2011 Winners Introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates

The Honorable Kenneth Plum, member of the Virginia House of  Delegates, introduced the 2011 Governor’s Award winners at the opening of the House of Delegates session on Thursday, January 19, 2012. Present for the introductions were representatives from Dominion whose Foundation funds the cash awards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links to 2011 Winning Program Portfolios: See what made them winners

If you are a nominee for the 2012 awards,  going through a local review, or a local program seeking improvement you will want to visit the Web sites of the 2011 winners’ portfolios. The three 2011 exemplary programs join the ranks of the 2009 and 2010 program winners for a total of nine exemplary CTE program in Virginia. Please note that each year of the awards the Arlington Career Center has had a program recognized at the state level as an exemplary program.

Banners for the schools and the classrooms were presented during the Virginia Department of Education’s Creating Excellence Awards ceremony, June 16, 2011. VCEF gratefully acknowledges the Dominion Foundation for funding the cash awards of $5,000 to each winner for program improvement. Thanks are extended to the program reviewers, the site teams,and  the local administrators. Congratulations to the 2011 winners!

 

Animal Science , Arlington Career Center. Pictured left to right, Ms. Lolita Hall, State CTE Director, Mrs. Cynthia Balderson, Dominion Foundation, Cynthia Schall and Scott Lockhart,  Animal Science program instructors, Dr. Patricia Wright, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Unique in the number and variety of animals available for hands-on study, this program offers students internships in zoos, shelters, an equine medical center, animal hospitals, National Park Service, US Department of Agriculture, and pet day care facilities. Many graduates pursue postsecondary education in the field including some who aspire to become veterinarians. This program counts as a science credit for graduation and as a fine/practical arts credit for graduation. Students may certify in American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR.

Portfolio Link:  http://www.taskstream.com/ts/schall4/AnimalScienceProgram2011.html

                                              
 Building Trades, Carroll County High School. Instructors, Vance Leggett and Rusty Warren. Pictured left to right, Ms. Lolita Hall, Mrs. Cynthia Balderson, Rusty Warren and Vance Leggett, Building Trades instructors, Dr. Patricia Wright, Dr. Mark Burnette, Director of Middle and Secondary Education, Carroll County.

 This dual-credit program attracts young men and women who plan to pursue careers in masonry, carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades. Students have the opportunity to earn several industry credentials and to gain valuable work experience hours that can help prepare them for the Contractors’ Exam and Tradesman Journeyman exams in their specific discipline. Project work includes layout and design, materials list, pricing, and project time-line completion. In cooperation with the Fuller Center for Housing, they constructed a house that will be donated to a family in their community. The SkillsUSA chapter led a fund raising campaign to sponsor a house in Haiti through the Fuller Center.

Portfolio Link: http://www.taskstream.com/ts/warren94/CCHSBTExemplaryProgramFoliocopy.html

Computer Information Systems, Lee County Career and Technical Center. Pictured left to right, Ms. Lolita hall, Mrs. Balderson, Melissa Hines, CIS Instructor, James David Graham, Lee County CTE Administrator and principal of the Lee County Career and Technical Center, Dr. Patricia Wright.

The addition of local competencies to the state minimum requirements distinguishes this CIS program. High expectations and workplace readiness skills are standard in this business class. Students annually achieve a high pass rate in multiple Microsoft Office Specialist credentialing areas in this state-of-the-art facility.

 Portfolio Link: http://www.taskstream.com/ts/hines46/MelissaHines2CISExemplaryStandards2011.html

 

 

 Nominations for 2012 Awards

• 2012 Nomination and Application Instructions
• 2011-2012  Nomination Form
• Standards and Indicators

2011-2012 Timeline

June 30, 2011	Nominations Due (see above for links to form and instructions)
March 1, 2012	Documentation must be posted to Web site (No paper documentation required or accepted)
March & April	Documentation Review
May	Site Visits
May	Exemplary Programs Identified
June	Awards Presented

2011 Winners Named

Congratulations to the CTE programs that will be recognized on June 16 as recipients of the 2011 Virginia Governor’s Awards for CTE Exemplary Standards! They are:

• Animal Science, Arlington Career Center, Teachers Cynthia Schall and Scott Lockhart
• Building Trades, Carroll County High School, Teachers Rusty Warren and Vance Leggett
• Computer Information Systems, Lee County Career and Technical Center, Teacher Melissa Hines
   

General Assembly Recognition of 2010 Winners

Delegate Kenneth Plum (and member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Career Education Foundation) introduced the 2010 winners of the Governor’s Awards during the opening session of the House of Delegates on Friday, January 14, 2011. Thanks to Arlington Career Center for capturing the video and adding titles for VCEF.

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2010 Winners Receive Awards

The 2010 recipients of the Virginia Governor’s CTE Exemplary Standards Awards were honored at a luncheon January 14, 2011, in Richmond. On hand to present the awards (pictured below left to right with the program instructors) were Cynthia P. Balderson, Philanthropy Manager Dominion Foundation; Robert A. Almond, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Department of Education; Lawrence Wilder, Jr. Esq. , Special Assistant, Office of the Governor, Secretary of Education;  Lolita Hall, Director, Office of Career and Technical Education, Virginia Department of Education; and Dr. Thomas Brewster, Chairman of the Board of Directors, VCEF. In addition to banners for the school and classroom and a leather briefcase, winners were presented a check for $5,000 by Mrs. Balderson. The Dominion Foundation provided funding for the cash awards.

Automotive Technology Program, Arlington Career Center, Arlington County
Instructors Dale Winchell and Mike McGhee

Education for Employment Program, Hayfield Secondary School, Fairfax County
Instructor Debbie Gordon

Fire and Rescue Program, Massanutten Technical Center, Rockingham County and City of Harrisonburg. Instructor Wayne Peer
  

SEE THE WORK THAT MADE THEM WINNERS!

Visit the Web sites of the 2010 award winning CTE Exemplary Standards programs. If you are a nominee for 2011, involved in a local process this year, or just looking at ways to raise your program closer to the exemplary standards, please view the Virginia Exemplary Standards and required documentation and then see the online protfolios created by the 2010 winners. Clicking on the program below will link you to the Web site with the portfolio.

Automotive Technology Program, Arlington Career Center, teachers Mike McGhee and Dale Winchell

Education for Employment Program, teacher Debbie Gordon, Hayfield Secondary School, Fairfax County

Fire and Rescue Program, teacher Wayne Peer, Massanutten Technical Center, Rockingham County/City of Harrisonburg

 CONGRATULATIONS  2010  Winners!  (Follow link to press release from the Governor’s Office)

The winning programs for Governor’s CTE Exemplary Standards Awards are:

• Automotive Technology Program, Arlington Career Center, teachers Mike McGhee and Dale Winchell This program exemplifies the power of partnerships with 14 local businesses that provide equipment and internship opportunities for students and full time employment after graduation as partners in Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). Mechanical Safety, Pollution Prevention (SP2) certifications are required of all students. The Dealership Hazards and Supervisor certifications are expected from the students who are selected for a dealer internship. Students may earn certification in Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) areas and the curriculum prepares students for the Virginia state inspectors license test. NOCTI pre and post tests are administered. Students in this program may earn up to 14 free Dual Enrollment credits from Northern Virginia Community College.

• Education for Employment Program, teacher Debbie Gordon, Hayfield Secondary School, Fairfax County This EFE program prepares students for the realities of the workplace, life, and postsecondary education and lifelong learning. Certifications include CareerSafe, Customer Service, and Sales Service. This program has grown to capacity primarily through word-of-mouth student promotion and its reputation for preparing students to get jobs. Daily classroom routine simulates the workplace with high standards and expectations for professionalism. 

• Fire and Rescue Program, teacher Wayne Peer, Massanutten Technical Center, Rockingham County/City of Harrisonburg An example of responsiveness to a local need, four years ago this was a “lunchtime conversation in April” and the program was in place as an elective in September of that year. Program growth and results have led to opening an expanded facility in the fall of 2010. Students work as volunteers in area fire departments and over the course of the program may earn certifications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, Fire Fighter I, Hazardous Materials Operations Level, Fire Fighter II, Emergency Medical Technician – Basic, Incident Command System 100, Incident Command System 200, and Incident Command System 700. The program has an agreement with Jefferson College of Health Sciences for articulated credit to the Fire and Rescue students and they do exempt these students from some of their classes.   

Site Visits Planned to Program Finalists for 2010

The three program finalists for the Virginia Governor’s CTE Exemplary Standards Award Program will receive site visits in early June. Congratulations and best wishes to finalists:

Automotive Technology Program, Arlington Career Center, instructor Mike McGhee
Education for Employment Program, Hayfield Secondary School, instructor Debbie Gordon
Fire and Rescue Program, Massanutten Technical Center, instructor Wayne Peer

When the 2010 winners are announced, their portfolios will be made available on a public Web site.

First CTE EXemplary Standards Awards Presented

Governor Timothy M. Kaine presented his first round of CTE Exemplary Standards Awards August 4, 2009 during the Virginia CTE Summer Professional Development Institute in Richmond. Each of the three exemplary programs received a large banner for the school, a small banner for the classroom, a leather briefcase for each instructor, and a check for $5,000 to be used for program improvement.

Early Childhood Education, Arlington Career Center

Cosmetology Program, Edison High School Academy

Automotive Services Technology, Virginia Beach Technology and Career Education Center

VIEW DOCUMENTATION FOR VIRGINIA’S EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS:

The Edison High School Academy’s Cosmetology program and the Arlington Career Center’s Early Childhood Education program documentation is in binders which may be viewed at the respective schools. During the 2009-2010 school year, documentation will be posted to a Web site.

The Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center’s Automotive Services Technology program’s documentation may be viewed at

http://www.techcenter.vbschools.com/exemplary/pages/standard_list.html.

Virginia Governor’s CTE Exemplary Standards Award Program

“While I’m proud of the work we have done for career and technical education, we still have a long way to go…. It is essential that we develop new and creative ways to meet 21st century workforce needs and help our students succeed. This proposal gives students oppportunities to excel in career and technical fields and change the perception of career and technical education in the Commonwealth.”

Governor Timothy M. Kaine

The purpose of the Governor’s Exemplary Standards Award program is to raise the rigor and quality of career and technical education programs across the state. This will be a two-step process: programs will work with business advisory groups and postsecondary faculty to validate their attainment of rigorous standards, and then apply for the Governor’s designation.

This will be a continuous quality improvement process engaging K-12 and higher education, the business community and state, regional and local officials. The opportunity to earn this distinction will create an incentive for programs to meet high academic standards and improve other measures of program quality, strengthen their partnerships and alignment with postsecondary education and industry, and demonstrate relevant and positive outcomes.

Programs earning this distinction will form a growing network of exemplary programs to share best practices with each other and with other programs striving for the designation. All CTE programs will be eligible to seek exemplary status. The criteria for the awards will ensure that all programs earning exemplary status will raise the STEM literacy of participating students through rigorous academic and programmatic standards.

Specific activities for which funds are requested

Governor’s Exemplary Standards Program – nominal planning costs will be covered with state funds, and will include costs of bringing together CTE administrators and instructors and higher education, workforce and industry advisers to develop the criteria for exemplary standards awards, based on the rubric developed by the National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education. Once the standards are finalized it will take approximately one academic year for programs to conduct their reviews and document their attainment of the standards. This process must occur program-area by program-area and it will take centers several years to complete reviews for all programs. It is a two-step process requiring industry-driven validation at the local/regional level followed by application to the state. It is anticipated that in the second year of the grant about 12 programs will qualify for this recognition. Funds are requested to support a portion of a project director at the Department of Education to coordinate the review process. Funds are also requested for incentive awards for successful applicants. Awards will include $5,000 grants for programs to pursue continued improvement activities, a banner to display at the school with the Governor’s Exemplary Standard Award designation, and other small incentives such as caps or polo shirts for lead teachers with recognition for the award.

Once the program has been in place for several years, Academies will have to meet Governor’s Exemplary Standards for a minimum number of CTE programs in order to

retain their status as Governor’s Academies. In addition, other regional and local career and technical education programs will be encouraged to participate in the Exemplary Standards program to raise the bar for their CTE programs. These awards will serve as external validation of the quality of CTE programs, based on standards developed through national research and adopted by the commonwealth. Significant business and higher education collaboration and validation is required to qualify for an award.

A statewide network of programs earning the Governor’s Exemplary Standards Award will be established to share best practices and provide mentorship and technical assistance to other CTE programs.