Dear Colleagues and Friends, As the 2010-11 school session comes to a close, I thought I would reflect on the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to 2011-12. This year has been full of change for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Mississippi, illustrated by the official name change of our office from the Office of Vocational Education and Workforce Development to the Office of Career and Technical Education. Most states have already removed the term “vocational” from their programs, signaling a move toward more comprehensive career pathways and programs of study. This past year, we focused attention on planning to transition all programs to one, consistent curriculum. It was simply time to change all non-redesign programs and redesign programs into one program. Making this transition for approximately 15 programs for the coming 201112 school year is requiring real change for many schools–and especially instructors. Please know we recognize how challenging this change is going to be, and just know how much we appreciate your buy-in, support, and understanding that this is the right thing to do for the of our programs. And, more important, it is the best thing for our students. We can all Jean Massey future agree that our students deserve the best programs we can offer that better prepare them for Associate State Superintendent high-wage, high-skill careers and jobs. We have seen a relative stabilization of funding at the state level. As we entered the 2010-11 year, we were all anticipating drastic reductions in state funding. However, we are thankful that our state economy slightly improved (or at least stopped declining), allowing the Mississippi Legislature to fund education for next year at almost the same level as this year. Maybe the downward trend in state funding is over for a while. On the other hand, the news coming from Washington is concerning. The Federal budget deficit has all agencies reevaluating every program and funding mechanism. Many of you are aware that we are losing the “tech prep” funds that have supported the tech prep coordinators at our community and junior colleges. Some colleges are absorbing those positions and maintaining those services, but others are unable to do so within their own tight budgets. The summer of 2011 means professional development for more than 800 Mississippi CTE teachers, and in August, school will begin with many of you teaching updated curricula and some of you teaching brand new programs. The new school year will bring even more improvements for CTE. We will roll out updated career pathways supporting the implementation of individual career academic plans (iCAP), which will outline students’ personal program of study for high school and beyond. Planning is underway now to provide you with tools, resources, and professional development so that each eighth and ninth grade student begins school this August with an iCAP. We all recognize the need to help students and families plan for education after high school. A high school diploma can no longer be the goal when it simply is not a sufficient credential for offering our children any real opportunity to earn a decent, living wage. While only 20 percent of jobs actually require a four-year college diploma, almost all other jobs require at least some post-secondary education and technical training. It is imperative that we help them realize and plan for this. We know CTE is important, but we also know that sometimes CTE is viewed as the easier option for students. We want to change this image. All across the country more and more people are realizing the value of hands-on, practical educational experiences that truly help students participate in a career path in high school, instead of just reading about their careers in brochures. Through leadership development and strategic marketing efforts, we will take actions aimed at changing the image of CTE in Mississippi. You will see more about these plans in the coming months. As the cliché goes, times are changing, and I have to say that the pace of change is increasing. We know we are educating children for jobs that don’t even exist today. Your job is challenging. We are here to help guide and support you as we all work to provide better opportunities for all our students. Lastly, let me offer my thoughts and prayers to the schools and families impacted by tragedies this last school year. The year seemed to have been extremely challenging with unprecedented and devastating tornadoes and flooding around our state. We know how difficult these times are on schools and communities. We also know Mississippians are resilient and caring.
Jean Massey Associate State Superintendent Office of Career and Technical Education