The snow is still here, but the grass is peeking out from under the drifts. A great spring is just around the corner.
There is a lot of energy and excitement around the future of Career and Technical Education and about supporting those programs that prepare students for the modern workforce.
Teachers across the state are working hard to improve and expand their programs. A wider assortment of organizations and institutions are offering professional development opportunities and resources for Trade and Industry teachers this spring and summer. With your help, we can continue to add new offerings to the collection.
In this newsletter, I have information about a number of upcoming conferences and events. There are also reminders about summer workshops, grant/scholarship opportunities, and free resources. I will keep sending out information, but send me any items you come across and want to share with the community!
Take care and enjoy the warmer months ahead!
Tim Barrett
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Inventory of Funded Programs to Support Education Workforce
An online resource, "Diversifying the Teacher Workforce: Inventory of Funded Programs," was created by Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Office of Higher Education (OHE) and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to provide a high-level overview of funded programs that could be utilized locally to support and diversify the CTE educator workforce. This resource is a living document that will be edited and revised as appropriate.
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Save the Date! 2MTEC Manufacturing Educator Conference
The Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence will hold the second annual summer conference specifically designed for career and technical educators and postsecondary educators in Moorhead on August 8 and 9, 2023.
The event will provide leading-edge industry knowledge and educational techniques for teaching in-demand CTE skills. Topics will include machining, mechatronics, tool and die, employability skills, welding, and more! Check out the 2MTEC Conference website for more information.
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SCSU Summer Workshops
St. Cloud State University (SCSU)'s Department of Environmental and Technological Studies offers a number of online and in-person courses to assist Trade and Industry teachers with licensure, now including courses for a work based learning endorsement.
Please check the SCSU website for more information and to register.
Manufacturing Training for High School Faculty
Alexandria Technical and Community College is hosting the annual manufacturing trainings for high school faculty. They are holding sessions for Welding on June 26-27 and Machine Tool Technology on June 28-30, 2023. The trainings are free. The deadline to sign up is Friday, June 2, 2023.
You can register at the Alexandria Technical and Community College website. If you have questions, please contact Carrie Hanson at carrieh@alextech.edu.
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Small Gas Engines Workshop
BriefCASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education) Institutes are short intense professional development sessions. SGE is a specialization-level module in the Mechanical Systems in Agriculture series. The module provides technical application to mechanical systems, using small gas engines as the instruction tool.
SGE BriefCASE will be held at Holdingford High School, Holdingford, Minnesota. These sessions are available to all agricultural and CTE educators and provides free updates to agriculture curriculum in the classroom.
For more information check out the Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence website.
Train the Trainer Workshops
Specifically designed for Ag and Trade and Industry teachers, this three-day workshop will include training to support instructors in teaching skills to secondary students in three core areas: Agriculture and Food Science Technology; Automation, Robotics, and Engineering Technology; and Auto and Diesel Technology.
The workshops will take place at Riverland Community College on June 13-15, 2023. To get more information and register, go to the Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence website.
Computer Science Professional Learning
Applications are open for the Professional Learning Program for middle and high school educators! If you’re interested in teaching computer science for the 2023-24 academic year, this is a great opportunity to explore CS curriculum and collaborate with educators of all experience levels to develop lesson plans and teaching strategies. Middle and High School teachers will begin with a five-day in-person workshop on Computer Science Discoveries, Computer Science Principles, and Computer Science A in the summer, with quarterly meetings thereafter.
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Summer Career and Technical Skill Camps
Minnesota State offers a variety of summer camps for middle and high school students. With 54 campuses across the state, these opportunities provide fun, interactive, and experiential learning experiences on a Minnesota State college or university campus. Students build self-confidence, while learning new skills. Check out our summer camp options below and check back often since we update information frequently. Spots fill fast, so inquire with campuses today!
You can find more information at the Minnesota State Summer Camps webpage.
Nitro-X Summer Camps
Nitro-X camps are designed for middle or high school students and are hosted by Minnesota State Colleges and Minnesota High Schools. The camps offers students the opportunity to explore careers in transportation through hands-on activities with radio controlled (RC) cars. This includes learning about how vehicles work, building their confidence with technical skills, working in teams to develop life and employability skills, gaining exposure to industry and showing off their RC skills with a race.
Find more information and register on the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence website
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WiT 2023 Spring Scholarships Applications
The Women In Trucking (WiT) Foundation is now accepting applications for the Spring 2023 scholarship cycle through Sunday, April 16, at 5 p.m. CT. Any female who will be attending a training facility for the purpose of advancing their career in the areas of safety, driving, technical, or leadership in the trucking industry is eligible to apply for a scholarship.
For more information and to apply, visit the WiT scholarships webpage.
BrandSource Scholarships
Do you know any students with foster care experience entering Appliance Repair, Carpentry, Electrician, or Plumbing? The BrandSource Trade Scholarship is now accepting applications for funds up to $5,500 a year for up to two years. The eligibility requirements and the digital application can be found on the BrandSource website.
Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarships
The Career & Technical Scholarship Program are awarded to students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their lives who wish to pursue a career or technical education at an accredited non-profit post-secondary institution in the United States. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books and supplies.
The Horatio Alger Career & Technical Education Scholarship application will open on March 15 with a priority deadline of June 15 each year. Should spaces remain, the application will remain open until all scholarships are awarded. Please refer to the CTE Scholarship page to confirm the current application status.
All scholarship funds are paid directly to the institution on behalf of the recipient. Complete details are available at the Horatio Alger Association Scholarship webpage.
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MHCA Scholarship
The Minnesota Heating & Cooling Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the HVAC industry. The MHCA will once again be offering MHCA scholarships to students pursuing a career in the HVAC field. Individuals who are seeking a career in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) field are invited to apply.
Multiple $1,000.00 scholarships may be available. Applications Due May 31, 2023.
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New Trucking Careers Website
Drive the Difference is a new website hosted by the Minnesota Trucking Association. From driving for a company or yourself to maintaining trucks and implementing today’s latest tech (plus operations, IT, and office support opportunities), careers in trucking are where it’s at.
MDE Trade and Industry Page
Check out the webpage at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) for Trade and Industry for the most recent information about the various topics concerning Career and Technical Education (CTE) program areas of Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Communications Technology.
National Robotics Week Resources
National Robotics Week is April 8-16, 2023. Check out all of the great resources on the National Robotics Week event website.
Free Downloadable Posters
Realityworks provides classroom posters which can foster student learning and generate excitement. Use these free, downloadable posters and infographics to jump-start career discussions.
Check Out These Additional Career Exploration or Curriculum Resources:
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Want to let folks know about a great project or new program or initiative? Know of a great resource or professional development opportunity you would like to share? Have a burning question that needs answering?
Let me know about it so I can include it in an upcoming newsletter. If you have images that go with the information, please send it along to Tim Barrett (timothy.barrett@state.mn.us).
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Professional Organizations:
- International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) – Find more information at the ITEEA website.
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) – Learn more at the ACTE website.
Minnesota-Based Partner Organizations:
- Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas (MTTIA) – Sign up to join at the MTTIA website.
- Minnesota Technology and Engineering Education Association (MTEEA) – Get more information at the MTEEA website.
- Minnesota chapter of the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA MN) – Get more information at the CSTA MN website.
- SkillsUSA Minnesota – For more information, visit the Minnesota chapter of SkillsUSA at the SkillsUSA Minnesota website.
- Minnesota Association of Career and Technical Administrators (MACTA) – Check out how MACTA helps support CTE on the MACTA website.
Minnesota State’s Centers of Excellence
Explore the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence.
Labor Market Infographics
This page has links to a number of helpful infographics that provide key data to parents concerning the value of CTE career pathways.
RealTime Talent Minnesota Career & Technical Education Pathway Reports
These labor market reports and corresponding presentations provide future trends in workforce needs by regions of Minnesota.
DEED Regional Labor Market Profiles
Downloadable information about jobs/careers most needed per state region.
Advisory Committee Handbook
This handbook was developed to help build and sustain a strong and active advisory committee.
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