| Tech Prep Tuesday - February 1, 2005 |
(posted February 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
February 1, 2005
Local Articulation Summit Rescheduled for April
Due to various scheduling conflicts and changes in personnel at the state level (TEA), the local articulation meeting (tentatively scheduled for February 16) will be moved to April. Please contact Sherry Hollinger (254-298-8482 or shollin@templejc.edu) to give input on the best date(s) for the meeting or dates to avoid due to testing and other conflicts.
Seamless Transitions State Conference and ATC Training
Professional Development for the ATC (Advanced Technical Credit) Program will be available at the Seamless Transitions State Conference March 28 – 29, 2005, at the Austin Convention Center. Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium will reimburse up to $300 for area CATE faculty to attend the training. Call 254-298-8482 for details. The conference website is http://www.texasp16slc.org/STSC_index.html.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - January 11, 2005 |
(posted February 2005)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
January 11, 2005
Call for Presentations
Lamar University and the Texas P-16 State Leadership Consortium are seeking one-hour presentations for the 2005 Seamless Transitions State Conference. The conference will be conducted March 28-30 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. One-hour sessions will be conducted March 29 & 30. Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium has sent presentation proposal forms to each partner ISD and college. For additional forms, please contact the Tech Prep office at 254-298-8480.
Funds Available for State Conference
Executive Director S. Chuck McCarter has announced funds are available to Consortium partners to attend the 2005 Seamless Transitions State Conference in March. Requests should be made on school/college letterhead and state how the attendance at the conference would benefit their Tech Prep programs and students. Requests granted will be on a reimbursement basis. Up to $300 per person will be offered. ATC (Advanced Technical Credit) training will be offered at the conference. Please see the following website for details about the conference: www.TexasP16slc.org
New Tech Prep State Director Announced
Linda McDonough has been named the new Tech Prep State Director effective this month. Ms. McDonough previously served as Director of the Center for College Readiness at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She was keynote speaker at the Central Texas Counselors’ Network Workshop in November.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - December 7, 2004 |
(posted December 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
December 7, 2004
Tech Prep Fall Semester Highlights
• Highlighting the fall semester were Tech Prep staff visits to the 31 ISDs and two colleges that comprise the Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium. It is such a treat to visit your schools and campuses and hear about all the wonderful CATE and Tech Prep programs in your districts. This year more than ever, we have sensed increased enthusiasm and excitement about Tech Prep and Career and Technology Education.
• In September, 25 counselors, teachers, advisors and administrators attended the Bridges workshop at Temple College. This year, the Consortium is sponsoring subscriptions to Bridges’ online career exploration system for about 18 partner middle schools, high school and colleges.
• Fourteen Tech Prep Ambassadors from seven area high schools attended a training session on October 26 and are currently preparing presentations to promote Tech Prep on their campuses and in their communities.
• In November, 30 area high school counselors and college advisors and personnel attended a Central Texas Counselors’ Network Workshop sponsored by the Consortium.
• This fall also brought the beginning of the implementation of the CATEMA system for Consortium high schools. Facilitators and teachers from numerous school districts have received training and are in the process of implementing the system on their campuses. CATEMA (Career and Technology Education Management Application) is an online system for managing Tech Prep information relating to courses, classes, school districts, high schools, teachers, counselors, college registrars, college advisors, and students. The Consortium has offered subgrant money this year to help districts implement CATEMA.
• A study to determine the feasibility of an Advanced Technology Center for East Bell County has progressed under the leadership of Chuck McCarter who has conducted surveys of area ISDs and studied other centers extensively.
• Other Consortium activities include Eight Year Plan Committee Meetings, Mid-Tex College Night at the Expo Center and attendance at the Fall TACTE Conference and the National Tech Prep Network Conference.
Next semester we look forward to working with many of you as we update and add local articulation agreements and continue implementation of the CATEMA system.
Happy Holidays from the Tech Prep Staff!
Chuck, Sherry, Misty & Trish
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| Central Texas Counselors' Workshop |
(posted December 2004)
About 30 area ISD counselors and college advisors attended a Central Texas Counselors’ Network Workshop and Luncheon November 17, 2004, at Temple College. Featured speaker was Linda McDonough, Director of the Center for College Readiness at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Ms. McDonough spoke on issues related to the Texas Success Initiative. “It was great to get ‘hot-off-the-press’ information from someone in the know!” remarked one of the attendees.
Other guest speakers included Becky Howard, Region 12 Texas Scholars/GO Center Coordinator who gave an update on regional activities and Robyn Crawford, Membership Development Coordinator of the National Technical Honor Society.
Attendees received a notebook of Health Science program information for Central Texas College and Temple College. Neil Coker, Director of the STAR Programs at Temple College conducted a tour of the Health Sciences Center for the group. Several counselors noted that the experience of seeing the facilities first-hand and learning about the programs offered will help tremendously in advising students interested in health careers.
The workshop was sponsored by the Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium. Dr. S. Chuck McCarter, Executive Director of the Consortium welcomed the group to Temple College. Consortium Director Sherry Hollinger and Outreach Coordinator Misty Harrell served on the planning committee for the workshop, and Patricia Goodman, Administrative Assistant, helped with the arrangements.
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| Tech Prep Ambassadors Meet |
(posted December 2004)
Fourteen area high school students along with peer managers from each school participated in a workshop October 26, 2004, at Temple College. Dr. Karén Clos-Bleeker, Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer at the college, welcomed the students to the campus. Jody Askins, Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium Board Member and Manager of Training and Development for Wilsonart International, served as trainer for the group. Following lunch, the group toured the Health Sciences Center at the college with Neil Coker, Director of the S.T.A.R. Programs.
The Tech Prep Ambassadors promote Career and Technology Education and Tech Prep among their peers and in their communities. Schools participating this year are Copperas Cove HS, Ellison HS, Harker Heights HS, Killeen HS, Marble Falls HS, Shoemaker HS and Star HS. The program is in its second year. Central Texas College provided funding for t-shirts for the students. Outstanding seniors from the group will have the opportunity to compete for $500 scholarships at Central Texas College and Temple College.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 16, 2004 |
(posted November 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 16, 2004
Temple College GIS Week
Temple College will celebrate GIS week with events scheduled November 17th and 18th. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are spatial analysis tools used in environmental science, urban management, archeology, geology, sociology, public health, business planning, marketing and geography. Events scheduled include:
Wednesday, November 17 – Temple College Downtown Center (Main & Adams)
9:30am to 11:00am – Schools visit: Map Gallery, Demonstrations, Lectures, Tours
11:45am to1:00pm – Room 107 Dr. Gary Coutu as speaker
Student Presentations will follow
1:30pm to 2:30pm – Mini-Lectures and Demonstrations
Thursday, November 18 - Temple College Main Campus @ One College Centre
12:00 noon to 1:00pm – Brown bag lunch lecture (Dr. Coutu) OCC Room 1153
11:00am to 1:30pm – Map Gallery in One College Centre
Texas Career Education Conference Scheduled
The Midwinter Texas Career Education Conference, Making A Difference, is scheduled for January 19 – 21, 2005, at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The conference, sponsored by the Career & Technology Association of Texas (CTAT) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), will offer extensive professional development and networking opportunities for career and technology educators. Registration information is available on the CTAT website at www.ctat.org. Ken Von Gonten, Belton ISD, is President of CTAT this year.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 9, 2004 |
(posted November 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 9, 2004
Tech Prep Subgrant Reminder
Applications for this year’s ISD subgrants are due by noon on Friday, November 12. Please call the consortium office at 254-298-8482 if you have any questions about the application process.
It’s not too late to register for the Counselors’ Network Workshop!
The Central Texas Counselors’ Network Workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17, 2004, from 9:30 AM until 2:00 PM at Temple College. The workshop will be in the Leopard Room of the Arnold Student Union. Speakers include:
Linda McDonough, THECB, Texas Success Initiative – First Year Summary
Robyn Crawford - National Technical Honor Society
Becky Howard – GO Center Update
Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Health Science Center at Temple College.
Cost for the workshop is $15 and includes lunch. You may register through the Consortium website at http://www.centraltexastechprep.com. Go to Teacher Training, Register Online, complete the form and click the “Sign me up!” button. Checks may be mailed to the Consortium office. Deadline for registration is November 10, 2004.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - November 2, 2004 |
(posted November 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
November 2, 2004
Career Pathways: The Next Generation of Tech Prep
“Tech Prep and Career Pathways: Strategies for Student Success” was the theme for the National Tech Prep Network 2004 Conference held last month in Minneapolis. In a special conference issue of Connections, Dan M. Hull, CEO of CORD discussed the role of Tech Prep as a change agent for Career and Technology Education. He believes that Career Pathways will be the vehicle for a major new initiative of continuous program improvement.
A Career Pathway is a coherent, articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career/technical courses, commencing in the ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, baccalaureate degree and beyond, an industry recognized certificate, and/or licensure. The Career Pathway is developed, implemented, and maintained in partnership among secondary and postsecondary education, business, and employers. Career Pathways are available to all students, including adult learners, and lead to rewarding careers. This definition of Career Pathways was jointly developed by CORD and the College and Career Transitions Initiative (The League for Innovation in the Community College) and approved by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (U.S. Department of Education).
A career cluster is a grouping of occupations according to common knowledge and skills for the purpose of organizing educational programs and curricula. (Please see http://www.careerclusters.org/16clusters.htm for a listing of the 16 career clusters identified by the U.S. Department of Education.) Each career cluster encompasses many Career Pathways. Visit the CORD website (http://www.cord.org) for additional information on this subject.
Articulation Meetings
Eight area high school teachers and administrators met on October 20 with Don Donaldson and Zhan Aljoe of Central Texas College to add and update articulation agreements in the Industrial and Agriculture areas. Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium is in the process of scheduling additional articulation meetings next semester in areas such as Business, Criminal Justice, GIS, Family & Consumer Sciences and others with member high schools and colleges. It would be helpful as dates are scheduled to have input from high school teachers and college faculty members. Please email or call Sherry Hollinger (shollin@templejc.edu 254-298-8482) with suggested dates and/or dates to avoid for February and March.
Tech Prep Tuesday
Tech Prep Tuesday is an e-newsletter published most Tuesdays of the school year. Back issues of Tech Prep Tuesday are available on the Consortium website at www.centraltexastechprep.com. Click on the red “News” button to access the newsletters.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - October 26, 2004 |
(posted October 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
October 26, 2004
2005 Seamless Transitions State Conference Scheduled
The 2005 Seamless Transitions State Conference is scheduled for March 28-30 at the Austin Convention Center. The meeting will be during a legislative session and dovetail with the spring TACTE conference (March 30-April 1). Negotiations for a room block are underway with the downtown Hilton. A conference website will be developed that will include registration information and forms, the call for presentations and presentation proposal forms as well as the program review, final conference program and all other conference related information.
Tech Prep Ambassador Program
Fourteen area high school students along with peer managers from each school participated in a workshop today at Temple College. Dr. Karén Clos-Bleeker, Vice President of Educational Services and Chief Academic Officer at the college, welcomed the students to the campus. Jody Askins, Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium Board Member and Manager of Training and Development for Wilsonart International, served as trainer for the group. Following lunch, the group toured the Health Sciences Center at the college with Neil Coker, Director of the S.T.A.R. Programs.
The Tech Prep Ambassadors promote Career and Technology Education and Tech Prep among their peers and in their communities. Schools participating this year are Copperas Cove HS, Ellison HS, Harker Heights HS, Killeen HS, Marble Falls HS, Shoemaker HS and Star HS. The program is in its second year. Central Texas College provided funding for t-shirts for the students. Outstanding seniors from the group will have the opportunity to compete for $500 scholarships at Central Texas College and Temple College.
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| Tech Prep Tuesday - October 19, 2004 |
(posted October 2004)
Tech Prep Tuesday
Central Texas Tech Prep Consortium
Transition and Transfer
October 19, 2004
Tech Prep Subgrants Focus on CATEMA Implementation
Applications for this year’s ISD subgrants have been mailed to district contacts. The focus for this year will be the CATEMA System (Career and Technology Education Management Application) for managing Tech Prep information. The subgrants will NOT be awarded on a competitive basis as has been the custom in prior years. Instead, money will be offered to high school campuses for start-up costs associated with the CATEMA System, using a formula based on total number of students and total number of CATE students at the campus.
The CATEMA system will help collect student Tech Prep enrollment figures. Because of the impending reauthorization of the Carl Perkins Law, it is imperative that Texas has accurate Tech Prep career and technology data. CATEMA enables area and state colleges to better track and access student Tech Prep records via the Internet. This data collection system also provides the consortium documentation to help students receive college credit for their articulated courses.
Applications are due back November 12. A total of $40,000 will be offered consortium-wide.
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