Hey Trade and Industry Teachers,
Spring is here, and the end of the school year is starting to come into view. As you wrap up projects and keep students engaged, it’s also a great time to start looking ahead to summer PD and new ideas for next year. Thanks for all the hard work you’ve put in—finish strong!
Special newsletters were sent out to the community about summer professional development opportunities, student summer camps, and scholarship offerings. Read below about how to share links to those newsletters.
In this newsletter, there is news about upcoming conferences and events, professional development opportunities, grant/scholarship opportunities, and summer workshops. I will keep sending out information, but feel free to contact if you have anything you want to share about these topics or something else that keeps you up at night!
Take care and enjoy the longer, warmer days!
Tim Barrett
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Special Trade and Industry Newsletters Posted
A pair of special newsletters about scholarships available to students as well as summer opportunities for Trade and Industry teachers and students are posted on the Trade and Industry webpage.
If you want to share a link to either newsletter, they are posted under the Trade and Industry Newsletter Archive:
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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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Summer Professional Development Opportunities
For a list of available summer professional development for Trade and Industry teachers, please check out the archived special newsletter Summer Trade and Industry Opportunities on the Trade and Industry webpage.
SCSU WBL Endorsement Option/Summer Workshops
St. Cloud State University (SCSU)'s Department of Environmental and Technological Studies offers several 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.
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Briggs and Stratton Field School for Small Engine Instructors
Each summer, Holdingford High School hosts a multi-day workshop for small engine instructors run by trainers from Briggs and Stratton (Power Distributors). For more information, contact John Roberts at john.roberts@isd738.org or (320) 746-4345
from Holdingford Agriculture Education Department.
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Free Welding Training
This training is designed for the Trade and Industry or Agriculture Educator that has had little experience in the field of welding SMAW and GMAW. It is also for those looking to hone their skills in out-of-position welding. Trainees will gain experience with a variety of welding machines, curriculum and project ideas to take home to their classrooms.
To register, go to the Austin Public Schools website. Please contact Ryan Stanley (ryan.stanley@austin.k12.mn.us) with any questions.
Manufacturing Training for High School Faculty
Alexandria Technical and Community College is hosting the annual manufacturing training for high school faculty. The Machine Tool Technology workshop is not being held this year due to renovations of the facilities.
They are holding sessions for Welding on June 15-17, 2026. The training is free. The deadline to sign up is Friday, May 15, 2026. Space is limited, so sign up soon!
You can register for Welding at the Alexandria Technical and Community College registration website.
If you have questions, please contact Amy Haggerty at amy.haggerty@alextech.edu.
Explore the ACE CNC Training Program
America's Cutting Edge (ACE) is a free in-person Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine training program that is offered by a number of postsecondary institutions.
SCSU Summer 2026 ACE Net CNC Training
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is offering free CNC training through ACE July 13-17, 2026.
SCSU provides training for teachers on ACE Net CNC training. Once trained, teachers will be able to use the training for their manufacturing classes. Those completing the training have the opportunity to take delivery of a Haas or Forest Scientific mill to be used in their classroom at no cost, SCSU will deliver, set-up, provide supplies, provide refresher training, and pick up the mill upon completion.
Send questions to Mike Sundblad at mhsundblad@stcloudstate.edu or register at the ACE registration website.
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Computer Science for Every Classroom: A Course for Minnesota K-12 Educators
This free professional development module is a virtual course for K-12 teachers with a variety of experience levels in computer science and/or computer science integration, from no experience to experienced. The course should take about 10 hours to complete and includes lessons, activities, discussions, quizzes, and many educator and classroom resources. The course consists of eight modules aligned to the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Standards for Computer Science Teachers. For more information about this and other computer science resources, check out the Minnesota Department of Education's Computer Science webpage.
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Trade and Industry Scholarships
For a list of available Trade and Industry scholarships, please check out the archived special newsletter Trade and Industry Scholarships on the Trade and Industry webpage.
Nitro-X Transportation Summer Camps
Nitro-X Summer Camp is designed for middle school students to explore careers in transportation through hands-on activities. Camps will happen this summer at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota North Hibbing Campus, Rochester Community and Technical College, Central Lakes College in Brainerd, and Minnesota State University, Mankato.
To register, check out the Nitro-X registration page at the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence website.
MAPA Scholarships for High School Students
The Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA) will award up to 10 scholarships for $1,000 each to students interested in pursuing a career in road construction or asphalt industry. Students can be pursuing a two or four-year degree in programs such as: Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance, Construction Management, Heavy Construction Equipment, Trucking, Diesel Maintenance, Construction Technology, Civil Engineering or other related degrees.
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Horatio Alger Career and Technical Scholarships
The Career and Technical Scholarships 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 and 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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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.
Minnesota CTE Trade and Industry Resources and FAQs
Minnesota CTE (MN CTE) highlights resources to support Minnesota Trade and Industry and CTE (Career and Technical Education) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers. The website also answers frequently asked questions about the trade and industry community. You can find that information on the Trade and Industry section of the MN CTE website.
Concrete Curriculum
Skate4Concrete's Certification program has a curriculum about the importance and stability of a concrete career. The final project includes the construction of a mini concrete skatepark, which provides teachers with a fun and engaging way to educate about the science of concrete through the application of building concrete skateparks. Check out the Skate4Concrete website for more information.
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 (tim.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 and Technical Education Pathway Reports
These labor market reports and corresponding presentations provide future trends in workforce needs by regions of Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Regional Labor Market Profiles
Downloadable information about jobs/careers most needed per state region.
Career Program Advisory Committee Handbook
This handbook was developed to help build and sustain a strong and active advisory committee.
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