and underemployed to fill jobs in these industries; jobs that provide family-sustaining wages.

The list of council members is appended to the complete news release.

Educators who wish to keep up with developments in TEE may wish to subscribe to the DPI's TEE listserv.

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Last updated on 5/5/2008