For Immediate Release - June 24 2010
Contact: Stacey Johnson
Phone: (804) 225-4260
E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.Gov
www.governor.virginia.gov
Governor McDonnell Announces Recipients of 2010 Governor’s Career and Technical Education Exemplary Standards Award
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the three recipients of the 2010 Virginia Governor’s Career and Technical Education Exemplary Standards Award. The award, established through Virginia’s National Governors’ Association (NGA) grant, recognizes individual career and technical education (CTE) programs that meet the rigorous standards for exemplary CTE programs in Virginia.
Speaking about the recipients, Governor McDonnell remarked, “In today’s economy, it’s important that our schools further the education and career opportunities available for a technically advanced workforce. Congratulations to this year’s recipients and to all those committed to training Virginia’s students for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”The winning programs for Governor’s CTE Exemplary Standards Awards are:
- Automotive Technology Program, Arlington Career Center, teachers Mike McGhee and Dale Winchell
This program exemplifies the power of partnerships with 14 local businesses that provide equipment and internship opportunities for students and full time employment after graduation as partners in Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). Mechanical Safety, Pollution Prevention (SP2) certifications are required of all students. The Dealership Hazards and Supervisor certifications are expected from the students who are selected for a dealer internship. Students may earn certification in Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) areas and the curriculum prepares students for the Virginia state inspectors license test. NOCTI pre and post tests are administered. Students in this program may earn up to 14 free Dual Enrollment credits from Northern Virginia Community College.
- Education for Employment Program, teacher Debbie Gordon, Hayfield Secondary School, Fairfax County
This EFE program prepares students for the realities of the workplace, life, and postsecondary education and lifelong learning. Certifications include CareerSafe, Customer Service, and Sales Service. This program has grown to capacity primarily through word-of-mouth student promotion and its reputation for preparing students to get jobs. Daily classroom routine simulates the workplace with high standards and expectations for professionalism.
- Fire and Rescue Program, teacher Wayne Peer, Massanutten Technical Center, Rockingham County/City of Harrisonburg
An example of responsiveness to a local need, four years ago this was a "lunchtime conversation in April" and the program was in place as an elective in September of that year. Program growth and results have led to opening an expanded facility in the fall of 2010. Students work as volunteers in area fire departments and over the course of the program may earn certifications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, Fire Fighter I, Hazardous Materials Operations Level, Fire Fighter II, Emergency Medical Technician – Basic, Incident Command System 100, Incident Command System 200, and Incident Command System 700. The program has an agreement with Jefferson College of Health Sciences for articulated credit to the Fire and Rescue students and they do exempt these students from some of their classes.
Nominees are required to submit documentation supporting how they met the 12 Virginia standards. Following independent reviews of the documentation, qualifying programs received site visits that included classroom observations and interviews with students, teachers, administrators, graduates and employers. Winners will receive banners to display in the school and a $5,000 cash award for continued program improvement.
The Governor’s Exemplary Standards Award program is a continuous quality improvement process engaging K-12 and higher education, the business community and state, regional and local officials. The opportunity to earn this distinction creates an incentive for programs to meet high academic standards and improve other measures of program quality, strengthen their partnerships and alignment with postsecondary education and industry, and demonstrate relevant and positive outcomes. Programs earning this distinction will form a growing network of exemplary programs to share best practices with each other and with other programs striving for the designation.
Nominations for the 2011 awards are due June 30. Instructions and forms are available at www.vcef.net or by contacting the Virginia Career Education Foundation at vcef@cox.net.###
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