Technical student organizations offer leadership training

Maine FFA state officers (four on left) and FBLA state officers joined forces to provide leadership training to high school students at the Augusta Armory.
Maine FFA state officers (four on left) and FBLA state officers joined forces to provide leadership training to high school students at the Augusta Armory.

Two of Maine’s technical student organizations, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA), joined forces for the first time at the Augusta Armory to provide nearly 100 high school students with fast-paced leadership training on Nov. 1.

Workshop topics included the role of FFA and FBLA in helping their members realize personal growth, become better leaders, and gain skills to help them be successful in their future careers. Students participated in discussions and interactive group activities, having a chance to meet peers from other schools and to learn skills that may help them after graduation.

Continue reading “Technical student organizations offer leadership training”

Recognizing exceptional teachers

Headshot of Commissioner Stephen BowenToday was a great day for recognizing excellent teachers and showcasing their work. I was honored to start the day by announcing that Peter Barlow is the newest Maine CTE Teacher of the Year. A few hours later, I was congratulating four teachers for becoming Presidential Award finalists at a conference for science teachers in Gardiner.

Continue reading “Recognizing exceptional teachers”

Maine names career-technical teacher of the year

Peter Barlow accepts Maine’s 2012 Career and Technical Educator of the Year award for his excellence as a metal trades instructor in Mexico.
Click to view more photos from the event.

LEWISTON – Peter Barlow, a metal trades instructor at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico, was named Maine’s newest Career and Technical Educator of the Year Friday in front of more than 400 of his colleagues. Barlow has taught precision machining and welding programs at Region 9 since 1991.

Educators gathered Friday to share best practices from around Maine at the third annual CTE conference at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

Continue reading “Maine names career-technical teacher of the year”

Upcoming conference for career and technical educators

High school and community college career and technical education teachers will have a chance to discuss alignment of curriculum to Maine and industry standards, innovations in the trade areas, assessment agreements, and exemplary practices in the world of work at the annual CTE conference Friday, Oct. 5 at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center.

Continue reading “Upcoming conference for career and technical educators”

Amended guidance on federal sequestration

This is an update on the current status of the anticipated sequestration of federal funds as a result of the debt limit deal enacted by Congress on August 2, 2011. The President is required to issue a sequestration order, which will have immediate effect, no later than Jan. 2, 2013.

Continue reading “Amended guidance on federal sequestration”

Report cites career and technical education as a pathway to success

The following is a news release from the Governor’s Office:

AUGUSTA – Today, the LePage administration shared a report released Tuesday by Georgetown University which promotes career and technical education – in both high school and in post-secondary programs – as a significant path to good-paying jobs. The report found that 29 million well-paying middle class jobs go to workers without bachelor’s degrees.

Continue reading “Report cites career and technical education as a pathway to success”

High school firefighting training program expands in Brunswick

Eight Lisbon students prepare for the Firefighting I and II State Test.Maine Region Ten Technical High School in Brunswick has recently expanded its firefighting program to include Emergency Medical Technician training.

In this photo, eight Lisbon students join students from Brunswick, RSU 5 (Durham, Freeport and Pownal) and MSAD 75 (Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham) to prepare for the Firefighting I and II State Test.

Continue reading “High school firefighting training program expands in Brunswick”