CTAE January Newsletter
All Things CTE for Montana
February is CTE Month!
 As a career and technical education (CTE) teacher, you know the importance of preparing students for the workforce — no matter which CTE career cluster or pathway they follow.
But how do you express that importance to your students, school, and community?
That’s where CTE Month comes in!
Every February, students, educators, and administrators raise awareness of CTE programs by celebrating CTE month.
What can I do to celebrate CTE Month?
- Invite a different guest speaker each day (for a week) or once a week whoholds a different career related to CTE.
- Start a service-learning project for your community.
- Encourage the entire CTE department to decorate their doors/classrooms, or digitally on your virtual backgrounds, based on their area/careers.
- Find local college/university connections and opportunities.
- Get together with the CTE department to create a promo video for all CTE programs.
- Focus on a different aspect of CTE each week: Week 1-Schools that offer CTE career programs, Week 2- CTE Clubs, Week 3- CTE Careers, Week 4- All CTE Celebration (Spirit Week).
- Takeover school announcements highlighting different students, clubs, and activities for the month: CTE Student of the week, CTSO of the week, CTE Teacher of the week, etc.
- Plan a CTE (or virtual) Community Fair- Each CTE class can invite someone from their industry to showcase program related careers.
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Download the CTE Month logo for use with any print or digital outreach.
Please note, the “CTE Month” or “Career and Technical Education Month” must be followed by the trademark sign (®) the first time it appears in a document or visual presentation.
Upcoming CTE Event Schedule
March 9 - DECA State Conference
March 14-16 - BPA State Conference
March 22-23 - TSA State Conference (virtual/blend)
April 6-8 - SkillsUSA State Conference (virtual/blend)
April 7-10 - FFA State Conference (virtual/blend)
April 14 - HOSA State Conference
April 15 - FCCLA State Conference (virtual)
Director's Corner
At the beginning of a new year and a new legislative session, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle.. Many schools have closed the books on the first semester and are starting fresh with the second semester. Some are anticipating start of new sport seasons and spring and summer events. I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on the perseverance of our Montana CTAE educators, students, administrators, school counselors, stakeholders, and parents. In the last year, we have watched as many had to pivot their instruction to online and remote learning. It has been impressive to witness our CTE instructors' creativity in delivering the content and skill the industry demands; also our CTE students also adapt and adjust to a new routine as they seek leadership development and engagement through our seven Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSO's).
The outreach from our CTE Specialists and Adult Education staff has been tremendous. They have put together virtual professional development opportunities, held numerous check-in with their program teachers, helped schools navigate through changes in the Carl D. Perkins and WIOA plans. Most sincere thanks to you for continuing to ensure the students' experiences and safety are a priority. We, in CTAE, are excited to be a part of the growth of opportunities for Montana's students.
We are gearing up for CTE month in February. In addition to our regular monthly CTAE month newsletter, we will be highlighting our CTE programs and CTSO's every week. We are asking for your help; if you have a news article that highlights work-based learning, service projects, leadership, business partnerships, or something unique, please send them to Austin Schweitzer by February 15, 2021. We want to highlight all the great things happening in CTAE.
- Shannon Boswell,
CTAE Unit Director
Week of January 25 Highlighting: Business and Marketing Education, BPA and DECA.
Week of February 1 Highlighting: Family and Consumer Sciences, FCCLA, Industrial Technology, TSA, and SkillsUSA.
Week of February 8 Highlighting: Health Science and HOSA
Week of February 15 Highlighting: Agriculture and FFA
Week of February 22 Highlighting: Montana CTE Programs, Teach CTE and Business and Industry partners.
Join Reach Higher Montana and Watch the
MT Youth Apprenticeship Webinar
Hosted by the Montana Chamber of Commerce
Youth Apprenticeship Webinar - January 20, 2:30 p.m.
Apprenticeship is a proven education and workforce strategy that combines paid, structured, on-the-job training with related, classroom learning. Through the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship, the Montana Youth Apprenticeship Partnership is expanding opportunities for employers to grow their workforce through youth apprenticeship, and for students to engage in meaningful work experiences that lead to viable career paths.
Join Kelly Cresswell, Reach Higher Montana Executive Director, and Jason Butcher, Reach Higher Montana Outreach Director, to learn more about leveraging youth apprenticeship as part of your workforce development strategy.
Registration Information:
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jan 20, 2021 02:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYrcO-ppzstH9DbEdCB1fLjDRFUljdUJgVn [zoom.us]
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Montana SkillsUSA Update:
SkillsUSA Montana is gearing up for a very active 2021. Here are some highlights…
Our focus right now is the State Leadership Conference that will begin on March 15th. We will hold 33 events in which our student members can compete. Some events will be hands-on and hosted by individual chapters. Other events will be done virtually.
Using the $7500 grant from the TC Energy Build Strong Program, we will purchase Advisor Tool Kits from SkillsUSA. Every chapter advisor will receive these incredible resource tools to use in their chapters to help grow our quality leaders of tomorrow.
The SkillsUSA Montana Board of Directors welcomes three new industry representatives to our board:
- Tayla Snapp – TC Energy
- Matt Olson – Montana Chamber of Commerce
- Bruce Knudsen – Montana Automobile Dealers Association
These professionals balance out our board with equal representation from educators and industry leaders. We’re excited to gain wisdom and guidance from all of our board as we move SkillsUSA Montana to a new level!
Happy New Year from all of us at SkillsUSA Montana!
Mary Heller, State Director
SkillsUSA Montana
406-399-0640
mary.heller@skillsusamontana.org
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FCCLA Update:
Our State Executive Council is looking forward to meeting later this month to continue their work for our upcoming State Leadership Conference, to be held virtually. Our nine officers, pictured below, are excited for the opportunity to continue to engage and connect with members in such a unique way!
FCCLA Week is February 8-12, 2021. Check out details and resources here to celebrate with us!
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2020-2021 Montana FCCLA State Executive Council
Ellie Lee, President
Halee Wilson, VP of Competitive Events
Shayla Borlaug, VP of Parliamentary Law
Gabby Heggem, VP of Membership
Colton Braddock, 1st Vice President
Ben Logan, VP of Public Relations
Camilla Jensen, VP of Programs
Kennette Teske, VP of Finance
Rachel Zielinski, VP of Community Outreach
Place Your Vote on the MFEC Meme Contest Finalists
Voting is now live on our MFEC Meme Contest. Nearly a hundred middle and high school students across Montana submitted entries for the contest. We narrowed the entries down to about 20 finalists which are posted to a MFEC Facebook album.
Anyone may vote for any and all of the entries. The six students whose memes receive the most Facebook "likes" will receive a cash prize. Judging should be based on originality, importance, and wit/humor. Voting ends January 20th and winners will be announced January 29th. For reference, Meme Contest Rules and Instructions.
The Prospects: 2021 High School Business
Plan & Pitch Competition
The Prospects submission deadline is February 12! The Chamber is continuing to grow the Prize Purse of The Prospects. As of January 13, they are up to $45,700, including cash, technology, scholarships, work-based learning and mentorship opportunities.
Contact: matthew@montanachamber.com
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A New Year Means Opportunities for Students:
How Montana FFA Foundation is still delivering career development
as methods of connection continue to change.
Typically, during the John Deere Ag Expo, the Montana State University Strand Union Building ballrooms are filled wall to wall with booths and exhibitors from universities and businesses with opportunities for personal development or careers for FFA members. Not surprisingly, Montana FFA Foundation was unable to host the John Deere Ag Expo on MSU's Campus and was also unable to provide the opportunity for in-person career development through a career fair. This led to Montana FFA Foundation launching the first-ever Virtual Montana FFA Career Fair.
“Finding a way to deliver engagement in career-building opportunities was definitely a challenge in 2020 and as we move forward. It is vital to reflect on our progress and monitor how we can continue to provide these opportunities for all our students,” Montana FFA Foundation Program and Events Coordinator, Saralyn Standley, said. “Everything is a work-in-progress, but it is exciting to find new ways to do what we have always done.”
In 2021, Montana FFA Foundation is looking forward to continuing its partnership with Torgerson's, LLC with the Growing Our Leaders’ Development (GOLD) Conference. This Conference, previously hosted in Bozeman and bringing in professional presenters, panelists, and interview committees, will meet in Billings and Great Falls this year to accommodate for social distancing.
The place isn’t the only difference when it comes to the 2021 GOLD Conference. This year, participants will have the opportunity to hear from Montana leaders and former FFA members who are truly paving the way for Agriculture, Career and Technical Education, and youth leadership in our great state
Montana FFA Update:
Happy New Year from the Montana FFA Association!!
We are excited to see what 2021 will bring to Montana FFA Members. It is looking like we will again have a record number of FFA members by the end of this current school year.
The state officers have been conducting chapter visits across the state and will hopefully complete these visits by the end of January. They have offered chapters a choice of three different workshops and all have been well received. Fortunately, the officers have dodged the most severe weather problems during their travels.
Upcoming Montana FFA activities for January are as follows:
- January 16th Winter Ag teacher’s meeting (online)
- January 27th Fergus Mechanics competition in Lewistown
A special thank you goes out to Torgersons for hosting the annual Gold Conference. This leadership development conference is designed to develop state officer candidates and was held online January 15th – 17th. The conference focuses on interview skills, presentation skills and personal skill development.
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Watch as Montana Wheat and Barley Committee
Take You for a Virtual Tour
Farming the 406
The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee has been working on a virtual experience for your students to take video tours of farms and the state grain lab. Along with the farm tours they offer many videos about Soils, Pest management, MSU Field Days, Wheat Marketing Center and interview from wheat farmers from our neighboring states.
Wholesome: The Journey of U.S. Wheat
The Montana Wheat and Barley Committee has also partnered with U.S. Wheat Associated and created a full feature film. The movie covers the impressive U.S. wheat export supply chain and the people who bring passion and purpose as they go into every step of the field to export journey. So, while the process makes it the world’s most reliable wheat, the people make it happen.
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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