2024 CTE Works! Summit

We know employer engagement and partnerships is vital in career exposure and exploration, but how do we do this in a way that is scalable, replicable and accessible to all? The Explore Essentia Career Pyramid is a model designed to walk education and employer partners together through the process of building a concrete framework of experience and exposure. Utilizing lessons learned from both education and employer perspectives, this session is an opportunity to try out building your own pathway for partnerships that can be used with any employer/education partner.

How can we ensure that students are prepared for success in the professional world, and that employers are prepared to receive students and their learning curve ahead? Together in this interactive session, we will explain a step-by-step methodology that employers and education partners can use to ensure students are exposed to a broad range of career options, develop professional skills and workplace readiness, and apply those skills in meaningful career-enhancing learning experiences. A former college career counselor (Andrea) and Marketing professional (Kathy) now engaged in Workforce Development for an expansive healthcare system, the Essentia team has worked to design a model utilized to walk students from broad exposure to specific career development opportunities and eventually into roles as future educators and mentors for the next generation to come. This session will take you from interest to implementation, providing a framework that can be used to create equitable and just career exploration, exposure, and experience building opportunities. Learn, reflect and grow together as we examine lessons learned and create pathways for success for all students across all industries.

By the end of this session, you will be able to: 

1. Understand the scope of careers in healthcare for all skill levels.
2. Plan a cadence of engagement opportunities in order to expose students to careers across industries.
3. Identify ways to better prepare students to be successful in navigating the trends and gaps in the current job market and application process.

This session will address the issue of CTE teacher shortages and the impact on CTE programming for workforce development. Utilizing up-to-date proven techniques with a skill-based focus and creative approaches for recruiting and hiring, we will discuss and explore how to apply them to attract and retain CTE talent.

According to many sources including the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) and the National Center for Education Statistics*, almost one-third of public schools have reported difficulties in filling CTE teacher vacancies - to the extent that some are simply not able to fill them. The ripple effect has a profound impact on students, CTE programming and workforce development.

In this session we will engage in discussion on the processes that get in the way and how to improve them. We will explore trends and changes, including utilization of AI, and explore solutions you can start implementing today and pipeline partnerships you can develop for the future.

You will hear from an experienced recruiter and CTE expert how to:
1. Hire, attract, and retain candidates for CTE programs.
2. Find and engage talent pipeline sources.
3. Write a skill-based job posting for a career and technical education teacher.
4. Develop and utilize skill-based interview questions.

You will leave with tools and templates you can customize for your own use.

*Data retrieved from https://ctepolicywatch.acteonline.org/2023/07/analysis-of-national-data-illustrates-cte-teacher-shortages.html

After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Create skill-based job postings for CTE positions.
2. Construct skill-based interview questions.
3. Organize talent development pipeline partnerships.
4. Assess and re-design effective hiring processes."

The convergence of STEM and CTE offer an opportunity to equip students for future success. This session will explore a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at preparing high school students for careers in emerging technology career fields. The partnership creates interconnected initiatives designed to align educational outcomes with the skills needed for in-demand career pathways. By sharing best practices, the session aims to inspire attendees to pursue cross-sector collaborations.

Full Description:
This session will provide an in-depth look at a collaborative effort between the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem, the MN State Engineering Center of Excellence, and High Tech Kids. Funded by a single grant opportunity, this partnership focuses on expanding competitive robotics, providing internships in emerging technology career fields, and introducing students to in-demand careers through a LEAN module-based curriculum. Participants will gain insights into how these initiatives are integrated to create a cohesive program that aligns educational outcomes with workforce needs. The discussion will cover the successes and challenges faced in implementing these initiatives, particularly in reaching and engaging underserved populations.

The session will also provide a platform for exploring how similar cross-sector collaborations can be developed and implemented. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge and inspiration to initiate or enhance their own efforts in aligning educational outcomes with workforce development, ultimately contributing to the preparation of students for high-wage, high-skill careers in emerging technology fields.

•Robotics Expansion and Support: Led by High Tech Kids, this initiative focuses on expanding competitive robotics across the state, especially in rural and underserved communities. By providing resources, mentorship, and support, this effort not only introduces students to robotics but also fosters essential in-demand career skills such as coding, engineering, and problem-solving. The program is designed to be inclusive, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from hands-on STEM learning.

•STEM-Based Internships: The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem is spearheading a program that offers both micro and immersive STEM internships, in cooperation with several of the education cooperatives across the state. These internships are tailored to provide real-world experience in emerging technology career areas, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in professional settings. The focus on rural areas and underserved populations ensures that these opportunities are accessible to a wider range of students, helping to bridge the gap between education and the workforce.

•STEM Career Exploration and Employability Skill Development: The MN State Engineering Center of Excellence has developed "An Introduction to STEM Careers," a LEAN Curriculum designed as a "Train-the-Trainer" model. This curriculum equips educators, program providers and employers with the tools to teach critical workplace skills such as team-building, organization, critical thinking, and communication through activities based on LEAN principles. The curriculum not only introduces students to fundamental employability skills but also aligns these skills with in-demand careers.

You'll learn how to:

• Demonstrate the Power of Collaboration: Showcase how cross-sector collaborations between nonprofits and academic institutions can align STEM education with workforce development goals, creating stronger learning outcomes and better preparing students for future careers.
• Highlight Successes and Challenges: Discuss the successes and challenges of implementing these initiatives, particularly in reaching underserved populations and creating equitable opportunities.
• Provide Actionable Insights: Offer participants actionable insights and strategies for developing similar collaborations, emphasizing scalability and sustainability.

Target Audience:
Educators, nonprofit leaders, industry partners, policymakers, and others interested in expanding access to workforce readiness initiatives.

This session will provide attendees with an overview of strategies that have been used in Florida to help students with intellectual disabilities earn certifications, complete CTE programs, and gain employment in field. The session will also explore how Perkins V funds can be used to offset the cost of a comprehensive transition program (CTP) to increase completion, placement, and licensure rates for special population learners. We will end with a few brief stories of students who have completed CTE programs and the difference that it continues to make in their lives.

We will begin our presentation by briefly reviewing the Higher Education Opportunity Act, before moving on to explore the ways in which Perkins V funding can be used to fund comprehensive transition programs (CTP) for career and technical education (CTE) centers. From there, the presenters will share strategies that have been used to increase completion, placement, and licensure rates for students with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Florida; this will include Universal Design for Learning, peer mentors, student interest surveys, and accommodations on industry certification exams. We will then explore a wide range of credentials and industry certifications that students have earned in their inclusive CTE programs, which will then lead to strategies that have assisted student with ID in finding competitive integrated employment. Driving this presentation will be data that has been collected by the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities (FCSUA) and that has been published in FCSUA’s annual reports to the Governor (FCSUA, 2024). The presentation will then move on to look at two or three -depending on time- stories of students who completed CTE programs and are now working full-time jobs, in field. We will conclude the presentation with a question-and-answer session. In addition to presenting, both presenters will be available for ongoing technical assistance for anyone who is interested or who may want to start a CTP on their campus. Technical assistance will be done in conjunction with the Minnesota Inclusion Higher Education Technical Assistance Center and Think College.

Reference
FCSUA. (2024, July 5). FCSUA Annual Reports. Retrieved from fcsua.org: https://fcsua.org/aboutfcsua/aboutfcsua.php

You'll learn:

• Strategies that have worked to support students with intellectual disabilities in career and technical education courses.
• How Perkins V funds can be used to support a comprehensive transition program for special population learners on their campuses .
• Techniques that have been used to assist students with intellectual disabilities in finding competitive integrated employment.

Explore how the Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence, supported by Perkins funding, is transforming STEM education through the Siemens STEM Curriculum. This free, project-based program equips educators with the skills to teach Industry 4.0 concepts, while offering students opportunities for college credit. Discover insights from the recent Siemens Summer Teacher Training, supported by a Perkins grant, which brought together educators from diverse and underserved communities. Attendees will also receive a hands-on activity, ready to implement in the classroom, to bring Industry 4.0 to life for their students.

Hear how the Spring Lake Park Schools have created partnerships with local industry and colleges to provide students with opportunities for success. The Career and College Readiness Center at Spring Lake Park offers a wide-array of options so each student leaves the district with career and college skills.

What you'll gain from this session:

• Participants in this session will be able to take ideas related to direct career readiness skills back to their schools to support student interests in post-secondary success.
• School counselors or advisors will be able to help students and parents navigate best practices for learning more about college readiness from a wide range of perspectives(financial, academic, location, FAFSA, etc).
• Participants will be able to take what is presented and reach out to local partners in industry, training, and education to provide a vast array of opportunities for staff and students. 

**Unlocking Career Pathways Success: Expert Solutions with Saint Paul Public Schools**

Join us for an interactive session where Saint Paul Public Schools Career Pathways staff will share their expertise to help your school or district tackle specific challenges in developing and managing career pathways. Discover best practices in partnerships, Perkins funding, K-12 career pathways development, marketing and engagement strategies, internships, and certifications. Bring your questions and we hope you leave with actionable solutions tailored to your needs.

After this session, you'll learn about:

Strategic Partnership Development: Attendees will learn how to build and sustain effective partnerships with industry, community organizations, and educational institutions to enhance career pathways and provide more opportunities for students.

Optimized Use of Perkins Funding: Participants will gain insights into best practices for utilizing Perkins funding to support and expand career pathways programs, including how to align funding with program goals and maximize its impact on student outcomes.

Comprehensive Career Pathways Implementation: Attendees will acquire practical strategies for developing and implementing K-12 career pathways, including designing impactful internships, leveraging certifications, and employing effective marketing techniques to engage students and stakeholders.