Smart List: 25 CTE Innovations and Innovators

Career and Technical Education will become an even more important aspect of lifelong and post-secondary learning as the world shifts toward the gig and project-based economy. Today, we are recognizing 25 CTE innovations and innovators that are educating people of all ages in ways that prepare them for the changes to come.

Teachers

• Sarah Raikes, Washington County High School (Kentucky): The ACTE teacher of the year teaches 9 Family and Consumer Sciences courses and is a policy advocate.
• Ball State University: Administrator Samuel Cotton and Teacher Edward Lazaros were both recognized by ACTE for their higher education leadership.
• NE Metro ISD 916 (Minnesota): Known for its career guidance process, led by Shelli Sowles.
• Jacob Ball, Nelson County High School (Kentucky): Agriculture teacher and new ACTE teacher of the year.
• Leon Grant, Marietta City Schools (Georgia): Leads world-class pre-engineering program with a focused on community service.
• Jerry Ellner, Universal Technical Institute (Arizona): Connects high school and postsecondary experiences, and champions connection between academics and skills.

Schools and Districts

• Brownsville Independent School District: Next gen cooperative work-study program.
• Carl Wunsche High School (Houston, Texas): Great career preparation learning experiences (see feature).
• Career Path High (Utah): Early college flex high school at an applied technology training center.
• CAPS Center (Kansas & Missouri): Provides great career preparation.

State Networks

• Career Tech: Great statewide system in Oklahoma.
• P-TECH (New York, Illinois, Idaho): Computer science schools that combine high school, work experiences and an associate’s degree, with a good shot at a good job.
• Louisiana Course Choice: Great example of a state proactively seeking expanded choices for students.
• GPS Education Partners (Wisconsin): Network of manufacturing flex academies in Wisconsin.

National Networks

• NAF: Almost 100,000 students in 675 career academies (see our feature on NAF).
• New Tech Network: Almost 200 project-based schools with strong work-based learning (see our feature).

Advocacy, and Influencers

• Jobs for the Future: Outlines best practices in work-based learning, including assessment, progressive work experiences, mentoring and portfolios.
• Association for Career and Technical Education: The primary national professional association, providing leadership, professional development, advocacy and more.
• National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc): Elevate the value of coordination between CBE and CTE leaders.
• Achieve: Recently profiled states on college and career readiness.
• DuPont: Excellent CGTE partner, won ACTE Business of the Year.
• STEM Connector: Place for advocates to connect online.

Curriculum Networks

• Engineering is Elementary: Great K-5 STEM content.
• Project Lead the Way: Used in over 9000 schools (see Getting Smart feature).
• Udemy for organizations: Powering lifelong career learning for thousands of companies and nonprofit associations.

Who did we miss? Who would you add? Share in the comments section below, and don’t forget to check out our other recent Smart Lists at our Smart List Series Page.

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This Smart List is sponsored by Getting Smart Services, Getting Smart’s consulting division that helps schools, districts, networks and impact-oriented partners create, implement and amplify thought leadership campaigns, education initiatives, powerful learning experiences and forward-leaning strategies. Learn more about what they can do to support your education initiatives here.

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