For the first time, Maine played host to over 100 Career and Technical educators from 11 states at the 2010 ACTE (Association for Career & Technical Education) Region I conference. Held April 29 – May 1, the conference was hosted by the Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education (MACTE – www.mainecte.org), along with United Technologies Center (UTC) in Bangor. The purpose of the conference was to reinforce the need for career and technical education in the changing workplace.
The theme of this year’s conference: “Catching the Waves, from Green Energy to Composites. What does the Future Hold for CTE?” , participants toured the UTC campus, participated in workshops and visited the University of Maine Advanced Composites Center.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Habib Dagher, Director of the Advanced Composites Center, said Maine’s Career and Technical Education students are poised to be leaders in emerging technologies. “The ability of these schools to respond to industry needs and requirements sets them apart. Hands on teaching and the professional knowledge of Career and Technical educators means the students have a strong advantage.”
Gary Moore, President-Elect for ACTE’s Region I, couldn’t agree more with Dagher’s assessment. “We are continuously aligning our curriculum to industry standards. For those interested in nursing, welding, home building, composites or any number of professions, Career and Technical Education schools have the ability to respond to regional interests, professional demands and the job market.”
Why the focus of green energy and composite materials? Dr. Don Cannan, Executive Director of MACTE, believes these industries will lead the State of Maine into the next generation of jobs that will help preserve Maine’s pristine environment. “Maine’s CTE schools are prepared and ready to teach and train Maine students for jobs in composites and in Green Energy. Program development is ongoing, and we have a half-dozen new programs aligned to these industries within our CTE Schools.” Dr. Cannan says that employment forecasts suggest these will be well paying jobs requiring new skills.
MACTE is the official organization for Maine’s network of 27 Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools. The mission of Career and Technical Education, as part of the educational system in Maine, is to ensure that students acquire the high-quality technical skills that will prepare them for post-secondary education and entry into an ever-changing workplace and society.
Region I of the Association for Career and Technical Educators includes states in the Northeast, as far south as Maryland, and west including Michigan and Ohio. For more information on MACTE, visit them on line at www.mainecte.org.