Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Issue 10: February 2024
Teresa Alessandria De Sapio Diaz
2021-2022 Hunterdon County Teacher of the Year
Hunterdon County Polytech
Commercial Arts/Advertising Design and 3D Computer Animation Instructor
As we celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) month this February, we recognize the benefits of authentic learning experiences for our students. CTE affords students a positive student-centered environment with the opportunity to explore careers and gain experience in a variety of fields. Recognizing each student’s strengths inspires us to help find the best path for our students so they can reach their full potential. It is important for students to see a connection between their education and their future. Hands-on, project-based learning engages students to become independent learners confident in their future choices and career paths.
As a Commercial Arts/Advertising Design and 3D Computer Animation teacher for the past 24 years, I have had the pleasure of guiding hundreds of students on their paths in the creative arts. Our students learn industry standard software, equipment, and tools of the trade preparing them to be both college and career ready. The creative process students follow is similar to the scientific method of observation, inquiry, and experimentation. By working both independently and collaboratively, students complete projects for real-world clients. Entrepreneurship is an important component of CTE as students learn to plan, build, and run their own business as freelance artists, salon owners, mechanics, and restaurant owners.
SkillsUSA, a national organization of CTE students, created a framework that combines technical skills grounded in academics, personal skills, and workplace skills. CTE students not only acquire technical skills in their field, but through authentic learning experiences students practice problem solving, critical thinking, receiving feedback and critique, reflecting, and revising their work. As teachers, we need to find a way to engage all students. This includes challenging them while providing encouragement to build their perseverance.
In honor of CTE month, incorporate career and technical education for students of all ages! Explore partnerships in your community by inviting guest speakers into your classroom to discuss different careers or demonstrate skills. It’s important to prepare our students to enter high-demand fields, high-skill, and high-paying jobs. CTE is the answer.
To find out more about CTE, visit ACTEonline.org.
Featured NJDOE Office of the Month—
The Office of Career Readiness provides leadership to advance innovative and performance-driven educational opportunities that promote equity and excellence for all students to become productive members in a global society. This is achieved by providing guidance to schools on implementing New Jersey Student Learning Standard 9.3—Career and Technical Education.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
The office is responsible for the statewide implementation of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) secondary programs of study. This includes collaboration with the state workforce development system, institutions of higher education, business and industry and other state agencies to create rigorous programs of study aligned to workforce needs and career pathways. The office is responsible for approving all CTE secondary programs of study in the 16 Career Clusters® and administers funds provided under the Perkins V: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.
CTE provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.
New Jersey’s 19 county colleges offer many CTE programs at the postsecondary college level. These programs provide two-year associate degrees or certificates, and many programs are articulated with programs at four-year colleges and universities.
The office also supports adults through the Adult Education - High School Equivalency Unit and the Postsecondary Private Career School Unit (PPCSU).
Adult Education-High School Equivalency Unit
Serves the needs of adult learners and youth (aged 16 and over) in attaining their state-issued high-school diploma to achieve their educational, career and personal goals.
Postsecondary Private Career School Unit
Provides leadership for the state's private career schools that offer postsecondary occupational training and retraining programs to the general public. The training may be financed personally by the student, through funds provided by a variety of state agencies, through federal loans and grants, or a combination of these sources. The PPCSU works in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Training Evaluation Unit to evaluate and approve private career schools, out-of-state private career schools and correspondence schools that wish to operate within New Jersey.
Should you have any comments or questions, please reach out to the Office of Career Readiness at CTE@doe.nj.gov.
Resources
Perkins Act - Advance CTE (careertech.org)