Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee

Citizen Advisory Committee

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School Board Liaison

Kyle McDaniel

Staff Liaison

Whitney Ketchledge, Coordinator, Career and Technical Education, Instructional Services Department

Committee Purpose

8 VAC 20-120-50 - Each local education agency or region shall establish a general career and technical education advisory committee to provide recommendations to the local educational agency (or board) on current job needs and the relevancy of career and technical education programs offered and to assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the local plan and application.

2023 - 24 Committee Charge

In collaboration with industry, develop strategies and support for continuing improvement in coordination and communication of CTE programs.

Meeting Dates

All Meetings will be at Willow Oaks Administrative Center in rooms 1002 A and B.

September 14, 2023

Time

8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Agenda

TopicPerson Responsible
Call to Order and Opening RemarksAlexa Krezel
School Board UpdateTBD
CTE Overview and UpdatesWhitney Ketchledge
New BusinessAll
AdjournmentAll

 

October 12, 2023

Agenda

Coming Soon

November 9, 2023

Agenda

Coming Soon

January 11, 2024

Minutes

Call to Order and Opening Remarks

Alexa Krezel welcomed committee members and guest.

Instructional Services Assistant Superintendent
  • Budget
    • The budget will be presented to the school board in two weeks.
    • We need to be able to attract the best and the brightest for all our courses, and certainly CTE professionals.
    • CTE professionals are among the hardest to attract, because we don't compete well with industry. Raising teacher salaries and raising those kinds of salaries benefits the program.
  • The Washington Area Boards of Education (WABE) Guide
    • Each year, the WABE group surveys its members to publish the annual WABE Guide. This guide enables local school systems to learn about each other by reporting comparable information in a standardized format. In addition, the WABE Guide is meant to be used by citizens as a source for consistent, reliable educational data.
    • Report included cost per pupil for surrounding counties.
  • Strategic Plan
    • Our new plan has 5 goals that really are about what the students experience and focus on those outcomes.
    • Goal 4 surrounds equity is the is the most challenging. We have not defined how we are going to measure yet or set a target.
Selection Committee Nomination and Vote

Alexa recommended Shivani Reivedi to join CTEAC for the remaining of the 2023-24SY as a selection committee member. Committee moved forward with endorsing Shivani’s name being submitting to the School Board for final approval.

CTEAC Workstreams

This year all subcommittees’ recommendations should include language that

  1. address access and equity of student populations, and/or
  2. build awareness through communications; and/or
  3. incorporates the role of business and industry partners in achieving success.
Subcommittee #1: Increasing Capacity and/or Learning Opportunities for Students

Subcommittee Chair: Irvin Varkonyi

Coming from our tour of Chantilly Academy, we learned that some course offerings do not have the capacity for students to participate (e.g. Automotive Programs). Some of these programs are offered in nearby non-academy-based schools. This subcommittee should focus on recommendations to the school board focused on increasing capacity and access to CTE programs outside of changes to existing Academy options.

  • Data Requests
    • List of current Academy classes – Classes offered, how many classes per day, enrollment numbers, location, and how many periods of the day it is offered.
    • Capacity, weight listed, student interest.
    • What schools have the “same” Academy class just not labelled that.
    • Defining the current state – what is the capacity, how many wait listed.
    • NOVA workforce employment data – determine the types and availability of jobs coming out of the Academies.
  • Rationale for Data Requests
    • Understand what schools the programs have but not labelled as an Academy. And only available to those within the school?
    • What qualifies as an Academy? This goes towards image and perception in the mind of those enrolling.
    • Academy deadline is Mid-March to determine how many enrolled and how many wait listed. Non-academy courses no system that looks at what those requests were.
    • When get data to look at it on map – need to understand the geographic overlap.
    • Define current state, identify the priorities, and then plan.
    • Supplemental is where are the job gaps – industry and trades – shortages in employment – Unions who have data – NOVA Workforce employment data.
  • Limiting Factors
    • Student interest
    • Facilities
    • Instructors
    • Time of day
  • Discussion Questions
    • Any differences in academy vs non academy… can we add to the standard course offerings? Or mix kids among the schools?
    • Can collab with industry and unions result in contracting out courses, space, or instruction?
    • Any community misconceptions? Does local industry know what we have and are they using the programs/students in the way intended?
Subcommittee #2: Measuring for Success

Subcommittee Chair: Leah Ross

This subcommittee will focus on recommendations to the school board for developing targets and descriptions against the identified measures in 2023-30 Strategic Plan and take a reflective look at 2021-22 recommendations to ensure alignment with direction.

  • Discussion around 2 main questions for current students:
    • If you plan to take, have taken, or are currently taking a CTE course?
      • Why?
      • Did you or do you plan to receive your certification?
      • Was the course(s) of value to your desired future goals?
      • Why or why not?
      • Teacher aside, did the course meet or exceed your expectations of rigor, relevance, and course aims?
    • If you did not take a CTE course, do not plan to, or did not get into your preferred CTE course?
      • Why?
      • What barriers did you have to enrollment?
      • Transportation
      • Class did not fit into schedule
      • Advanced Diploma vs. Standard Diploma Stigma
      • Selection process (i.e.. Not space available or did not meet qualifications)
      • Other - explain
      • Discussion around surveying graduating seniors at completion of year or after graduation:
        • Did you, or do you have plans to, enter college, military, or workforce upon graduation?
        • Did your CTE course(s) relate to your desired career pathways?
        • Did the CTE course affect your next steps? How and why?
Subcommittee #3: Curriculum

Subcommittee Chair: Alexa Krezel

This subcommittee will conduct a review of current curriculum offerings to determine if the offerings are the most relevant for today’s workforce and identify opportunities for courses to be put forward as examples of courses that can meet high school graduation requirements to provide greater opportunities for ESOL and Special Education students to participate in CTE.

Resources requested included a digital version of the full catalog of CTE offerings as well as an update to the distribution of offerings across the county. Group also discussed if there were opportunities to think about the messaging around the standard diploma. Possible future scope can also include the utilization of the academic and career plan.

Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

February 8, 2024

CTE Highlights

English (English)

Minutes

The regular meeting of the Fairfax County School Board’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (CTEAC) was called to order on February 8, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. by Alexa Krezel, Chair. The meeting was held in room 1002A/B of 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031. The option to attend virtually was made available via Zoom.

Call to Order and Opening Remarks

Alexa Krezel welcomed committee members and guest.

Career and Technical Education Updates
  • Two new CTE members
    • Asma Hindi- Business Operations Technical Specialist
    • Craig Lewis- Program Manager for trade and Industrial Education and JROTC
  • CTE Month School Board Recognition on February 22, 2024
  • INSTRUCTION 2 INDUSTRY 2024
    • Hybrid career expo event for high school students to connect virtual and in person.
  • Annual Performance Measures for 2022-2023
  • Upcoming Student Events in March, April, and May 2024: DECA, Educators Rising State Conference, Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge, TSA Regional Conference, HOSA State Conference, FBLA State Conference, FCCLA State Conference, Skills USA State Conference and TSA State Conference.
Review endorsement of CTEMS Application

Whitney Ketchledge gave a presentation overview of CTEMS application broken out by program area.

Financial Overview:

  • Perkins Budget Categories: Curriculum Development and Materials, Personnel, Equipment, Industry Credentials.
  • Perkins Plan for 2024-25
  • Budget Priorities: Teacher Recruitment and Retention, Academy/Specialized Program Staffing and Central Support Positions.
CTEAC Workstreams

This year all subcommittees’ recommendations should include language that

  1. address access and equity of student populations, and/or
  2. build awareness through communications; and/or
  3. incorporates the role of business and industry partners in achieving success.
Subcommittee #1: Increasing Capacity and/or Learning Opportunities for Students

Subcommittee Chair: Irvin Varkonyi

Potential recommendations and justifications to include in report:

  • Develop a cost-benefit analysis of resources needed by CTE program by their outcome (selecting the top 5 growth areas, based on Matt Bechtel’s data); look not only at Fairfax/NOVA but also nationwide.
  • High level summary of workforce demand based on NOVA data.
  • Start at a micro-level investigating one or a small number of programs.
  • Create a partnership between NOVA and FCPS in workforce development (Vet Tech, Automotive, Cybersecurity, Culinary, Health Care).
  • How to investigate and establish an easier process for gaining easier, obtainable space?
  • Investigate FCPS DE opportunities offsite at the college campus (or virtually).
  • A recommendation to collect the data.
Subcommittee #2: Measuring for Success

Subcommittee Chair: Leah Ross

Create a google form exit ticket for culinary students, 1-2 questions per class period over no more than 5 class periods:

  • Did you enroll in this course because of desire to explore or gain knowledge and skills in culinary arts or did you take this course for another reason? Checklist of options
  • Are you planning to, or are you currently, working within the hospitality and/or culinary industry? Why or why not? Yes/no with skip logic to possible reasons.
  • Do you feel this course, regardless of instructor, considering only the curriculum, valuable to your desired career pathway? Why or why not? Yes/no with skip logic to possible reasons.
  • Considering only the curriculum, did this course either meet or exceed your expectations for content, relevance, and course aims, even if you are not planning on pursuing a career in hospitality? Why or why not? Yes/no with skip logic to possible reasons.
  • A gathering of data only for course planning and to set up measures for success related to STRATEGIC Plan #5, measures A, C, G, and H.
  • Search out data on how many course requests are made for Culinary Arts 1 vs current enrollment opportunities.
Subcommittee #3: Curriculum

Subcommittee Chair: Alexa Krezel

Our workstream reviewed the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Standard Diploma requirements where language calls out that “The board shall approve courses to satisfy this requirement. An approved computer science course credit earned by students may be considered a science or math course credit.”

  • A laboratory science verified credit may be awarded to students who complete a career and technical education (CTE) program sequence and (i) pass two examinations or occupational competency assessments in a CTE field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association; (ii) acquire two professional licenses in a CTE field from the Commonwealth of Virginia; or (iii) pass one examination or competency assessment from clause (i) and acquire one license from clause (ii). The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement.”
    • What CTE courses currently meet this requirement?
    • Legislatively would want to recommend to the board to expand this standard to other disciplines besides computer science.
  • Working towards a set of recommendations that would address gaining more visibility and awareness into this standard for students and parents, especially given that many colleges universities are not aware of advanced diploma but more interested in rigor of curriculum.
  • Workstream delved into state of curriculum’s ability to address emerging or hot topics and whether our certifications reflect the most in-demand skillsets for today and whether there are opportunities to review and update those.
    • High Demand Industries:
      • Which programs should we retire? Where are there gaps in course offerings and job openings? Are the courses aligned with industry needs?
      • Need:
        • Current certifications FCPS offers.
        • Current job certifications desired
        • IT field changes rapidly. Is it A+ or python? CAD Etc.
        • How is AI being incorporated into the CTE courses? How are employers using AI (more than just ChatGPT) in field?
    • General Conversation:
      • How do we share the transferable skills earned from CTE coursework?
        • Skills: teamwork, creativity, communication, job readiness, workplace readiness
        • Connect to POG
      • Course descriptions: Do they capture everything? Does it list specific credential that can be earned?
Closing Remarks

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

March 14, 2024

CTE Highlights

English (English)

Agenda

TopicPerson Responsible
Call to Order and Opening RemarksAlexa Krezel
School Board UpdatesKyle McDaniel
Committee Work StreamsAll
Subcommittee DebriefAll
AdjournmentAll

April 11, 2024

Agenda

Coming Soon

May 9, 2024

Agenda

Coming Soon

June 2024

Agenda

Coming Soon

2022-23 Meetings

2023 - 24 Membership

School Board Member Representatives

Leah Ross, At-Large - Omeish,
Chris Lewis, At-Large - Sizemore Heizer
TBD, At-Large - Keys-Gamarra
Alexa Krezel, Braddock District
Juan Pablo Gonzalez, Dranesville District
Gillian Backus, Hunter Mill District
TBD, Lee District
Marissa Appelbaum, Mason District
Paul Thieberger, Mount Vernon District
Andrew Frank, Providence District
Niki Haubner, Springfield District
Anitha Raj, Sully District
TBD, Student Representative

Community Representatives

Eliza Chappell, SkillSource Group
Michelle Ludeman, NOVA EMS Council
Kristy Balbuena, Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)
Joseph Parker, iN2STEM Solutions, Incorporated
Kamalieet Sanghera, George Mason University
Shonna Smith, When Doves Code
Irvin Varkonyi, Supply Chain Operations Education
TBD, PTA

School Representatives

Matt Bechtel, Educational Specialist, Career and Technical Education 
Sarah Blake, Educational Specialist, Career and Transition Services 
Jay Garant, Director, Business and Community Partnerships
Emily Emery, Career Connections Educational Specialist 
Todd Franklin, Manager, Career Pathways
Mary Lewis, Manager, Academic and Career Planning
Alice Lima-Whitney, Educational Specialist, Nontraditional School Programs