Transcript Career and Technical Education in the Great Falls Public

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Career and Technical Education in
the Great Falls Public Schools
An overview
Career and Technical Education courses provide academic and technical
knowledge and skills to prepare for further education and careers in
current or emerging employment sectors. These programs focus on
career preparation, resource management, communication, technical skill
development, applied academics, technological literacy, personal skills
and leadership. One credit is required by the Montana Office of Public
Instruction for graduation
There are some 45 high school and middle school teachers teaching
50 courses these four general disciplines:
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Health Science (Med Prep)
Industrial Technology
Business
Family and Consumer Sciences
The need
Cascade County is at over 7 percent unemployment
rate. This has increased from 2.2 percent four years
ago. Full employment is 4 percent.
 There are critical shortages of workers in the skilled
trades (carpenters, plumbers, welders, electricians),
hospitality workers, and health care workers
 Many of these jobs pay better
than those requiring a college
degree
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Who’s enrolled
A credit of career and technical education is a graduation
requirement.
More than half of all Great Falls public school students are
enrolled in a CTE (hands-on, practical) class at any time.
By the program
Industrial technology
 Health professions
 Family and consumer science
 Business
 Agriculture
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Special events
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Career fairs
Construction Trades Fair
Health Careers Fair
Trades Fair and Rodeo Feb. 8,9,
2012
High school houses
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Two houses are under construction by Great Falls High and
CMR students in conjunction with NeighborWorks
Interior Design class students help plan furnishings, and a
landscape class at CMR helps with outside design.
Business enterprises
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DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) stores for
students at CMR and GFHS
■ Great Falls High School shop students sell storage units they
build in class.
■ CMR Woodshop class makes and sells swings and beds.
■ North Middle School shop classes run a laser engraver
business.
Paris Gibson Education Center businesses
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A number of businesses at Paris Gibson Education Center: “Sew What”
(formerly Avant Gear), “The Company” that runs a school café and
catering business, “Lynx Grafix” that does T-shirt and mug design, and
“Paris Gibson Designs,” that does business cards, calendars, photos and
even Web pages.
Making a quilt for the Paris
Gibson Education Center “Sew
What” sewing business.
“The Company” coffee shop
and catering business at Paris
Gibson Education Center
Meeting new needs
A wind generator was erected in November 2008 at CMR and solar panels
at GFHS in spring 2010 anticipating the boom in alternative power source
jobs.
 The Auto Tech Center opened in Fall 06 at Paris Gibson School to train
technicians. Partnership with five auto dealerships that put up $15,000 each
to fund center: Bison, Bennett, City, Taylor Brothers, and Lithia.
 All business ed classes operate on a “Company” model
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Dress up day at Rustler Inc
business ed class based on
“Company” model
Wind generator goes up at CMR in Fall 2008
Instruction at Paris Gibson Education
Center ASE Auto Tech Center.
Beyond the classroom
There are more than 689 juniors in the Job
Shadowing program that offers 325 shadows.
 Many students earn credits by taking Work
Experience courses and working part-time
and a new internship program is rapidly
growing.
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11-12 Plans
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Expanding WorkKeys to CMR, adding a fourth component, Career Skills (soft skills) testing,
and working with local businesses to add value to the certificate
Work with the district assessment office to systematize WorkKeys results and testing
Bolstering ASE and Ag programs
Working toward furtherance of the Career Academy concept with beginning of Med Prep
“pocket” academy at CMR
Establishing an FCCLA CTSO at CMR
Combining the Apprenticeship Rodeo and Trades Fair into one event in February
Perfecting the Big Sky Pathways, MCIS and POS in conjunction with COT Pathways
advisers
Work to better promote our CTE programs, possibly having an open house in February
during CTE Month
Migrate the GFHS Early Childhood day care pilot to the ELF center at Skyline
Bolster CTSOs so that as many students as possible participate in state, regional and
national events
Be actively involved in FCS and IT curriculum development
Work towards further efficiencies in IT department such as was accomplished this past year
Beyond the district
Students are enrolled in dual credit courses at MSUGreat Falls College of Technology in welding and
EMT (first responders) basic.
 Med Prep students train at Benefis with nurses to
qualify as Certified Nursing Assistants.
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Little known facts
■ Enrollment is high. Approximately half of the high school graduates are
Vocational Concentrators by taking three CTE credits or more before they
graduate.
 Post-secondary credit which saves time and money for students is
available Dual Enrollment opportunities.
 Work Experience allows students to receive credit while working for wages
on a job.
 Career and Technical Education has strong partnerships with the local
business community and uses Advisory Boards for five content areas.
 Additional funding comes from a state allocation and from a Carl Perkins
federal grant.
Student organizations
Career and Technical Organizations:
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Business Professionals of America (BPA),
Association of Marketing Students (DECA),
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
Industrial Technology Students (SKILLS USA/VICA)
FCCLA
FFA
These organizations enhance education with a co-curricular option that
motivates students through competitive events with an emphasis on leadership,
citizenship and specific skills.
GFPS also requires all Middle School students to take a quarter (each year) in
Industrial Technology and Family and Consumer Science. These courses
familiarize students with woods, technology, home maintenance, textiles, foods
and personal/family issues. These curricula provide an introduction to the high
school courses.
North Middle School “Company” that uses a laser engraver
to learn technology and computer skills as well as how to
operate a company and turn a profit.
Other facts:
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Field trips include local eateries to find out how they cater to clients
Career classes include: Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation class, entrepreneurship
class, consumer mechanics class, applied physics class, and landscape design
class.
The future
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We’re constantly looking for new ideas
For example we’re studying a pre-engineering program that reaches into the Middle
Schools to meet a national need for engineers
Ready to work certification
More partnerships with the community
Volunteerism through AmeriCorps for high school house students
Graduates of the Fall 2008 CNA class
from CMR. The number of CNA
classes has grown from one to three in
the past year to meet demand.
How you can help
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Volunteer to be a Career Presenter at Career Fairs
Volunteer to be a job shadow mentor
We’re looking for sponsors for various events and programs.
An example is the Auto Tech Center that is still looking for
sponsorship for its work bays
Talk up Career and Technical Education
Veterinarian Kelly Manzer volunteered
her time to present to the 8th Grade
Career Fair in 2006.
Contact
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Tom Kotynski
Workforce Development Facilitator
Great Falls Public Schools
268 6024
[email protected]
Career and Technical Education Web page:
gfps.k12.mt.us/Departments/
CareerTechEd/CareerTechEd.html