SEPTEMBER 2021 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 13
The CTE "Why?"
Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares all students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers. The experience begins with career inspiration in Pre-K, awareness in elementary school, exploration in middle school, and preparation in high school. CTE equips students for post-secondary education and immediate employment opportunities to compete worldwide successfully.
Kearns Signature Career Academy of Computer Information & Science
Guilford County Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) & Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) Partner to Strengthen Postsecondary Options and Workforce Outcomes
A team of college professors, educators, and business/industry professionals team up to create five precise articulated career pathways in high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand sectors. The five targeted articulated program areas are (1) Advanced Manufacturing Technology, (2) Cyber Crime Technology, (3) Health Information Technology, (4) Pharmacy Technology, and (5) Supply Chain Management were selected to strategically address local market demands. Based on our region's analysis, employee demand heavily outweighs employee supply in several industry sectors. By 2026, we will need at least 15,000+ more healthcare professionals, 2000 additional Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering employees, and thousands more Information Technology and Cybersecurity specialists (whose average income ranges from $91,000 to $140,000). More than 75% of companies in our area state they have difficulty staffing essential positions. Greensboro has imported 150,000 employees from surrounding areas to fill critical jobs. While at the same time, Greensboro has exported 165,000+ employees to cities outside of Greensboro. This indicates that we have not yet aligned our local education and training systems with our local economic needs.
Our school system and our local economy have a symbiotic relationship - a healthier local economy creates a healthier school system and vice versa. As we fortify our pathways for precise matriculation, we will graduate a confident and competent talent pipeline positioned to continue closing the wealth gap. The partnership with GTCC reinforces dual enrollment options for all students stamped with the college’s best three qualities: quality, affordability, and support. These efforts increase middle and early college students' career choices, ignites parents/guardians to visualize diverse postsecondary options for success, along with intentional career advisement, sustainable career placement partners, advanced credentialing, and the attainment of college credits – debt-free! Whether a GCS student after graduation pursues immediate employment with reputable industry-recognized credentials, two-year or four-year degrees, entrepreneurial or military pursuits, GCS CTE is focused on Each Student's Path.Each Graduate.Each Day.
CompTIA's National CTE Advisory Council Gains A New Member!
Congratulations to Dr. Eboni Camille Chillis on becoming a member of the CompTIA National CTE Advisory Council! She will lead as Chairwoman of the CompTIA Advocacy subcommittee with leaders across the United States. One of the subcommittee members is Kim Forbes, Information Technology and Technology Engineering and Design Consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction. Dr. Chillis will serve a two-year term and work with her fellow council members to develop strategies to increase diversity in the tech workforce, raise national awareness about career and technical education, and influence future CTE curriculum. We are proud to have Dr. Chillis as one of our own, as she fuels advocacy for CTE locally and nationally. We know that her contribution to this council will spur a deeper insight into the valuable benefit of CTE in the lives of students everywhere, ensuring they are prepared for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers.
NC Countdown to College 2021!
During October, the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) will provide support to high school seniors in completing the three-step enrollment process: residency, FAFSA, and applications. We are calling all parents and students to visit the NC Countdown to College site for a month of live virtual events at NC Countdown-to-College. CTE students can also connect with their Career and College Manager (CCM) to guide them through the process.
- Week 1 (10/1/21 - 10/8/21): Imagine Your Future
- Week 2 (10/11/21 - 10/15/21): Financial Aid 101, FAFSA, and RDS
- Week 3 (10/18/21 - 10/22/21): Apply
- Week 4 (10/25/21 - 10/29/21): I Applied. Now What?
Apply Now-The 2021 Congressional App Challenge is Live!
The members of the U.S. House of Representatives are hosting a district-wide Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students. This Challenge encourages learning skills in coding and inspiring careers in computer science. If you have not already, plan to register before October 1, 2021. Registration indicates your intent to compete. The deadline to submit the app is 12:00 PM ET, November 1st, 2021 (click here). Students can compete as a team! If competing as a team, all team members of the team must submit their information on the form to participate. Promote and share out! Rules, student registration, and prize information can be found at this link.
•Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)•
FBLA Induction Ceremony at the Signature Career Academy of Biomedical Technology & Specialized Health Science at The Academy at Smith
Congratulations to the newest Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Inductees at the Signature Career Academy of Biomedical Technology & Specialized Health Science at The Academy at Smith. Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. (FBLA-PBL) is the largest business Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) in the world. FBLA-PBL inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. We are anticipating excellent co-curricular achievements from the newest inductees and their CTSO Advisor, CTE Business Teacher, Quincy Tanner.
• 2021 FBLA Inductees •
- Arnold Ouedraogo (President)
- Khamani Ridley (Secretary)
- Genesis Spruill (Treasurer)
- Raul Munoz Lavalle (Historian)
The CTE Department Welcomes its Newest Career & College Pathway Innovators!
• A Look Ahead: October 2021•
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month!
GCS-CTE has partnered with the Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Research, Education and Outreach (CREO) at NC A&T State University. CREO has planned an innovative month-long calendar of engaging and interactive virtual Cyber Security events: Each week will feature a different focus related to emerging interests in cybersecurity. Throughout the week there will be different speakers, discussions, and sponsored partner days related to our themes, including security breach survivors and perpetrators. Throughout the month there will be diverse featurettes relevant to cybersecurity but are unrelated to the weekly topics.
- Week one: Cybersecurity and Behavior
- Week two: Cybersecurity Awareness by Gamification
- Week three: Cybersecurity at Every Age
- Week four: Cybersecurity Cultivation in the Classroom
- Throughout the month: Opinion mining, tips and tricks, art, competitions, etc.
In its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our nation. Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the federal lead for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, co-leads Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). For more information and resources, visit the CISA website.
DO YOUR PART. #BECYBERSMART
GCS CTE Staff
Dr. Eboni Camille Chillis • Interim Chief Innovation Officer & CTE Executive Director
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