St. George Municipal School Unit (MSU) Superintendent, Mike Felton, applied for a production grant through an organization called CareerViewXR last year. After an application and interview process, the PK-8 school was selected as one of three winning schools from across the United States. The prizes awarded to the school included one 12-month subscription to the CareerViewXR platform, two HTC VIVE virtual reality headsets, and two field trips produced in their region.
CareerViewXR works with students, educators, businesses, and state agencies to develop immersive virtual reality experiences that allow students to explore careers across sectors – especially in the trades and technical fields. Using footage of real professionals doing real work in real world work environments, they create interactive, web-based field trips that can be accessed by any device as well as virtual reality videos for VR headsets.
The two companies that will be featured in the virtual field trips in Maine are Steel-Pro, in Rockland and Cushman Lobster Corporation in Port Clyde. Through the grant prize, St. George MSU students will also have access to virtual field trips in other locations across the United States.
Felton shared that he felt fortunate for the opportunity to be working with CareerViewXR and that he is looking forward to “working together to find new ways to innovate, engage students, and support our local businesses.”
The collaboration aligns with St. George MSU’s Career & Technical Education (CTE)/ Makerspace Project – a partnership with MidCoast School of Technology to develop a PreK-12 CTE Program and construct a CTE/Makerspace Building next to St. George School. The new building will have a shop space for carpentry, metalworking, and boatbuilding as well as a Makerspace with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, robotics, and sewing machines. The goal for the project is to provide a model for transforming education by ensuring all students, PreK-12, have access to hands-on and minds-on, technical learning connected to career and community.
Through Steel-Pro, students will be immersed in the manufacturing of stainless-steel tanks, biopharmaceutical equipment, vacuum chambers and other custom designed equipment. “Steel-Pro being 100% Employee Owned, we’re all about our employees and that includes our future employees,” stated Steve Ladd, Steel-Pro President and CEO. “Collaborating with St George MSU, giving kids exposure to hands-on technical career opportunities has been an awesome experience. We are thankful to St George for letting us take part in their CTE journey.”
Aboard the Fishing Vessel RYLEEFINN with Michael Cushman and Cassie Clough, students be able to experience what it’s like rising before dawn to spend the day hauling lobster traps in Penobscot Bay. “We are very happy to be helping with this project,” shared Cassie Clough.
“Our hope in being involved from the fishing side is to show that even with all of the challenges this industry is facing (over regulations, offshore wind, etc.), it can still be a career worth pursuing. Our coastal communities in Maine rely heavily on what lobstering brings economically to the area and it is still a very important part of Maine’s identity.”
St. George Students
Dakota Student VR Headset
The CareerViewXR Production grant will allow St George MSU to enhance students’ learning experiences and career exploration opportunities.
“Through the use of VR immersive experiences, CareerViewXR will provide a new, innovative way to engage students in learning connected to career and community,” explained Superintendent Felton. “Working alongside local tradespeople and businesses, while utilizing cutting edge technologies, we’ll move toward our goals of re-engaging students in learning, helping them understand career opportunities in their community, and, ultimately, strengthening our local economy.”
This story was submitted by St. George Municipal School Unit. To share good news from your school, please fill out this form.
The Maine FFA state officer team traveled to Washington, DC, for the 2024 State Officer Summit this summer. The Summit is a five-day training event during which hundreds of students representing all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico engage in conversations about leadership, agriculture, and advocacy. This experience prepares the state officer team and the Maine FFA Association for a successful year.
While in Washington, D.C., students strengthened their understanding of federal policies related to agriculture, connected with agricultural leaders, and served as delegates for upcoming FFA Committee work. After building their knowledge, the officers met with Senator King and staff from Congresswoman Pingree and Representative Golden’s offices.
Outside of training, students learned more about American history and took advantage of all that the nation’s capital has to offer. Julia Pierce, a 2024-2025 State Officer, shared, “State Officer Summit was a great experience. It provided many opportunities for the officers to work on advocacy in the FFA. Some of the activities we got to take part in included a night tour of all of the Monuments, visiting the Holocaust Museum, and one of our favorites- touring Arlington National Cemetery.”
As the team reflected on their experience, many reiterated the importance of connection to their peers. Julia added, “We had the privilege to talk to officers from all over the US and see how different FFA can be in other places. We were able to make lots of new friendships and learn new skills that we hope to use in the future.”
During the State Summit, two of Maine’s officers were assigned Committee roles as part of the delegate body at this year’s National Convention. One of Maine’s delegates, Lane Carmichael described his experience: “State Summit was an opportunity to expand our horizons as state officers. We were able to step up and realize that although Maine may be smaller than others in membership, we can still have the same impact on National FFA.”
The Maine FFA was able to send all six current state officers to Washington, DC, this year thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, Maine Agriculture In the Classroom, and the National FFA Organization.
The Maine FFA is a student-led organization focused on premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. State Officers represent the Maine FFA throughout the 2024-2025 school year and work closely with local FFA chapters. For more information about the Maine FFA Association, please visit https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/ffa or contact Emily Doughty, State FFA Liaison, at emily.doughty@maine.gov.
Written By: Lane Carmichael, 2024-2025 Maine FFA Vice President
On Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10, FFA chapters from around the state all came together for the 94th annual Maine FFA State Convention. Caribou, Presque Isle, Mars Hill, Easton, Ashland, Fryeburg Academy, and Bangor United Technologies Center were all in attendance.
The Maine FFA Association (formerly known as “Future Farmers of America”) helps students develop their leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Maine FFA has over 300 members, with chapters located throughout the state. The association is led by a team of student officers.
Each spring the Maine FFA Association hosts a convention and this year the organization celebrated its’ 94th annual event.
There were 216 FFA members and guests present at the convention. Volunteers from the industry, including the Cooperative Extension, higher education, the Maine Department of Education (DOE), and FFA alumni were on site to assist. Students were given the opportunity to compete in leadership and career development events, workshops, and service projects. These events help build the students not just as FFA members but as individuals. Students placing in events have the opportunity to represent Maine at the “Big E” and National FFA Convention. This year, over $5,000 in awards and scholarships were provided to members for their achievements.
“FFA gives us opportunities to learn and grow. We are able to find out what we want to do later in life,” said Abram Jackson of Presque Isle High School. Multiple members expressed their appreciation for FFA and how it has changed their lives.
“FFA has brought me out of my comfort zone and has given me a broader perspective not only on the state level but nationally,” said 2023-24 State FFA President, Brinleigh Kingsbury.
The FFA serves as a tool to all members enabling them to grow and expand their circle of influence.
At the end of the convention the 2024-25 State of Maine FFA officer team was announced. These students will lead the organization over the next year, attending representational events, traveling across the nation, meeting with industry leaders and facilitating workshops.
2024 Team
This year’s officers consist of:
President, Haley Mayne of Caribou FFA
Vice President, Lane Carmichael of Presque Isle FFA
Secretary, Hannah Shaw of Mars Hill FFA
Sentinel, Brinleigh Kingsbury of Mars Hill FFA
Reporter, Julia Pierce of Mars Hill FFA
And Treasurer, Mia Arcott of Presque Isle FFA
FFA is a student-led organization with more than 945,988 members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As part of the overall effort in Maine agriculture & natural resources education, students in grades 6-12 eligible for FFA membership are those enrolled in at least one course related to agriculture (including aquaculture, agriscience, biotechnology, forestry, horticulture, natural resource management and other biological and physical science courses that include applications to agriculture).
To join FFA, students must have a local chapter with an FFA advisor. Those wishing to start a new FFA chapter should contact Emily Doughty, Maine FFA State Liaison.
(Pictured: United Technology Center students [L to R] Dominic, John, and Joe attend SkillsUSA with homemade t-shirts rooting for their friend, Zach who is competing in the construction competition this year.)
UTC student Dominic shows off the back of a t-shirt he made to root for his friend competing in SkillsUSA this year.
The hallways of United Technologies Center (UTC) were packed with students dressed in different uniforms adorned with the SkillsUSA emblem on March 15 as they came together from across Maine to test their talents at Maine’s annual SkillsUSA event.
Competitions started on March 14th, the day before, and were happening in locations all over Bangor, as they do each year in the spring.
“I’m so nervous,” one student said to another as they climbed the steps to the second floor in search of their instructor and to find the site where their competition would soon start. Students come from Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools all over Maine, some even come the day before due to the distance they have to travel to participate. Many have been preparing for months and even years to take part in the event.
“You’ve got this!” an instructor said to another nervous student as they rushed by to get to another competition.
“I love it!” said Laura Manzo an instructor from Northern Penobscot Tech Region III in Lincoln. Manzo was sitting on a high stool in front of students working in teams of two in the TV/Video Production competition, something she had coordinated for the second year in a row this year. She said being the coordinator of a competition entails locating all of the judges, creating the prompt for the students to use for the event, and being there to run the competition. This year the prompt was to create a promotional video on Solar Eclipse Safety.
Northern Penobscot Tech Region III Instructor Laura Manzo sitting on a stool helping students who are competing in the TV/Video Production competition.
During the competition, Manzo was on hand answering questions and directing students as the 11 teams worked with cameras and other video equipment, in addition to computers with editing software, on planning, filming, narrating, editing, and putting together a video for the judges to view later that day. Their competition started at 6:45 am that morning and would last until 11:30 am. Manzo, in her 5th year of teaching at Northern Penobscot Tech, was excited about the lineup of judges this year but also nervous for the students who would need to film in the rain, an unexpected challenge the day brought.
“We will see what they come up with,” she said hopefully as she flashed a smile and continued answering questions from students and checking her clipboard.
Down the hall students, instructors, judges, and family members lined the halls looking through big picture windows as competitions started for everything from cake decorating to cosmetology, auto collision repair, and more.
To one end of a UTC hallway sat Rylee, a student at Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC), and Ally a student at Somerset County Technical Center (SCTC) waiting outside a competition room for their turn at the Basic Health Care Skills competition.
Rylee said she likes coming to SkillsUSA because it’s something different. “It’s definitely out of my comfort zone,” she said. She was smiling as she recalled how she was talked into coming last year and again this year.
For Ally, coming to Skills is about, “showing off my talent, showing off my skills, and making friends.” The two sat close together among other students clutching their posters and presentation materials, waiting to do a presentation in front of judges where they would also need to do an interview and showcase basic healthcare skills. They had no idea who among them would get called to go in next.
(L to R) Ally from Somerset County Technical Center and Rylee from Hancock County Technical Center.Lydia from Sanford Regional Technical Center shows off her Courtesy Corp Vest.
In addition to students in the traditional competition rooms were students wearing reflective vests that said “Courtesy Corp.” Lydia from Sanford Regional Technical Center, who was wearing one of these vests, explained that she was currently competing and had been since SkillsUSA started the day before. Courtesy Corp is a community service competition where students are tasked with helping patrons who come to watch the event. They are available throughout the event to help direct people and answer questions. Their competition ends after they help get audience members seated at the main ceremony which was set for later that night at the Cross Insurance Arena in Bangor.
At the top of the stairs was HCTC Law Enforcement student Mercedes with her team of 6 students (5 competitors and one alternative). They and the other teams were all wearing red coats and waiting outside of a conference room for their turn at the criminal justice quiz bowl. This was Mercedes’s team’s second year competing in this competition, and her team won gold last year.
“We studied, so it’s just a matter of rising to the challenge,” she said. Before Mercedes and her team got called into the competition room she shared that after she graduates, she plans to go to Thomas College and pursue their 4-year Criminal Justice Program with a concentration in Law Enforcement and hopes to one day work for the Maine State Police.
Students compete in the Criminal Justice Quiz Bowl competition.
While UTC continued to bustle well past noon, other locations in the area were also hosting students at various competitions across the two-day event, like Fire Fighting, Diesel Equipment Technology, Entrepreneurship, Medical Math, and Early Childhood Education (and more) taking place at Eastern Maine Community College right next door. There were also many competitions at Cross Insurance Area where eventually everyone would end up later that evening.
Student Pin Design
Students’ T-Shirt Designs
Student Welding Sculpture
Starting the day before were a few special competitions for middle school students which also took place at Cross. Traditionally CTE programs, courses, and pathways are more widely available for high school-aged students and most of the students competing each year are in high school and college, but a growing number of middle schools are starting to offer career and technical education options as well.
Lamoine Consolidated School brought 50 students to compete at SkillsUSA this year, which is a record high for them. There were also students from Hancock Grammar School and Caribou Community School.
Middle school students had the opportunity to compete in State T-Shirt, State Pin Design, Team Engineering Challenge, Job Skill Demonstration, Woodworking Display, Community Service, Job Interview, Promotional Bulletin Board, Co2 Dragster, and 3D Printing.
A picture of the Middle School level Team Engineering Challenge in action
Middle School students from Lamoine Consolidated School take a group picture before they leave for SkillsUSA (image courtesy of Amanda Frost, LCS teacher and parent)
Lamoine Consolidated School teacher and 2023 Hancock County Teacher of the Year Miranda Engstrom, who helped coordinate one of the competitions this year, says that all the middle school students talked about having a great time and are already looking forward to next year’s competition.
“They all overcame challenges and feel more confident in themselves and their abilities to solve problems and explain solutions,” she said. As a fierce advocate for expanding career and technical education opportunities for middle school students, Engstrom adds that any other middle schools that want to be involved in SkillsUSA can reach out to their local technical school director, or reach out directly to Maine’s SkillsUSA Chapter.
When the competitions were completed and done, the students, instructors, administrators, parents, family members, and friends gathered at the Cross Insurance Area for the awards ceremony. Once the very large crowds of audience members were seated, Lydia and the rest of the Courtesy Corp competitors finally finished their competition as well, resting their green vests to also get seated for the ceremony. The ceremony entails top competitors being called up on stage and given gold, silver, and bronze metals, Olympic style standing on cascading platforms, and celebrated but one and all.
Middle School students accepting medals at SkillsUSA
The crowd at Cross Insurance Arena
Lamoine Consolidated School ended up with seven middle school students qualifying for the National Leadership and SkillsUSA Conference in the following competitions: Team Engineering Challenge, Promotional Bulletin Board, and State Pin Design. (Congratulations to Ian Frost, Jordan Chan, Benjamin Baldridge, Elza Cahn, Piper Smith, Kaia Tulloss, and Natalia Briggs!)
Mercedes and her team from the Hancock County Technical Center rose to the challenge as well by earning themselves a gold medal again this year in the Criminal Justice Bowl. As did Rylee from Hancock County Technical Center who ended up winning the silver medal in the Basic Health Care Skills competition. You can see a full listing of all the medal winners announced by SkillsUSA Maine here.
Congratulations to all of the winners, the many student competitors, as well as all of the people behind the scenes who work very hard to make this amazing event happen every year and who help prepare the students to compete.
Top winners of Maine’s SkillsUSA event will go on to compete at the national level in the SkillsUSA Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in June.
To enhanced Maine’s high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking your input.
As required under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (“Perkins V”), the Maine DOE is completing a non-substantive revision of our four-year Perkins state plan. Among minor updates, this revision to the state plan will also include adjusted values of Maine’s state-determined performance levels (“SDPLs” or “performance levels”) for the 2024-2025 school year through the 2027-2028 school year. These proposed adjusted values will more accurately represent available student data and will reflect more achievable thresholds at the state level.
Maine’s proposed SDPLs for the upcoming four years are now available for public comment for the next sixty (60) days, with public comment closing on May 13, 2024. Feedback should be provided through the available survey, found here. More information on the state plan and on Maine’s existing secondary and postsecondary SDPLs can be found on the Accountability page of the Maine DOE’s CTE website. Please note: the Perkins indicators (1S1, 2S1, etc) may not be changed: Maine is federally required to report on these performance indicators.
Comments will be reviewed and included in the final version of Maine’s 2024 Perkins State Plan (Revision). For additional information, please contact Dwight A. Littlefield (dwight.a.littlefield@maine.gov) .
As a reminder, Regional School Calendars are due by June 1, 2024 for school administrative units (SAU) and private schools, approved for tuition purposes, in coordination with their local secondary career and technical education (CTE) school. This requirement is part of Public Law 2011, Chapter 686 to promote collaboration among local school administrative units that may benefit from inter-administrative unit collaboration beyond CTE.
For school year 2024-25, both regional school calendars and individual calendars for each school administrative unit must be submitted by the director of the local CTE Center/Region to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) no later than June 1, 2024, for a decision on approval by July 12, 2024.
Given the coordination required to fulfill this law, the Maine DOE recommends that SAUs initiate discussions as soon as possible, including representatives from all affected secondary schools and their associated career and technical education center or region.
Please visit the Maine DOE Website for more information, including guidance, instructions, templates, a waiver process, and a link to the complete law.
The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration with Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools throughout Maine, is celebrating CTE month this February by highlighting some of the amazing women who have found their path in life through career and technical education. We hope their stories inspire you the way they have inspired us. (Here are the other stories featured in February: Danica Wooster, Madison Jackson, Amanda Baker.)
Emma Koch is currently in her senior year at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine, and in her second year at Region 9 School of Applied Technology where she participates in the metal trades program. The two-year program combines the hands-on use of machine tools and equipment with different types of welding and fabrication of metals through lab exercises and a variety of projects.
“Originally I wanted to do lathe work and carving but they only had building construction which wasn’t what I was looking for,” explained Koch. Instead, she took a chance with metal trades to try their lathes and precision machining.
“Going into it, I was hoping to become proficient in machining but soon realized that was not for me, so I shifted to the other end of the shop where the welders were,” said Koch.
After a short time in the booth, she realized she had a natural knack and love for stick arc welding, and that love soon spread to TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding.
“It’s been fun to watch Emma become a welder,” said Region 9 Metal Trades Instructor Curtiss Hallock. “It didn’t take long for her to discover that machining was not for her – she was pretty clear about that by lunchtime of her first day of machining. It really validated her innate talent as a welder.”
As the only female in her class, Koch explains that the trades have always been largely dominated by men, making them quite an intimidating environment for women to try and be a part of. Looking past all that, Koch explains that she was actually excited to get into welding because her Pepere was a welder, and both her brothers-in-law knew the craft as well. “I was excited to be able to show them up,” she added.
Koch continues to develop her craft and aspires to continue being a high achiever in her program. “Last year, I passed my flat stick welding test, and I am hoping to pass my vertical test this winter,” she said. Passing this test will give her American Welding Society (AWS) certification.
“She raises the bar for everybody in the shop,” added Hallock. “But many of her natural strengths are the ones that can be hard to learn: focus, determination, and drive. She’s really good at blocking out distractions. She stays with a project until it’s done. She’ll be an outstanding welder if she chooses to pursue that path, but if not those skills will make her successful no matter what she chooses to do.”
As for the future, Koch has yet to figure out exactly what she wants to do but she has a plan to get the process started. “I know I want to go to college,” she said. “I’ll be starting at Central Maine Community College in Auburn next year to play soccer and iron out my future plans.” Koch says she is planning on participating in the upcoming statewide Skills USA competition happening next month in Bangor. This is the first time Region 9 has participated since COVID.
“We are very proud of Emma for being open to trying new experiences which has helped her discover a passion for welding,” said Region 9 Director Brenda Gammon.
When asked what advice she had for current and future CTE students, especially young women, Koch said, “The most important thing is to hold your ground and be open to their advice and help, but don’t let them believe that ‘girly’ stereotype we are given; we are strong, we are powerful, and we can do the trades just as good as anyone.”
Hancock County Technical Center (HCTC) opened its doors to the Maine Department of Education (DOE) on Valentine’s Day to provide a glimpse of what a day looks like within its walls. Upon arrival, the smell of baked scallops drifted down the hallway from the culinary program at work preparing a special meal for staff. The office was buzzing with the anticipation of another day of learning, with students and staff discussing college plans, transportation routes, and what they are looking forward to as the season changes. HCTC offers programs such as biomedical research, various types of automotive and technical specialties, early childhood education, health careers, hospitality and tourism, law enforcement, and more. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all over Hancock County have the opportunity to learn from specialists in their field of interest, with Director Bill Tracy and his dedicated staff there to oversee their endeavors.
Sabrina, a biomedical research support student, explained that she was drawn to the program after a 6th-grade field trip to HCTC opened her eyes to the possibilities available. After a 7th-grade STEM unit utilizing microscopes to investigate onion cells ignited her love for research, she knew that was the path she wanted to go on. HCTC’s biomedical program opened the doors for her to fully explore the field.
As a result of support from her HCTC educators and the Bridge Program, a dual enrollment opportunity that allows students to participate at HCTC while simultaneously taking college credits at their participating high school, Sabrina was accepted to the Aspirinaut High School Summer Internship Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee. Sabrina is also participating in an ongoing collaboration with Jackson Labs to give her even more exposure to the worlds of scientific and medical research. Sabrina says she has learned a lot from her experience with HCTC and it helped fuel her passion. “This is what I was meant to do,” she said. She also observed from the professionals she interacts with that a career can be more than a job, realizing that, “your work can be your career and be emotionally satisfying.”
Hancock County Technical Center also boasts award-winning educators. Recent Milken Educator Award recipient Meghan Stubbs teaches early childhood education, working with students considering the classroom as their career. An in-house preschool started by Ms. Stubbs provides interactive, hands-on experience for her students while also providing a service to the community. The classroom boasts a full preschool room experience, complete with early childhood level tables and chairs, a “centers” area, and colorful student-created décor.
Her students are quick to point out what makes her an excellent role model and mentor. One of her third-year students, Isabell says, “She has a different way of teaching and gears it toward how we want to learn.”
She said if she could use one word to describe Ms. Stubbs it would be “passionate”. That passion was easy to see as Meghan led a class discussion about ADHD in children and adults. Meghan led a class discussion on how to identify potential behaviors, as well as strategies for working with all learning types in the classroom. What stood out in this discussion was how open the dialogue was between Meghan and her students, with many sharing personal stories of their own experiences with students with ADHD. Not only were her students learning the content, but they were able to articulate how that information would be relevant for them in their future classrooms. In Meghan’s classroom, everyone has a voice and is invested in how they can use that voice to impact their own lives and the lives of others.
Meghan Stubbs with her students.
Meghan Stubbs teaching students at HCTC.
HCTC Preschool Classroom
It doesn’t take long to see what an impact CTE is making in Ellsworth. Instead of learning concepts in the abstract, students at HCTC are doing medical research, teaching children, preparing and serving meals, and so much more. Hancock County Technical Center is an important part of preparing Maine students with the skills needed to turn their passions into careers.
Commissioner Makin Talks with CTE Directors Randy Crockett from Oxford Hills Technical School, Bobby Deetjen from Mid-Coast School of Technology, and Bill Tracy from Hancock County Technical Center
Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide Maine students with hands-on experiences in programs like culinary arts, welding, auto, law enforcement, early childhood education, and so much more. On this month’s What Holds Us Together podcast, Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin talks with three CTE leaders about this engaging learning pathway, Randy Crockett from Oxford Hills Technical School, Bobby Deetjen from Mid-Coast School of Technology, and Bill Tracy from Hancock County Technical Center. They share how CTEs help students build the skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences they need to thrive. Listen here.
“We’re big believers in the hands-on, real-world, interdisciplinary learning that’s happening at Maine’s Career and Technical Education schools. [Students are] learning skills, they’re learning academic content, they’re solving problems and using critical thinking, they’re developing teamwork skills and communication skills—it’s such a robust model of education,” said Education Commissioner Pender Makin on the podcast.
“What happens in our school is pretty magical on a daily basis. We’re dealing with students who are future doctors, engineers, electricians, welders, you name it. These are going to be contributing members of our communities and we get to watch them at 16 and 17 really grow and make decisions that are going to impact our communities as a whole,” said Mid-Coast School of Technology Director Bobby Deetjen.
“It’s nice to be able to offer things that students need and want in the community,” said Hancock County Technical Center Director Bill Tracy. “That model of being able to learn and then immediately apply and practice is something that our students talk a lot about and being able to have that hands-on opportunity.”
“Our spaces are intermingled with the academic areas as well, so a student can walk from engineering and architectural design to their calculus class. It really makes a big difference in terms of access,” said Oxford Hills Technical School Director Randy Crockett, who also talked about the importance of hands-on learning. “That actual application is going to deepen their learning. They have to problem-solve in real time instead of abstract thinking.”
The group also discussed how the CTE model encourages students to take risks and be confident in trying new things.
“We tell our students, if you don’t fail at something that means you are not going to learn to your fullest potential. That’s going to increase engagement right there where students are going to have that kind of opportunity to feel at ease and take a chance,” said Deetjen, who explained that when students are worried about the social pressures around them if they fail, they’ll never take that chance to begin with and CTE programs take that pressure away.
Tracy summed up the power and potential of what CTEs in Maine offer.
“You can walk down the hall and see welding going on, you can see a car being taken apart, you can see [students] looking at electrical systems, and then you can go up and see three-year-olds running around in a classroom, and then you can step over to another classroom where they’re turning cockroaches into cyborgs and learning to control them. Then you walk down the hall and they’re making this amazing meal. What is this world? It’s just an amazing thing,” he said. “That is the world, and we’re just this small-scale piece of what reality is.”
Maine CTE program enrollment surpassed 10,000 students this year, and communities and the State continue to invest in this transformational learning pathway. Maine’s 27 Career and Technical Education regions and centers enroll students in 85 programs. The Mills administration invested $20 million from the Governor’s Jobs Plan to expand CTEs in Maine. In addition to the Jobs Plan funding, the Governor and the Legislature have increased funding for CTEs by more than $10 million.
The Maine Department of Education, in collaboration with Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools throughout Maine, is celebrating CTE month this February by highlighting some of the amazing women who have found their path in life through career and technical education. We hope their stories inspire you the way they have inspired us.
Danica Wooster has taught the Auto Collision program at the Mid-Coast School of Technology (MCST) for the last 13 years. The program offers a diverse look into the automotive collision industry, including working with the most up-to-date tools and equipment and learning skills in welding, paint preparation, dent repair, and detailing.
The program she now teaches is the same program that got Wooster started in auto collision when she was in high school.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do. My parents suggested I take the class and the rest is history,” said Wooster. Following high school, she attended WyoTech for Collision/Refinishing, and then started working as a technician in the auto collision industry, eventually earning a business degree and then transitioning to teaching the trade right here in Maine.
“Although I didn’t have a background in education specifically, I feel like I played that role many times in my life – from teaching horseback riding lessons in high school to working side-by-side with entry-level technicians in the shop,” said Wooster. “Both of my parents were also educators, and both were a huge support system for me as I started my career,” she added.
Danica Wooster working with MCST student Bryson Mattox plastic welding a wheel flare (Photo credit: Zoe Richardson, a student in MCST Design Technology program).
Wooster says there are a lot of things she loves about working in CTE but one of her favorites is introducing her trade to the students. “I love seeing a student’s face when all of a sudden something clicks – it’s truly special.”
Being able to teach something she is passionate about while experimenting and learning alongside the students is another huge perk for Wooster. Explaining that many people don’t understand that auto collision repair is an art in and of itself. “It’s making something new again, but every single job is different and handcrafted,” she said.
Danica Wooster working with MCST student Andrew Zuidema refinishing a hood in the paint booth (Photo credit: Zoe Richardson, a student in MCST Design Technology program).
During her time working in CTE, Wooster has had many opportunities to grow professionally as well, by earning a master’s degree and continuing to hone her craft by working in the collision repair field during her summers off from teaching.
“I get to make connections with other people in my trade and in education, and I get to work in a building that has so many other talented CTE teachers,” said Wooster. “It’s all an amazing experience, and I think it’s a very unique part of being a CTE teacher.”
One of the things Wooster is the proudest of is being an advocate for CTE, promoting how important it is for many students and industries but also the incredible opportunities it creates for students.
“Attending CTE when I was in high school had a much different, and often negative, connotation,” said Wooster. “We have come a long way from that.”
“Danica has inspired countless students to pursue non-traditional career pathways,” said Bobby Deetjen, Director of the Mid-Coast School of Technology. “Her students continue to break down barriers and succeed in shops all over Maine.”
Wooster shared her advice for students interested in CTE.
“Working my entire career in a non-traditional field has taught me that the only person I need to prove myself to is myself,” she said. “I’ve heard my fair share of ‘no,’ but I think having a little bit of grit is what makes the difference, what made me keep moving forward. I always encourage my students to have a little ‘grit’…to push through when things get tough and to not be afraid to make mistakes. My entire trade is based on mistakes…and that’s what helps us learn and get better at what we do!”
St. George Municipal School Unit (MSU) Superintendent, Mike Felton, applied for a production grant through an organization called CareerViewXR last year. After an application and interview process, the PK-8 school was selected as one of three winning schools from across the United States. The prizes awarded to the school included one 12-month subscription to the CareerViewXR platform, two HTC VIVE virtual reality headsets, and two field trips produced in their region.
Maine DOE Newsroom 