CTE July Newsletter
All Things CTE for Montana
Director's Corner
Career Technical and Adult Education professionals have always been advocates of change. Considering our current situation with Covid-19 and daily changes in information and protocols, I commend our CTAE family for their willingness to adapt and change. I have witnessed many great things coming from our CTAE programs across Big Sky. Teachers and students were making masks for frontline workers, teachers switching gears to teach in multiple formats, adjusting for HiSET testing and virtual student conferences, awards ceremonies, and many more changes.
While our CTAE programs have been diligently working to find ways for delivering career and technical content, employability skills, and work-based learning for blended delivery this summer, our CTAE Specialists have also been busy. Let me share some of the highlights of their work:
- Developing a free HUB course for CTE teachers on rethinking the delivery of CTE programs in a virtual world.
- Providing technical assistance to schools through various online formats.
- Online summer meetings and professional learning opportunities moved to online platforms.
- The OPI is currently researching virtual conference platforms for the upcoming Fall Institute and CTSO events.
- Adult Education has also secured agreements to allow HiSET testing to have an online testing option, opening more opportunities for our providers across Montana.
I am so proud of the work that is happening in Career Technical and Adult Education across Montana. These are challenging and exciting times, but I rest assured that our CTAE family will rise to the occasion.
Keep moving onward and upward friends.
Shannon Boswell,
CTAE Director
CodeHS Montana Professional Development Workshop
The CodeHS Team and CodeHS Teacher Trainers are bringing a 2-hour virtual PD workshop to your region on July 28, 2020, to help prepare new and experienced computer science teachers for the (2020-21) school year. The workshops are FREE to all teachers.
New CS Teacher Virtual PD Workshop Overview
Date: July 28, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM MDT
Topic: Introduction to CodeHS
Who Should Attend
CodeHS PD workshops are designed for passionate teachers who are interested in teaching computer science but do not necessarily have a background in programming. No experience is required to take the PD workshop. Montana teachers will receive 2 CEUs for their attendance.
Virtual Workshop Technical Requirements
- Signing up for a CodeHS teacher account ahead of time is not required, but if you’d like to, start at https://codehs.com/signup_start
- Computer Device (Mac, PC, Chromebook, etc.; tablets not compatible)
- Up-To-Date Chrome, Firefox, or Safari web browser
Register online to save your spot today!
https://codehs.com/info/pd/free_workshops
Still have questions? Contact Abbey Weshce at abbey.wesche@bsd7.org.
Health Science/MT HOSA Update:
This year National HOSA offered a Virtual International Leadership Conference (VILC) June 24-27th. HOSA member and state president Simonne Clay, from Billings Career Center, placed 2nd in Job Seeking Skills at the international level! Kudos to our national organization for courageously venturing into the virtual world to deliver an amazing conference with exhibitors, educational symposiums, competitive events, and virtual award ceremonies.
We have seven science teachers working on their Class 4 endorsements in health science this summer. Even in these difficult times, our teachers and students are still ready and willing to join the ranks of our healthcare heroes that are still working tirelessly during this pandemic.
In gratitude,
Renee Erlandsen,
Health Science Education Specialist
rerlandsen@mt.gov
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Montana FCCLA Update:
Montana FCCLA is excited to announce our 2020-2021 State Executive Council Team! They have been meeting virtually for the last several weeks, and are excited to be working together to provide leadership opportunities for the members of Montana FCCLA.
Pictured left to right:
(top) Ellie Lee, State President, Choteau; Shayla Borlaug, VP of Parliamentary Law, North Star; Halee Wilson, VP of Competitive Events, Three Forks
(middle) Colton Braddock, 1st Vice President, Terry; Camilla Jensen, VP of Programs, Scobey; Gabby Heggem, VP of Membership, Shepherd
(bottom) Kennette Teske, VP of Finance, Columbus; Rachel Zielinski, VP of Community Outreach, Sheridan; Ben Logan, VP of Public Relations, Powell County
 National FCCLA held the first ever virtual National Leadership Conference July 7-9, 2020. Over 5,400 student members, advisers, and parents from across the country participated in a large variety of leadership sessions, professional development, and virtual exhibition of business partners and post-secondary education institutions. Nearly 80 Montanans “attended” this event; many advisers and students have shared that they found the virtual format enjoyable, interactive, and accessible.
Additionally, Montana FCCLA was able to provide a virtual competition for our STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) Events earlier this spring. 67 members submitted their projects, highlighting the incredible work they have been doing in their chapters, schools, and communities. 55 of these students qualified to advance to the National level, which led to 35 members registering to compete virtually at the National Leadership Conference. Montana members earned 11 Gold medals, 15 Silver medals, and 9 Bronze medals. Congratulations!
We’re proud of the resiliency and perseverance our members and advisers have shown through this unprecedented time, and we’re looking to the future with warm courage and high hope!
Montana FFA News
Wow, what an interesting spring! Unfortunately, it looks this interesting spring is going to extend well into the fall and maybe beyond. I use the word interesting because I’m not sure what other word a person would use to summarize what we have all been experiencing.
I would first like to congratulate and thank the 2019/2020 State FFA Officers for their service to the FFA members across the state. This group of talented individuals made the very best of a difficult situation and excelled! They put on a unique state convention that would rival anything else I have seen online. They handled it with grace, enthusiasm and, professionalism. If you get the opportunity to thank one of them, please do so.
As we look forward to fall activities, it will remain to be seen what we will be able to do. District Leadership Schools may have to be presented online, district contest events may look different and state events may not happen. However, we will take advantage of what we can! The new state officers are preparing for whatever comes their way. If you have not seen a list of the new officers, they are as follows: Brooke Mehlhoff – President from Twin Bridges, Bailey Gasvoda – 1st V.P. from Big Sandy, Chay VanDyke – 2nd V.P. from Glendive, McKenna Quirk – Secretary from Missoula, Gracie Smith – Treasurer from Victor, Gracie Tooke – Reporter from Ekalaka, Max Andres – Sentinel from Missoula and Allyson Young – Parliamentarian from Fairview. It will be exciting to watch these eight outstanding young people lead Montana FFA this year.
Early this month, the National FFA Organization canceled this year’s National FFA Convention. Even though the convention will be presented online, it will still recognize member achievement from across the U.S. Mamie Hertel (Central Region Vice President from Montana) and her teammates will be responsible for the operation of this convention. What a unique opportunity for these national officers as they address the challenges associated with “running” an online event. I’m sure it will be a huge success!
The theme for this coming year is Connected by Corduroy! What great words to help us celebrate another year of FFA in Montana!
Jim Rose,
Montana FFA State Director
Green Vibes Only
Missoula FFA member Justice Betts' Supervised Agricultural Experience is vegetable production. This work-based learning experience teaches Justice not only the time management in running a greenhouse, but also allows her to sell and bring home delicious, fresh vegetables. Watch the full story below.
This summer, we are honored to share members' stories of how FFA grows leaders, builds communities, and strengthens agriculture.
Manhattan HS Student Takes Youth Entrepreneurs Class and Will Host Garth Brooks Virtual Concert
Blanchard Porter, a student who was enrolled in Lexi Glaus’ business class at Manhattan High School has a list of successes to be proud of. Lexi just completed her first year at MHS as a business and YE-Montana educator.
First, for his capstone project in Lexi’s class, Porter decided to help his family’s cash flow, because his dad’s business had to close, and to safely solve the lack of community gatherings during the early days of our state’s shutdown. With a $500 Market Day loan from YE and other family cash and in-kind contributions, Porter started The Pasture, a drive-in movie theater on his family’s property.
Second, Porter entered The Pasture in YE’s national entrepreneurship competition, The Big Idea, and was voted the #1 entry among 130 submissions by a panel of entrepreneurs and business leaders. He received $6,000 in prize money.
Third, the publicity surrounding Porter’s drive-in caught the attention of a connection to Garth Brooks. The Pasture was subsequently selected as one of 300 sites nationally to host the entertainer’s virtual concert in late June. WOW!!
- Here’s a segment from today’s local news coverage by KBZK-TV.
Porter and Lexi’s story is definitely a spirit-lifter and it reinforces both the “Why” of CTE and your team’s day-in-and-day-out dedication to educators and students across Montana. Congratulations!
For questions, please contact:
Shannon Boswell, Division Administrator - 406.444.7915
Eric Tilleman, Agriculture Education Specialist - 406.444.4451
Renee Erlandsen, Health Sciences Education Specialist - 406.994.6986
Ian Beagles CTE/Perkins Data Control Specialist - 406.444.9019
Mike Houghton, Industrial Technology Specialist - 406.444.4452
Austin Schweitzer, Marketing Program Coordinator - 406.444.2059
Eric Swenson, Business Education Specialist - 406.444.7991
Megan Vincent, Family & Consumer Sciences Education Specialist - 406.444.3599
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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