As part of National CTE Month in February, IMESD is highlighting educators who work in Career Technical Education in Eastern Oregon school districts.
Meet Jerry McMichael, CTE New Teacher Mentor Program Coordinator at IMESD.
What is your role in CTE in our region? I’m working to support our region’s CTE teachers during their first three years of teaching.
What is your CTE focus for the 23-24 school year? Our focus is to develop a teacher training program we are calling CTEACH which provides mentors, instructional training opportunities, connection to industry partners and relationships to peers during the first three years of CTE teaching.
How is CTE work making a difference for students? CTE students deserve teachers with the most relevant industry skills and knowledge. Who better to bring those to the classroom than teachers who have worked in industry? Often these teachers come with a desire to teach but have little or no teaching experience. Without the appropriate support these new CTE teachers may become frustrated and leave the profession; we are working to support new teachers and help them succeed in the classroom.
What is something people may not know about CTE in schools? If a person were to walk down the halls in a high school and observe a CTE class, they may think it’s similar to any other class but is more “hands-on.” Most people will not know that the CTE class they are observing is likely one class of several in a state-approved Program of Study which requires:
- a teacher with industry experience
- industry approved curriculum which is relevant and rigorous
- work-based learning and student leadership opportunities
- alignment with a post-secondary program
- equitable access
- yearly data collection & state reporting.
There is much more happening below the surface of a CTE class than just offering “hands-on” experience.