| Planning Time for 2021-2022
Over the next few weeks, I will be sending a link to a survey to each of my schools that will help me evaluate and strategize how I can best serve my you, my school partners, during school year 2021-22.
Topics I will cover include: communication preferences, your big picture plans, as well as tangible projects that I can be a part of. Simply put, I want to understand your CTE goals and form action plans on how I can help you in reaching those goals! For example, do you want/need:
- guest speakers
- job shadows
- work experience placement
- business tours
- interview opportunities
- presentations from post-secondary options
- mock interviews
Let's start planning now!
In addition, summer is going to be a perfect time to reach out to businesses in our communities to get them engaged with career-connected learning, and if there are businesses you would like to approach, please let me know.
Thanks, as always, for your support.
-Katie
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CNA Pathway Update
The CNA Pathway, created by the Career Navigators as a regional SE Minnesota pathway and funded by a Youth Skills Training Grant, continues to take shape as we plan and prepare for the first cohort of students who will begin in fall, 2021.
Of my five schools, St. Charles will participate in the first cohort with four students in the class. For those of you who have an interest in providing this free option to your students, another cohort will begin during the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year. This means that we will be asking for names of interested students in late September to mid-October.
I will provide documentation at the beginning of the year for you to learn more and be able to identify students who are interested and who qualify.
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April is Technology Workforce Month in Minnesota
April 2021 is Technology Workforce Month in Minnesota. It’s an opportunity to draw attention to the critical importance of the state's technology workforce and its importance to Minnesota’s economy. While the importance of their roles have been highlighted during the pandemic, Information Technology workers have been in demand in the marketplace for a long time – and will continue to be into the future.
Because of high demand for Information Technology workers, wages for workers in these occupations are higher than for most occupations in Minnesota. In fact, the median hourly wage for Information Technology occupations was $42.71 an hour in 2020.
Don't forget that you can connect your students to companies and professionals in SE Minnesota in this field through FutureForward!
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STEM Signing Day! Input Requested by Monday, April 19
Southeast Service Cooperative with STEM Forward is planning a “STEM Signing Day” to highlight those students who will be attending one of the five post-secondary institutions AND planning on going into one of the STEM pathways, including: science, technology, engineering, and math.
These students will be a part of the STEM Forward celebration, which will include receiving a STEM cord to wear with their graduation ensemble.
Do you have any graduating seniors who fall into this category this year? (ie, attending Riverland Community College, Rochester Community and Technical College, Minnesota State College Southeast, University of Minnesota-Rochester, or Winona State University-Rochester, AND will go into one of the pathways of science, technology, engineering, and math.)
If you have this information (name, where student will be attending, and intended pathway), and can pass it to me by Monday, April 19, we would be able to ensure having a cord/certificate for the student.
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Educators: Manufacturing Training Opportunity
Alexandria Technical & Community College is offering Manufacturing trainings for high school faculty in June.
Courses offered include:
Mechanical Drafting & Design
Machine Tool Technology
Welding
The workshops are funded through Career and Technical Education at Minnesota State (through Perkins V), so there is no registration fee.
Deadline is May 21, and spaces are limited.
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For Students: Certificate Opportunities in Electronics and Engineering
For schools who offer PSEO options to their students, be aware of opportunities provided by MSCS's (Minnesota State College Southeast) two campuses (Red Wing and Winona) for students to gain certificates in electronics and engineering. Classes are offered evenings once a week, and are open to 10th grade students and above for four consecutive semesters.
If students are within driving distance of the Winona campus, they can earn a certificate in Basic Electronics and in Engineering/CNC while still in high school. Students within driving distance of the Red Wing campus have the Basic Electronics certificate option, as well.
These certificates give students the skills and credentials to be employed straight out of high school, and completing the coursework while in high school saves $1000's on a two-year diploma.
Alternately, students could also choose the route of continuing their education at MSC Southeast after earning the credential, in order to earn an AAS then enter the workforce or transfer to a 4-year institution.
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Harbor Freight "Tools for Schools" Program
Applications are now open for this program, which awards schools cash prizes totaling over $1 million to 18 outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers and their programs. Imagine bringing such a prize to your school's trade program The deadline to apply is May 21. Finalists are announced July 14, 2021, and the big winners announced October 2021.
Prizes include 3 grand prize winners ($100,000), 15 prize winners ($50,000).
Who is eligible to apply?
Teachers who teach the subjects of: agriculture mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics, or welding. (Common thread prize winners share that their students work with their hands, using tools regularly throughout the course of study to build, repair, and maintain.)
Judges are looking for:
Strong evidence of past teaching successes and future innovation, thoughtful and in-depth application, positive data and results, inspirational storytelling, active engagement with learning modules, and passion, creativity, and leadership. (Note: Teachers may not apply as a team.)
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There is Still Time to Apply for:
"Emptying the Warehouse" - Could Equal FREE Equipment for your Schools CTE Programs
Explore The Trades, a St. Paul-based nonprofit focused on bridging the technical talent gap in the service trades, and NexTech Academy, a comprehensive, online technical training program for HVAC, electrical and plumbing technicians, have partnered to “empty the warehouse” to benefit plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical classrooms throughout Minnesota.
All Minnesota high schools that have existing plumbing, HVAC and electrical classes – or those looking to start such classes – are invited to review the program. Further details about the equipment will be announced after April 1, 2021. All equipment was used by NexTech Academy during creation of the curriculum and is no longer needed. All equipment is in excellent shape and was only used for demonstration purposes.
For more information about the project, please contact Kate Cinnamo, executive director of Explore The Trades, at katec@explorethetrades.org or 651-789-8518. Applications are open from April 5-30th.
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SAVE THE DATE: May 14 @ 7:30 AM
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Contact me for a brief training on how to access opportunities
like these on FutureForward™.
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Let's Be Friends on Facebook
Hey there! Please take a moment to friend my Career Navigator page on Facebook. My posts include ways to connect your students with career-connected learning, scholarship opportunities, and industry information.
Send me requests to follow your school and community organizations and events. Career-connected learning takes a village!
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| Contact Your Career Navigator:
Katie Hendrickson
Reach out anytime with questions, project ideas, or requests to meet.
Cell: 507-421-8777
Email: khendrickson@ssc.coop
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Please know that if you opt out of these communications, you will no longer receive any emails form SSC.
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| April
- April 19 - Student lists for STEM Signing Day Due to Katie
- Technology Workforce Month
May
- Hospitality Month
- May 14 - Business and Community Partner Celebration
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