Dear Colleagues,

As we celebrate CTE Month in February, we are excited to showcase the incredible opportunities Career Technical Education provides students across Michigan and specifically in Eaton County. Did you know:

1. Students that participate in Career and Technical Education graduate high school at a rate of 95% compared to an average of 80% of those that do not participate in CTE?

2. More than 112,000 students enrolled in CTE programs across Michigan in the 2023-2024 school year

3. Students participating in CTE can earn college credit, industry certifications, learn in a hands-on project based learning environment, participate in work based learning and compete in career technical student organizations at the local, state and national levels

4. Eaton RESA Career Preparation Center offers over 17 state approved Career and Technical Education programs that are taught by college faculty and industry experts

5. Over 54% of jobs in Michigan require more than a high school diploma but less than a 4 year degree making CTE a viable option for a good career

6. Students that enroll in the Eaton RESA Capital Region Technical Early College, can earn up to an Associate’s degree, a MEMCA certificate or up to 60 credits for free

We hope you join us in celebrating CTE Month by reading about the exciting career education highlights throughout our county and reviewing the “February is CTE Month” proclamation with more Michigan CTE facts below.

Vlad Lebedintsev, Ed.S, MBA

Assistant Superintendent for CTE

Eaton RESA

On January 20, 2025, Eaton RESA's Career & Technical Education (C. T. E.) team hosted a dynamic Youth Solutions professional development training at the Eaton RESA Aviation Careers Institute, located at Capital Region International Airport. Thirty educators from all five Eaton County school districts came together to explore innovative ways to connect classroom learning to real-world careers. Attendees learned about key airport operations, including Air Traffic Control, Operations, Runway Maintenance, and Police/Fire services, and participated in an engaging aviation industry panel featuring experienced professionals and Eaton RESA's aviation instructor. It was an inspiring and impactful day for all involved!

Teachers across Eaton County are embracing the "Jobs of the Week" program to introduce Kindergarten through 5th-grade students to an impressive 29 careers each school year—adding up to a total of 174 jobs by the time they finish elementary school. Fuller Street Elementary, part of the Maple Valley School District, is going above and beyond by showcasing the featured jobs on a monthly bulletin board, keeping career exploration front and center for students. Fantastic work!

High school teachers across Eaton County now have access to Pathful, an innovative tool designed to connect students with professionals in careers they’re passionate about—especially those they might not typically encounter. Through live or pre-recorded videos, students gain valuable insights into diverse career paths. Grand Ledge High School's Career & Technical Education (C.T. E.) department, representing programs in Business, Marketing, Engineering, Accounting, and Education, has set an inspiring goal: to incorporate at least one video or scheduled presentation as a work-based learning opportunity for each C.T. E. program. Outstanding initiative!

Mrs. Rousch's Kindergarten class at Greyhound Central Elementary School, ERPS, just wrapped up an exciting unit on Meteorology! They had a special visit from Meteorologist Darrin Rockcole of WILX, who did a fantastic job sharing insights about his career and all things weather. The students were so engaged, asking thoughtful questions like, “Have you used an anemometer?” “Did you practice a lot to do your job?” and “Do you know about the water cycle?” He emphasized the importance of math in meteorology, explaining how weather forecasting involves a lot of measuring.

For two weeks, the students worked hard creating their own weather reports, and pictured below was their big presentation day! Mr. Rockcole even had the chance to listen to a few of the presentations. It was a truly wonderful and inspiring day for everyone!

The updated Michigan Career Development Model has finally arrived! Click the button below to explore the comprehensive Reference Guide, Career Development Targets, Career Development Cycle, and EDP Fundamentals. The website also features pathway and cluster graphics, resources from #GoOpen, MICIP information, and access to the MiStrategy Bank—everything you need to incorporate and enhance career development planning!

Education in Industry events are designed to provide information about local employer needs, labor market trends, and new technologies relevant to educators. Our in-person site visits, hands-on learning and panel discussions help educators connect their classroom content to real world applications and business practices to help students become career ready.

Teacher sign-ups are now open for requesting a high school Career Preparation Center student to read a program-related, career book in your classroom! Be sure to submit your request by February 13, 2025, to allow time for scheduling volunteers. If your building has not yet received a classroom set of 25 copies of the "Billy the Builder Bear" book, I will look for a construction student to come in and read that book! Books are donated by Skilled to Build Michigan and Eaton RESA.

Looking for engaging career videos to inspire students?

For Kindergarten through 5th grade, McGraw Hill’s Career Kids offers an excellent series of 26 short, engaging videos (30 seconds to 1 minute each) showcasing a variety of careers.

Want to make real-world math connections? Houghton Mifflin (HMH Education) has a four-part series linking math to exciting careers in Construction, Culinary Arts, Entrepreneurship, and Fashion.

For older students, Going Pro in Michigan, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, features 25 dynamic videos (1 minute to 2 minutes long) highlighting in-demand careers—all based right here in Michigan.

Have you seen our Teach CTE Campaign Billboard on I-69 and Canal Road?

Eaton RESA is looking for qualified industry professionals to become CTE teachers, mentors, and advisors. Eaton RESA CTE instructors do not need a teaching degree, instructors are required have recent and relevant industry experience and to meet state minimum requirements to teach in CTE.

You can use industry knowledge to develop and train skilled and talented students by:

• Becoming a CTE teacher

• Serving on CTE program advisory committees

• Offering guest speaking opportunities

• Hosting students for tours or job shadows

• Offering apprenticeships, internships and job opportunities

To learn more, please visit www.eatonresa.org/teachCTE

Do you want to be a part of creating career exposure opportunities for students in your building? Do you have career activities from your classroom that you want to share with your colleagues? Contact your district's K-12 Career Team members to get involved!