Thursday, January 12, 2023
CTE Month puts a spotlight on career and technical education (CTE) in February and gives everyone a chance to recognize the importance of career readiness. Where will you be directing your good news about CTE? And how can the news you share build your program?
- Students and teachers (CTE and non-CTE) benefit from knowing the options available to explore careers. All teachers can help guide students who express a career interest.
- Parents can help deliver the message about career-ready programs.
- Employers and other community members can help introduce students to careers through classroom presentations, company tours, and other career-based learning experiences.
- Leaders (mayors, legislators, editors) have the business contacts and funding access to support CTE and ultimately grow future employees and the Wisconsin economy.
In other words, just about everyone can help build your program. Here are just a few ideas to help you get the word out:
Share Your Shout-Outs: There’s no better way to make your school community aware of CTE than to recognize the teachers, coordinators, and administrators who make CTE possible for students! You can do this at the local level. To get this idea off the ground, your state CTE Team would like to do it at the state level. Do you know a CTE professional who deserves a pat on the back, a “Thanks!,” or a “Good job!”? If so, please share your shout-out with us by January 18 so we can lift them up in the February CTE Newsroom, or through the DPI Twitter and Facebook feeds. Make their day!
Proclaim CTE Month: Drum up support for the CTE program by creating a proclamation, signed by the superintendent, the mayor, or a legislator. Proclaiming CTE Month demonstrates pride and brings visibility to your program. It might even bring funding! You’ll find a CTE Month proclamation template on the CTE Toolkit page.
Four career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) also have special CTE Weeks during February: FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, and Skills USA. You’ll find the State Superintendent’s proclamations for these weeks in the same location. Consider tying your CTE programs into the state and national events.
ACTE’s CTE Month and NASA HUNCH Student Video Challenge: Looking for a good CTE Month project? The Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) hosts this opportunity for students to showcase the application of CTE and project-based learning programs in high-demand 21st century career fields on Earth as well as in space. Past winning videos show how CTE impacts every aspect of space exploration.
Host a school visit: Do you want employers and community members to know how they can help? Invite them to visit your CTE program. Have students talk with them about what they are learning, and share how employers can make a difference through career-based learning experiences. Remember to invite the media so the story ripples out to community members who are not able to attend.
Explore the CTE Toolkit: You can find more ideas for boosting CTE Month and your CTE program in the CTE Toolkit. Take a look!