All Education is CTE
By Mark Branger | September 2017
One of the most fundamental obligations of any society is to prepare its adolescents to lead productive and prosperous lives as adults. This means preparing all young people with a solid foundation of literacy, communication, mathematics and thinking skills for responsible citizenship, career development and lifelong learning.
The 21st century workplace has changed so much that traditional educational methods are no longer sufficient to ensure that students have the skills to navigate the current economic environment. Today’s students need relevant and rigorous educational programs that integrate academic, technical, employability and career decision-making skills while providing the support and guidance necessary to connect them to their futures. Such a foundation not only leads to individual student success, but also ensures a better informed and prepared citizenry to meet state and national economic and workforce needs.
There is no doubt that the job of today’s school counselor is very challenging. Today’s career and technical education (CTE) programs can play a unique role in assisting counselors’ efforts to provide students with career guidance. CTE is much broader and more inclusive today and includes the philosophy that all education is career education. There are career pathways and career clusters that help define occupational opportunities and the ways students can reach them.
Career development should not be reserved for those who want to enter the workforce right after high school, but available for all students. For some, this may mean a rigorous academic schedule in middle and high school in preparation for a four-year college. For others, it may mean a less academic but just as rigorous curriculum in a CTE program leading to employment, apprenticeship and/or two-year or community college.
The link between the school counselor and CTE has been strengthened in recent years as CTE has gone through its own transformation. One outward indicator of the changes in CTE is the shift in language from “vocational” to “career and technical” programs. Vocational programs were originally intended to provide skills training in limited fields for students who were not going to college. Today’s CTE programs provide pathways both from high school to the workplace and from high school to postsecondary education in a wide variety of career fields.
ACTE is the largest national education association of professionals dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. Our members represent all facets of career and technical education, including school counselors. Montana is an affiliate member state of ACTE. Montana ACTE strives to provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable, innovative and competitive workforce. We are the voice for career and technical education.
Why would you as a Montana school counselor join ACTE?
Mark Branger is executive director of Montana Association for Career and Technical Education (MACTE).
The 21st century workplace has changed so much that traditional educational methods are no longer sufficient to ensure that students have the skills to navigate the current economic environment. Today’s students need relevant and rigorous educational programs that integrate academic, technical, employability and career decision-making skills while providing the support and guidance necessary to connect them to their futures. Such a foundation not only leads to individual student success, but also ensures a better informed and prepared citizenry to meet state and national economic and workforce needs.
There is no doubt that the job of today’s school counselor is very challenging. Today’s career and technical education (CTE) programs can play a unique role in assisting counselors’ efforts to provide students with career guidance. CTE is much broader and more inclusive today and includes the philosophy that all education is career education. There are career pathways and career clusters that help define occupational opportunities and the ways students can reach them.
Career development should not be reserved for those who want to enter the workforce right after high school, but available for all students. For some, this may mean a rigorous academic schedule in middle and high school in preparation for a four-year college. For others, it may mean a less academic but just as rigorous curriculum in a CTE program leading to employment, apprenticeship and/or two-year or community college.
The link between the school counselor and CTE has been strengthened in recent years as CTE has gone through its own transformation. One outward indicator of the changes in CTE is the shift in language from “vocational” to “career and technical” programs. Vocational programs were originally intended to provide skills training in limited fields for students who were not going to college. Today’s CTE programs provide pathways both from high school to the workplace and from high school to postsecondary education in a wide variety of career fields.
ACTE is the largest national education association of professionals dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. Our members represent all facets of career and technical education, including school counselors. Montana is an affiliate member state of ACTE. Montana ACTE strives to provide leadership in developing an educated, prepared, adaptable, innovative and competitive workforce. We are the voice for career and technical education.
Why would you as a Montana school counselor join ACTE?
- Members are the first to learn of trends, policies and current activities in CTE and in the field of school counseling through ACTE’s electronic publications, including member-only ACTE News, Career Tech Update and STEM SmartBrief. These publications are valuable resources for CTE professionals including school counselors.
- Advocacy and Awareness – ACTE advocates, analyzes and informs policymakers, members and the public about the impact of proposed legislation and funding decisions affecting CTE programming. Montana ACTE advocates on the state level for CTE funding and policies.
- Techniques Magazine – Techniques features articles that delve into CTE trends, case studies and in-classroom innovations. I have found this publication to be a valuable resource in my work.
- Networking and Professional Development – Whether online or in person, ACTE's events – CareerTech VISION, National Policy Seminar, Best Practices and Innovations in CTE Conference and online seminars – provide members with high-quality professional development and a knowledgeable network of CTE professionals for sharing and exchanging the latest information in CTE. Montana ACTE also hosts a state conference every October during MEA days.
- Member Discounts – Receive member-only discounts to all ACTE events and on the latest CTE publications and products.
- Professional Recognition – ACTE’s Excellence Awards recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to CTE programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations dedicated to supporting CTE programs. Tina Boone, school counselor at Skyview High School in Billings, was recognized in 2015 as the Montana ACTE Career Counselor of the Year and received the ACTE Region V Career Counselor of the Year, representing the region at the National Conference.
Mark Branger is executive director of Montana Association for Career and Technical Education (MACTE).