acte fall 13 Layout 1

The school year has truly started, wejust completed week four and I amabout six weeks behind. I wish I wouldhave been more attentive during thetime management workshops orlearned to say no --- one of thesechoices surely would have generatedmore leisure time. Yes, Donna had tosend me reminder number two, “yourarticle is due.”

Today during my walk around thepasture checking on our small herd ofcows and the new calves born in thelast few days, I realized my optimismfor education and cow wranglingparallel each other. We haveexperienced three falls of drought inour area. Normally at this time, I amwalking around in new fall grassbrought on by late August or earlySeptember rains — but not during thelast three years.

I continue to enjoy and find optimismduring my daily walk through the cowsand calves even with the parchedpasture, low ponds and increased feedcost from buying additional hay. Isometimes find myself and others inour office or the teachers’ loungeidentifying the drought in education.The cause of our drought can bedirected to students, fellow educators,DESE or a variety of other problem-causing entities.

I believe for the past 29, I havecontinued to stay optimistic about myopportunity to be involved in careerand technical education. To remain

positive, I chose to identify thechallenges I can have an impact upon.

Rusty Black cannot make it rain, but Ican manage our resources to maximizethe grass and water we have. I cannotchange decisions made by others, butI can try to impact the students in myclass and maybe influence some policymakers to make those student’s livesbetter, as well. Missouri ACTE is astrong partner in this endeavor. As thecombined voice for career andtechnical education, Missouri ACTEand ACTE try to influence policymakers, educating these folks aboutthe impact their decisions will have onour students and the country’s futurework force.

My goal as Missouri ACTE President isto strengthen our organization. I againcannot make it rain, I cannotaccomplish this goal alone. We can allidentify areas that can strengthenMissouri ACTE’s voice: membership,

2014 Missouri ACTE

Division Presidents

MCCTA

Keith A. Davise-mail: [email protected]

MVATA

Darren K. Farmere-mail: [email protected]

MBEA

Theresa Taylore-mail: [email protected]

MACS

Frank Northe-mail: [email protected]

MoEFACS

Kathy Nashe-mail: [email protected]

MSCA

Tobie Smithe-mail: [email protected]

MHSE

Rhonda Hutton Ganne-mail: [email protected]

MCEA

Raghib Muhammade-mail: [email protected]

MSNA

Denise M. Cridere-mail: [email protected]

TEAM

Jon Behrlee-mail: [email protected]

MTTA

Ted Stanfielde-mail: [email protected]

Fall, 2013

The Fall Reporter

“President’s Message” >p2

President’sMessage

Rusty BlackMissouri ACTE President

~ 2 ~

participation and positive public relations. You can impacteach of these areas. Many times all we have to do is ask oreducate that neighbor down the hall or road and we caninfluence their decision to join their division association, aswell as Missouri ACTE. Participation - yes, it costs; yes, ittakes time; and yes, sometimes it is not easy or convenient.But when we don’t, others may believe our organization andprofession is not valuable - simply because we did not valueit enough to participate. Positive PR: take the time. Therewards to your students, program and career and technicaleducation will be much greater than your effort.

I will enjoy my experience as Missouri ACTE President. Myparticipation in this organization has been rewarding andwith each meeting I attend, I gain something to share withmy students or fellow educators. I hope each of you will sharemy optimism for the future of career and technical education.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Rusty

President’s Message from page 1)

Saint Louis

Wentzville

Online

EXPERIENCE. SUCCESS.»

»

» » »

»

»

www.MO-ACTE.org

December 4-7, 2013Las Vegas, NV

~ 3 ~

The Region III Conference was held in Peoria, Illinois. TheConference began on June 20th and ended at noon on the21st. Due to a death in my family, Missouri wasrepresented by Rusty Black and Donna Vossen (thankyou!). Dave Bunting, our Region III VP, shared a wealth ofknowledge and information from National ACTE and thenpassed the reins on to Katrina Plese, our new VP fromIllinois. The Conference is where we decide our Region IIIaward winners who will go on to represent us at Nationals.As always, this was a wonderful opportunity to networkand gain leadership skills to take back to our own states.

Next year’s Region III Professional DevelopmentConference will be held in Rochester, MN, beginning at8am on June 19th and ending at 5pm on June 20th. Theregistration fees and hotel accommodations will beavailable soon. There will be a wonderful get together onThursday night with lots of networking/leadership

opportunities. Make plans to attend this wonderfulleadership opportunity.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve thiswonderful organization. One of the jobs of the Region IIIrepresentative is to be a stable, continuous presence onthe Executive Board, while other members move throughthe chairs of President Elect, President and Past President.I hope that I have been that for our members. If you haveany questions or concerns that I can help you with, pleasefeel free to contact me. Have a great school year.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry A. Struckhoff RN, BSNRegion III RepresentativeHealth Science Instructor, Waynesville Career CenterSchool phone: (573) 842-2500E-mail: [email protected]

Region III Reportby Sherry A. Struckhoff RN, BSN

The Reporter is a quarterly

publication of the Missouri

Association for Career and

Technical Education

(Missouri ACTE).

Donna Vossen

Executive Director

P.O. Box 1955

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Phone: 573-634-7366

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.MO-ACTE.org

Wednesday, February 12, 2014State Capitol Building s Third Floor Rotunda

Jefferson City, Missouri

8:15 a.m. Meet at the Missouri ACTE Registration Table(3rd Floor Rotunda – pick up packets for Legislators)

8:30 a.m. Briefing - Gamble & Schlemeier(House Chamber)

9:00 a.m. Networking with Legislators & Visits to Legislator’s Offices(3rd floor Capitol Rotunda)

Time TBA Proclamation presentation for CTE Month(Governor Nixon’s office – Room 216)

Missouri ACTE Legislative Day

~ 4 ~

Kristi Hodson is the 2013 recipient of the Missouri ACTEProfessional Development Award, a $500 scholarship to adeserving Missouri ACTE member pursuing career andtechnical education. Kristi is a Family & Consumer Sciencesteacher at Carthage High School and is working towards aMaster of Science in Teaching with an ESOL emphasisthrough Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, KS.

Mark The Dates!

December 4-7, 2013ACTE Conference

Las Vegas, NV

February 12, 2014Legislative Day

Jefferson City, MO

July 22-24, 2014Missouri ACTE Conference

Springfield, MO

Congratulations!

Kristi Hodson Gina McLachlan

At its 2013 Summer Conference, theMissouri ACTE membership electedGina McLachlan as President-Elect for2013-14.

Caught You Looking ...And So Will Your

Customers!To advertise in the next issue of the

Missouri ACTE Reporter, contact:

Donna VossenExecutive Director

P.O. Box 1955 s Jefferson City, MO 65102Phone: 573-634-7366

Email: [email protected]

~ 5 ~

Missouri ACTE Summer Conference2013 in Review

MACS, MSCA, and MSNA

Our Summer Conference was anotherstellar learning experience foreveryone who attended. MACS, MSCAand MSNA came together at theOpening Session with speaker AndyMasters giving us ideas on how tobalance our stressful careers, family,and activities by controlling ourschedule with prioritization, delegationand balance. Our industry tour thisyear was a visit to Kraft Foods, Inc., ora session on A.L.I.C.E, - Response toArmed Intruders. Both events wereeducational in ways to work with ourstudents and faculty.

Our Tuesday evening was a fun-filledDivision Social at the Oasis. We had“Minute to Win It” games and prizesfor those attending. A big thanks toMidwest Technical and Linn StateTechnical for sponsoring our Social.

Wednesday was a full day of breakoutsessions for our divisions. There arealways new and different ideas andmethods we can use to assist ourstudents and even parents to becomesuccessful students, graduates andemployees. Our feedback reports ofthe Conference were very positivethis year. There were manycompliments for our presenters andthe topics covered. A couple ofcomments we should consider fornext year were about greeting andassisting our new professionals andfirst time attendees. More should bedone to help them work through the“who, what, when, where, and how”of our Conference. If you have ideason helping, please let Frank North,President of MACS know, we alwaysare looking for ways to make thisConference better.

At our membership meeting onWednesday, the slate of officers for2013-2014 were presented. They are:

President – Frank North;President-Elect – Eric Lark;Secretary – Wendy Berndt; andTreasurer – Stacie Wild.

Congratulations to those elected.

The Missouri Special Needs Association(MSNA) and Missouri Association ofCareer Services (MACS) have been indiscussion for several years aboutmerging the two organizations as thereare some vocational schools and careercenters combining the two jobs whichhave left each respective organizationwith declining membership. Aftersome discussion, it was moved andpassed to form an ad hoc committee tooversee the absorption of MSNAmembers into MACS. This is to beaccomplished mostly by having theMSNA members simply join MACS, butsome bylaw changes must beaddressed to be able to accommodatea scholarship now overseen by MSNA.

Contact Information:

You should be getting email from FrankNorth on a regular basis concerninglegislative information from MissouriACTE and upcoming events for MACS.If you are not, please [email protected] with yourcontact information and we will getyou on the email list. And as always, ifyou know someone who is not aMissouri ACTE or MACS member,encourage them to join. We are astronger organization with moremembers.

“Wrap-Up” >p6

~ 6 ~

MoEFACS

“FCS and Human Services: Foundations for CareerSuccess” was the theme for the 2013 Summer MoEFACSConference held in Springfield, MO at the HowardJohnson Hotel and Convention Center July 23-25. Fourpre-conference sessions were offered on Monday, July 22.The sessions covered a broad range of topics includingMissouri Connections, New and Returning Teachersworkshop, Developing a Working Curriculum, Ounce ofPrevention, and FCCLA Boot Camp. The pre-conferenceofferings provided opportunities for professional growthin areas of instructional practices and curriculum.

Following the Opening Session of Missouri ACTE onTuesday morning, MoEFACS members returned to theHoward Johnson Hotel and Convention Center andopened the Division Conference with a business meeting,followed by an Awards and Recognition Reception.

Andy Masters, award winning author and internationalspeaker, was the Opening Keynote speaker at the businessmeeting. His topic, “Time Management & Work-LifeBalance for the Busy Education Professional,” providedstrategies to implement spending MORE time on theitems which are MOST important in your career and yourlife.

Awards and recognition were presented for OutstandingNew Career and Technical Teacher, Teacher of the Year,College and High School Scholarships, and retiringteachers from the division. Dr. Cynthia Arendt, Director ofthe Family and Consumer Sciences Division at theDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education wasrecognized for 25 years of service to the organization.

Larae Watkins and Michelle Conrad, Co-Directors fromMissouri Center for Career Education, opened the JointMoEFACS Division Meeting on Wednesday with “CommonCore 101: The Basics of the Standards.” Twenty- fourconcurrent sessions, as well as sessions for the HospitalityCluster-Culinary Arts and Early Childhood Programs wereoffered over the course of the Conference. Topics in theCulinary Arts and Early Childhood areas included tours oflocal business in Springfield. The concurrent sessionscovered a range of topics including Technology, PersonalFinance, Curriculum, Instructional Practices, ClassroomManagement, Assessment, and Leadership.

A Special Function Luncheon on Wednesday providedmembers an opportunity to hear Dr. Larry Michaelsen’spresentation about Team Based Learning. Dr. Michaelsen

shared his experience with team-oriented activities, givingstudents an opportunity to learn from their peers. Theseactivities also help them develop important life skills such as better interpersonal communication andaccountability.

“Advocating from the Inside Out” was presented by Mr.David Luther, Jefferson City Public Schools at the ClosingSession on Thursday. Carousel Sessions followed theClosing Session with members choosing four 25-minutesessions to attend for information on various topics.Approximately 257 MoFACS members attended this year’sSummer Conference. The 2014 Conference is scheduledfor July 22-24 in Springfield.

Wrap-Up (from page 5)

For more pictures from the Missouri ACTE Conference, see pages 7 and 8.

~ 7 ~

A Walk Down Memory Lane

~ 9 ~

Awards

The Grand River Technical School was recently recognized with the OutstandingAgriculture Education Program Award for their accomplishments during theMissouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (MVATA) Conference inSpringfield, Missouri, this summer. The Outstanding Agriculture EducationProgram Award is given to the top agriculture education program for theirteachers’ involvement in professional activities and meeting the educationalneeds of their students. The award also takes into account community serviceprojects, FFA chapter and student successes, and the positive influence theagriculture program has on the school and community. The George ClarkeMissouri State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (sponsoringorganization) who presented a plaque and a cash award recognized therecipients at the MVATA banquet. MVATA is a professional agriculture educationteacher association that has 486 members serving 327 schools.

h GRTS was the recipient of the Outstanding Ag Education Program Award. Pictured, from left: R. L. Bennett, Award Sponsor Representative; Rusty Black, GRTS Representative; and Lance Martin, GRTS Representative

“Awards” >p10

Grand River Technical School

Saline County Career Center

At the annual Missouri Vocation AgriculturalTeachers Association conference inSpringfield this summer Callie Dobbins,teacher at Saline County Career Center andrepresenting the Central District Association,received the Distinguished Service Award atthe 2013 MVATA Awards Luncheon.

h Jason Davis, MVATA Northwest District President and Callie Dobbins

h Sarah Topp, Gamble & Schlemeier, receives her Certificate of Appreciation from Missouri ACTE President Rusty Black.

h Darell Hawley receives her Diversity Action Committee Award from Missouri ACTE President Rusty Black.

h Senator Brian Munzlinger (left) receives his Legislative Recognition Award from Missouri ACTE President Rusty Black.

~ 10 ~

Awards (from page 9)


The Saline County Career Center's FFAChapter was named one of the Top 10Model of Excellence Chapter for thesecond year in a row. This is aprestigious accomplishment becausethey are one of 10 chapters out ofalmost 7,500 chapters, nationally. InOctober they will be traveling toIndianapolis to attend and compete atthe National FFA Convention andhopefully be named the No. 1 Chapterin the Nation. They have been named#1 in the state the past two years andtop-ten in the nation for the past twoyears as well!

2013 Saline County CareerCenter FFA Chapter PresidentAbrea Mizer (pictured right)was selected as the State FFAPresident for this comingyear

SCCC’s DECA chapter members earned the organization’shighest honors at DECA’s 67th annual International CareerDevelopment Conference in Anaheim, CA on April 24-27,2013. Seven students qualified for Internationals andreceived the Award of Excellence. Samantha Huston &Jasmine Tapia, (pictured below) under the leadership ofKathi Oster, placed 3rd at Internationals with their FairyProm Mother’s Creative Marketing Project.

“Awards” >p11

~ 11 ~



On June 24th, 2013, a team of sixstudents left the Saline County CareerCenter with their advisor for the SkillsUSA National Leadership andSkills Conference and Competitions.Through the support of severalbusinesses, organizations andindividuals in the Marshall area, theywere able to spend the week in KansasCity attending SkillsUSA events andcompeting in the Chapter BusinessProcedure contest, a contestchallenging their ability to handleitems of business, make propermotions, and conduct orderlymeetings according to ParliamentaryProcedure.

After scoring quite high on a writtentest from the National Association ofParliamentarians, (five of the six teammembers are now eligible formembership in the NAP!), the teamproceeded into actual demonstrationsof their abilities. In the preliminaryround of competitions, they defeatedmany other teams from states allacross the nation and progressed into

the finals, putting them among the topnine teams in the nation!

In the finals, they competed againstteams that were returning for their 2ndor 3rd year to the Nationalcompetitions, so SCCC’s 1st year teamhad their work cut out for them. Thecompetition was difficult, with manyproblems thrown in by the contestdesigners, and the judges admittedlybeing very strict about every aspect ofthe contest. Our team performed verywell and walked away as the 7thhighest ranking team in the nation!

Their advisor, Tom Hendrix, said of theteam and their performance, “I couldnot have asked for any better studentsor any better devotion and effort froma team of students. They worked veryhard and achieved more in their firstyear than many teams achieve in their2nd or 3rd year of competitions. I amextremely proud of each and everystudent on this team and they shouldbe very proud of their representationof SCCC and the state of Missouri.”

h Team members, left to right: Brandon Blalock, Jesse Corkill, Shelby Dawson (front), Jasyn Dailing (rear), Rowan Hynick, Roy Castrellon

Culinary Arts Instructor, JacquelineWilson has been selected as one ofseven finalists for 2013-2014 MissouriTeacher of the Year. The finalists arechosen, based on their writtenapplication, by a selection committeeappointed by the Department ofElementary and Secondary Education.

Jacqueline Wilson, is a Culinary Artsinstructor at Lake Career and TechnicalCenter and was the 2012 Teacher ofthe Year for the Camdenton R-III SchoolDistrict. Chef Wilson teaches studentsin grades 9-12. Students can take athree-hour Culinary Arts class, a two-hour Restaurant Service class or a one-hour Culinary Careers class each day.

The Missouri Teacher of the Yearprogram recognizes the efforts ofeffective teachers throughout the statewho provide a quality education totheir students. Preparing, developingand supporting effective educators is aprimary goal of the Department's Top10 by 20 initiative, which calls for

Lake Career and Technical

Center

“Awards” >p12

h Jacqueline Wilson

Cass Career Center has been selectedas an Outstanding Technology CentersThat Work (TCTW) Center. This awardis based on the success of centerleaders and teachers in improvingcenter practices and increasing thequality of experiences provided tostudents. The award was presented byDave Spence, president of theSouthern Regional Education Board(SREB), at the 27th Annual HighSchools That Work Staff DevelopmentConference in Charlotte, NorthCarolina, on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

Spence praised the center for its achievement, pointing out that ittakes dedication and hard work on thepart of technology center leaders andteachers to make progress in preparingstudents for college and careers in anincreasingly competitive world. Hepresented the award before anaudience of 4,700 educators fromacross the nation attending the HSTWConference.

Cass Career Center was one of onlynine TCTW centers in the nation to receive the 2013 OutstandingCenter Award. To be recognized as an Outstanding TCTW Center, a center had to be nominated by theTCTW state coordinator or by an SREB director for a noteworthyaccomplishment such as improvingachievement, improving graduationrates, improving college and careerreadiness, improving the quality of CTEofferings and robust assignments, fullyimplementing the TCTW design,implementing a signature feature, orextensively implementing the Gates’Literacy Design Collaborative and/orMathematics Design Collaborative.

“This center has shown what can beaccomplished to improve student

performance and readiness for collegeand careers by deeply implementingthe TCTW model for strengtheningcurriculum and instruction,” said GeneBottoms, SREB senior vice president.“The center illustrates the spirit ofchange that Technology Centers ThatWork advocates and supports throughassessment, staff development andtechnical assistance.”

TCTW was established in 2007 to assistshared-time career/technology centersin improving student achievement andproducing graduates who can excel inhigh-demand, high-skill, high-wagecareer fields. The TCTW design is basedon the High Schools That Work design,with modifications that address thespecific needs of shared-time centers.More than 190 centers in 18 statesparticipate in activities to promoteincreased academic performance.

The largest SREB program, HighSchools That Work is a national,comprehensive school improvementdesign based on the premise that moststudents can master rigorous academicand career/technical studies if schoolleaders and teachers create a schoolenvironment that motivates allstudents to make the effort to succeed.The HSTW initiative is the nation’s firstlarge-scale effort to engage state,

district and school leaders inpartnership with teachers, students,parents and the community to equipall students with the knowledge andskills needed to graduate from highschool and succeed in college and theworkplace. More than 1,100 highschools in 30 states and the District ofColumbia participate in the HSTWschool improvement initiative.

Cass Career Center serves nine sendingschools, including Harrisonville, Belton,Lee’s Summit, Raymore-Peculiar, LoneJack, Pleasant Hill, Archie, Midway, andAdrian. In addition to the high schoolskills training, they have one adultpractical nursing program.

~ 12 ~


Jacqueline Wilson (Continued)

Missouri to rank among the top 10performing states in education inthe nation by the year 2020.

The winner and the finalists will behonored at a banquet October 21 inJefferson City. The new MissouriTeacher of the Year will serve as thestate’s nominee for the NationalTeacher of the Year competition.

Cass Career Center

Lake Career & Technical

Center (from page 11)

~ 13 ~

The Future Business Leader of America(FBLA) and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL)chapters of Missouri attended theNational Leadership Conference inAnaheim, California, at the end of June.

Approximately 400 members fromMissouri FBLA and 100 from MissouriPBL attended this Conference. Missourireceived many awards: 2nd largestFBLA chapter and 1st largest FBLAchapter in the North Central Region.

While at the Conference, memberscompeted in over 40 competitions.

Missouri prevailed with nine 1st placeFBLA winners and 63 finished in thetop 10; PBL had eight 1st place winnersand 39 finishing in the top 10. MissouriFBLA and PBL combined for total prizewinnings of $14,550!

Several chapters received awards aswell. The FBLA Gold Seal chapters wereBelle, Carthage, Cassville, Clinton,Crane, Eldon, Ft. Zumwalt South,Fulton, Gainesville, Hermitage,Jackson, Kickapoo, Linn County AreaCTC, Otterville, Paris, South Callaway,

Wellington-Napoleon, and West Platte.Eight chapters also received theOutstanding Chapter Award.

In addition, several advisers wererecognized for their hard work. StuDunlop from MSSU was PBLOutstanding Adviser, Betty Eddy fromNew Madrid was FBLA OutstandingAdviser. Gina McLachlan and JenniferSchlender were added to the Wall ofFame. Lisa Hofstetter was appointed tothe Board of Directors. Carla Boulton isthe National Awards ProgramCommittee for FBLA. Elizabeth Fletcherof Evangel is on the National AwardsProgram Committee for PBL.

Missouri FBLA and PBL have started offthis year with the theme of: Excellencein Action. This fall, all levels of theorganization — middle, FBLA, and PBL— will meet for the first-ever MissouriFall Conference at St. CharlesCommunity College. Many activitiesand events are being planned by localchapters to make Missouri FBLA shineagain at the 2014 National Conference!


Future Business Leader of America (FBLA) and Phi Beta Lambda (PBL)

h Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Students

h Missouri Phi Beta Lamba (PBL) Students

e

~ 14 ~

People are quick to point out the shortcomings of abeleaguered public education system here in the UnitedStates. But after spending a week at the National SkillsUSACompetition in Kansas City, I am hard-pressed to come upwith criticism. Amidst slashing budgets, standardized testing,and the ever-changing demands of the 21st century, there isstill a beacon of hope for our students.

In my case, the beacon has a name: Jerry Delgado. Although,you don’t need his name to find him — Jerry’s infectiouslaugh precedes him. You can hear it from across a room. Likehundreds of other teachers and volunteer staff at Skills USA,Jerry supports the nearly 6,000 high school and post-secondary students who have come from around the nationto show off their career and technical skills at the event.

The students here are the cream of the crop. They havealready won regional and state competitions. They are nowcompeting for a national title for in categories that rangefrom commercial baking to welding. Computer maintenanceis among the hefty list of programs that focus on repair.(That’s why we came.)

Jerry has taught computer maintenance in a Career andTechnical Education (CTE) program for 10 years. Through CTEprograms, like those represented at Skills, students learnhands-on repair skills. But to win a national title, repair skillsaren’t enough. Students have to demonstrateprofessionalism throughout the competition. They have towrite and present a resume and dress to code.

“Skills USA is a means for career and technical students toprove their skills and professionalism, which is needed in theworkforce today,” Jerry sums up the program. “Students needto learn these hands-on skills to get a job in today’scompetitive market.”

Giving students a leg up isn’t the only motivation behindJerry’s work: it’s about sustainability, too. From the solarpanels on his home to the computers in his classroom, Jerryspends a good amount of his time thinking about the long-term impacts consumer goods have on the environment. Heteaches students to value repair — not only as a careeropportunity, but as a part of consumer responsibility. In anage where technology is designed to last only as long as ourever-shorter attentions spans, such lessons are critical.

The skills students learn in CTE programs helps to preparethem for dynamic on-the-job problem-solving. But, Jerryinsists, the programs also push youth to think of thecontribution they will make to society as adults.

“Students need to understand what they need to know andlearn to figure out how to get that information on their own,”Jerry said. “Working with others is crucial to solving problemsin computer maintenance … nothing these students learnonly relates to computers, it is about skills for life.”

And so, like knowledge passed down through generations,repair is passed from instructors like Jerry to students — andinto the future.

For Jerry, it’s the stories of the students who return yearslater that matter. He talks animatedly about the kids whohave gone on to successful careers. But no matter where thestudents end up in life, they all start with the same piece ofadvice. On the first day of school, Jerry tells every singleclassroom, “Learn something everyday, even if it’s not inclass. If you haven’t learned something today, you haven’tlived today.”

Source: http://ifixit.org/4913/if-you-havent-learned-you-havent-lived-repair-at-skillsusa/ — By: Brittany

“If You Haven’t Learned, You Haven’t Lived”— Repair at SkillsUSA

h iFixit team member, Jeff, scores students as they compete during SkillsUSA’s national championship.

h Jerry Delgado, one of many teachers and volunteers, oversees events at the championship.

~ 15 ~

During President Barack Obama's visit to the University ofCentral Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., on Wednesday [July24, 2013], 17 students will sit behind him on stage as arepresentation of a new class of students jumping on boarda streamlined path to their career.

Obama plans to tout a new program those 17 students areinvolved in. It's designed by the University of CentralMissouri, Metropolitan Community College and the Lee'sSummit R-7 School District, and falls in line with Obama's goalto reduce the costs of education and get students ready forthe workforce.

But the Missouri Innovation Campus provides a type ofcurriculum unlike many others.

It's a venture between the University of Central Missouri,Metropolitan Community College and the Lee's Summit R-7School District. It began with a conversation between UCMPresident Chuck Ambrose and local business partners —including DST Systems Inc., Cerner Corp, Saint Luke's HealthSystem, Kansas City Power & Light Co., Black & Veatch andothers — about the gap in time it took to get graduatesworkforce ready.

"Our business partners were still spending a lot of time doingthe training for these recent graduates, and they weregraduating with a lot of debt," said Elaine Metcalf, directorof the Summit Technology Academy. "Now they're helpingdefine the curriculum. Our first degree program, systemsengineering technology, was written by Cerner and DST folks.They're the ones that said students need to know thesethings and came up with more than 300 competencies thatstudents would need to explore before getting theirbachelor's."

Metcalf said entry into the program must begin with highschool sophomores who are interested in pursuing a careerin information technology or engineering. If they meet theGPA and attendance requirements, the first step is gettingaccepted into Summit Technology Academy, where duringtheir junior and senior years, they'll attend half of the day,and spend the other half at their home high schools. Duringthat half day, they'll take a combination of online and face-to-face courses through the University of Central Missouri

and Metropolitan Community College and earn dual credits,which earn students both high school and college credit. Bythe time students graduate from high school, they'll obtainan associates degree.

After the high school students' junior year, business partnerswill invite students to complete an 8-week paid summer internship. Then during their high school senior year,students will continue to work at the companies for two daysa week, followed by another 8-week summer internship.

"That model was one that our business partners wereinsistent upon," Metcalf said. "Most of the time they just hadinterns there in the summer; Our partners didn't want thatbig of a gap. By the time they get their bachelor's, they'll havethree years of an internship and hopefully be taking on morechallenging tasks. By that time, chances are that they will beready and want to stay in the same company."

After graduating high school while simultaneously obtainingtheir associates degree, students then move on to theUniversity of Central Missouri, where they'll pay the standard$213 per credit hour for in-state tuition, or $426 for out-of-state tuition.

"While we might not be able to eliminate student debtcompletely, we can cut it at least in half," Metcalf said. "I'vebeen in education a long time and this is the first time I'veever seen a university, community college, a school districtand industry partners get together and say 'How can wemake this a better route for students?'"

The program already has 16 students enrolled in its secondcohort, and is still accepting applications. And the programisn't restricted to those only in the Lee's Summit R-7 SchoolDistrict — Metcalf said even homeschooled students canattend.

"It's not an easy path," Metcalf said. "It takes a bright youngmind."

The campus is still putting out RFQs for developers toconstruct a building to house the Missouri InnovationsCampus, and though it initially sought to find one by mid-March, it's still looking.

f Brian Green, a Missouri Innovations Campus student, will introduce President Barack Obama in his Wednesday [July 24, 2013] visit to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.

Why Obama Will Tout the Missouri Innovation Campus

Reprinted with permission from Web Producer- Kansas City Business Journal

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