CONTRIBUTORS feature
OPENING LETTER From new educator evaluations to new graduation options for all K-12 students in Mississippi, this year brought a number of changes, and the MDE appreciates your professional approach to making the required changes to your practice and your relentless commitment to student success in our state. As I read through the stories in this issue of Connections, that commitment showed in every piece. From the innovative approaches to transferring hands-on learning to an online environment (p. 24) to the inclusion of four additional CTE programs in performance-based assessment (p. 20), your ability to revise your programs to best meet student and industry needs is impressive.
CONNECTIONS contributors
MANAGING EDITORS
Leanne Long Alexis Nordin Bradley Skelton Denise Sibley Michelle Taylor Suzanne Tribble
I also thoroughly enjoyed reading the two profiles this month: 35-year veteran educator Mary Moore from McKellar Technology Center (p. 16) and Precision Machining student David Thomas from Pascagoula College & Career Technical Institute (p. 18) each have a lot to teach us about incorporating passions into our work and broadening our perspectives on what CTE can do for ourselves and our communities. Also eye-opening, students in Covington County’s Teacher Academy program collaborated across the world with a school in Bulgaria on a communication project (p. 7). CTE in Mississippi is truly reaching around the globe! As you read about these stories and others included in the issue, remember to share CTE success from your district with people in your area to build the awareness of programs in your local community. And finally, don’t forget to register for the MDE/MS ACTE Summer Conference if you haven’t already done so. This year’s conference promises to be just as successful and informative as last year’s—you don’t want to miss it!
Lynn Eiland Kristen Dechert
Brooke Boyd Heather Craig
Want your school featured in
CONNECTIONS? We want to hear about your success stories, awards, and program accomplishments. If you have a story idea, please contact Lynn Eiland, lynn.eiland@rcu.msstate.edu.
Save the date:
MDE/MS ACTE
Jean Massey Associate State Superintendent Office of Career and Technical Education
2014
SUMMER CONFERENCE
JULY 28-29, 2014 HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE RANKIN COUNTY MUSE CENTER PEARL, MS
Spring 2014 CONNECTIONS 3