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Important Dates
Upcoming Deadlines
Feb. 15: Deadline to submit AP Summer Institute scholarship application
Feb. 22 (midnight): Open enrollment ends
March 2: ACT Appeals due for 2018 accountability data
March 15: Standards public comment period ends
May 4: Deadline to submit special course application
May 4: Deadline to submit special program of study application
Upcoming Events
Feb. 5-9: National School Counseling Week
Feb. 8-9: WBL Training (West)
Feb. 12: Winter CTE Director Meeting
April 26-27: Spring CTE Director Meeting
July 9-13: 2018 Institute for CTE Educators
July 9: Summer CTE Director Meeting
July 16-20: Occupational License New Teacher Training
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Deadline Tomorrow! Call for Proposals for 2018 Institute for CTE Educators
The deadline to submit a proposal for the 2018 Institute for CTE Educators is tomorrow, Feb. 9. The Institute will be held July 9–13 at the Music City Center in Nashville. Educators, administrators, postsecondary partners, and industry leaders can submit proposals for 75-minute sessions, 25-minute Promising Practices Roundtable sessions, and workshops. A description of each option and specific proposal questions are available on the proposal website.
Focus Areas:
- Sharing best practices within programs of study
- Using technology to enhance student learning
- Developing a strong CTE culture by marketing your programs with students, school staff, parents, and the community
- Creating instructional activities/lessons aligned to course standards
- Providing career exploration (job shadowing, guest speakers, tours, etc.) activities for students.
Have another engaging session idea? We want to hear about it! Select "other" as your focus area on the application.
For more information, visit our website. If you have questions regarding the 2018 Institute for CTE Educators, please email cteinstitute@utk.edu.
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Celebrating National School Counseling Week with TSCA’s High School Counselor of the Year
Bethany Erb is a ninth grade school counselor at Montgomery Central High School, and along with the 2017 Tennessee School Counseling Association award, she was also named the 2017 Middle Tennessee Counseling Association's High School Counselor of the Year.
From helping a student decide on which language class to enroll in, to listening to a student vent about a tough morning, no two days at MCHS are the same. Regardless of the situation, however, Erb’s motto of conducting herself with students remains the same. “Be authentic,” Erb says. “Kids are going to look to the adults in their lives that are showing them the way to be. So when I make a mistake, because I’m human, I own up to that. And I think they see that.”
Don't forget you can celebrate your school counselor on social media using #TNSCW18! National School Counseling Week ends tomorrow, Feb. 9. |
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CTE Educator Spotlight: Carmen Mott, Shelby County Schools
Each week in February, the department will highlight one outstanding CTE educator. This week, we celebrate Carmen Mott from Shelby County Schools. Carmen explains, "My favorite part of being a CTE educator is the opportunity to offer my students real life experiences that will prepare them to be college and career ready." To read more about Carmen, visit the department's blog, Classroom Chronicles. Don't forget to celebrate your school's outstanding CTE educators on social media using #TNCTEInspires. |
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National CTE Signing Day
As we continue to recognize the groundbreaking work happening in Tennessee’s career and technical education (CTE) programs, there is no better time to encourage students to pursue a postsecondary credential aligned with their CTE coursework and experiences. On Feb. 15, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs) will celebrate National CTE Letter of Intent Signing Day, a day to honor students who have committed to earn a credential at a TCAT. Students will participate in signing ceremonies similar to NCAA athletes and meet local employers interested in hiring TCAT graduates. To find out how your local TCAT is celebrating, visit its website.
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CTE Director Spotlight: Herbie Adams, Johnson County Schools
Herbie Adams, CTE Director of Johnson County Schools, has a unique, collaborative approach to prepare his students for postsecondary and career. Besides working with four postsecondary institutions to create a portfolio of early postsecondary opportunities for his students, Adams facilitates the collaboration between students and educators in the Structural Systems and Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing (MEP) Systems programs of study. Students work together to design a house (pictured below) and build the entire structure, including the plumbing and electrical, from the ground up. Once the house is completely built, it is sold, and the funds are used to support the programs of study.
Adams hopes to provide more opportunities for Johnson County students by seeking advisory council input, reviewing projected labor market data, connecting with multiple postsecondary institutions, and conducting student interest assessments.
Share your CTE Month inspirations on Twitter using #TNCTEInspires.
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Standards Public Comment Period Ends March 15
On Oct. 20, 2017, the State Board of Education approved standards for a new high school course “ Tennessee Student Success” on first reading. These standards have been created in conjunction with THEC and the Tennessee College Access & Success Network to help seniors navigate the college application process and transition to postsecondary. New and revised standards were also included for courses in the following career clusters: Advanced Manufacturing, Business Management & Administration, Finance, Health Science, Human Services, Information Technology, and Marketing. These standards have been revised in collaboration with Tennessee teachers, postsecondary partners, and industry representatives. These new standards will go into effect in the 2018-19 school year.
Between first and final reading, a public comment period is held for educators and all interested parties to provide feedback and suggestions on the standards. We encourage all high school educators and administrators to participate in this process. Your continued feedback is vital to ensuring that we provide the most rigorous, relevant educational experience for our students. Comments may be sent directly to CTE.Questions@tn.gov. The public comment period will close on Thursday, March 15. |
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Transition School to Work Grants
The department of human services’ office of vocational rehabilitation is accepting grant applications for the Transition School to Work Grants for the 2018-19 school year. The grants are funded one year at a time to allow school districts to hire staff to assist in improving and enhancing their transition programs for students with disabilities (i.e., transition case managers and work place readiness specialists). The office of vocational rehabilitation began sending the application package, which includes all requirements and instructions on how to apply, directly to school districts this week. If you have questions or would like more information on this opportunity, contact Gayle Feltner at Susan.Feltner@tn.gov or (615) 313-5318. |
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Last week's College & Career Readiness Update included the following headlines:
- It's CTE Month!
- Deadline Extended! Call for Proposals for 2018 Institute for CTE Educators
- CTE Educator Spotlight: Greg Lemmons, Knox County Schools
- Pathways Tennessee Receives National Attention for Collaborative Approach to College and Career Readiness
- National School Counseling Week begins Feb. 5
- Join the CCTE Team
This week's Commissioner's Update for Directors contains the following headlines:
- RTI2 Report Release
- RTI2 Regional Town Halls
- February Virtual Meeting
- Student Growth Portfolios Q&A
- Assessment Task Force Update
- Personalized Message for 2018 Report Card
- Nextera Public Demo Now Live
- ImpactTN Beta Release
- Webinar Recording for District Testing and EIS Coordinators
- Webinar: ACT Administration
- Rescheduled ACCESS Trainings
- "Say Dyslexia" Legislation Training
- Legal Requirements and Best Practices Seminar: Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation
- Restorative Practices Trainings
- Deadline Approaching: VPK Application
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers Request for Applications
- Updates from TCRS
- Rulemaking Hearing: Special Education Programs and Services
- Annual Physical Activity Compliance Survey
Archives of each department newsletter are available in the web browser view under “Past Issues.” For quick reference of the College & Career Readiness Update and the Commissioner’s Update for Directors, the most recent newsletters are linked below:
| Commissioner’s Update for Directors |
College & Career Readiness Update |
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In addition to these archives, the department publishes nearly forty newsletters geared toward the interests and work responsibilities of various district and school stakeholder groups. All department newsletters are opt-in, so any interested individual can sign up to receive any of our newsletters. Please click here for a comprehensive list of newsletter sign-up links, and feel free to share these links with your district and school teams.
Have an idea to make this newsletter stronger? Please complete the following survey to let us know how we can best serve you.
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