CTE Month 2013: Career and Technical Education Works! Planning and promoting CTE Month in your area Ashley Parker, Media Relations Manager

CTE Month background Began as CTE Week Held in February Trademarked event organized by ACTE Purpose- raise awareness of CTE to the public by celebrating and highlighting positive impacts of CTE on students, communities, economic growth, etc.

CTE Month Brand Elements CTE Month Logo CTE Month theme –Theme for 2013: Career and Technical Education Works! CTE Month products

CTE Month Resources CTE Month promotional materials found on ACTE website –Sample press release –Sample proclamation –Sample tweets –CTE Month calendar –Sample op-ed –CTE Month PSA videos –CTE Month Poster

What’s New for CTE Month 2013? Change from a student-designed logo to a permanent CTE month logo. Social media advocacy day becomes social media advocacy week. New CTE Month products New student contests –CTE Month Poster contest

CTE Month 2013 Calendar Themed weeks to help guide participation NOT required to follow monthly layout What’s going on during CTE Month? February 1-8: SHOW that CTE Works! February 11-15: TELL that CTE Works!- Social Media Advocacy Week February 18-28: CELEBRATE that CTE Works!

CTE Month Promotional Poster Contest Students were encouraged to submit creative poster designs, promoting CTE Month, utilizing the CTE Month logo and theme, a QR code linking back to the CTE Month webpage, and some information about CTE Month and Social Media Advocacy Week Contest sponsors The YGS Group and Adobe made it possible to print posters and award prizes. Over 300 entries to the contest! Finalists selected and winners chosen by voting on Facebook page over a week. Held in October Secondary winner: Julie Prascsak from Communications H.S. in Wall, NJ Postsecondary winner: Katrina Villavicencio from Monroe Tech in Leesburg, VA

Celebrating CTE Month What do we do? Decorate your classroom or CTE program space. Share CTE facts and history with students. Communicate CTE Month with other teachers, administrators, parents, etc.

Engage Your Community Host an open house of your CTE program/school Hold a career fair for students & families Service project in community with CTSOs or class –Highlight existing projects & programs via an open house

CTE Month Messaging or, what do we say? Draw connections between CTE and student performance, student postsecondary and employment outcomes and economic growth. Use data- especially local data where possible. Illustrate CTE successes with personal stories.

Media Outreach Invite local media to outreach events Arrange a school tour with local media followed by informational meeting Send CTE Month press release & information to local education reporters Write an op-ed or letter to the editor during CTE Month.

Advocacy during CTE Month Great time to advocate for CTE with President’s budget set to release in March- get ahead of funding advocacy during CTE Month Sample CTE Month Proclamation Arrange a meeting with local officials Include elected officials in open house/career fairs

Connecting with Business & Industry during CTE Month Do you have a strong advisory board or local business partnership? –Joint announcement –Invite business leaders to speak to CTE students. –Ask business leaders to write op-eds in support of CTE

Using Digital to Amplify Share in the conversation with ACTE & other CTE supporters using hashtag #CTEMonth and #CTEworks General CTE hashtag: #careerteched Social media tools –Facebook –Twitter –Pinterest

Share with ACTE Holding an event or activity? Share with us! We post member activities on Snag media coverage of your CTE Month activities? Send to ACTE & we’ll share on website and social media. Send to

ACTE Resources CTE Month website CTE Month materials to download CTE Month products- currently 10% off for month of January with code CTM10, and each order includes free CTE Month poster. ACTE Staff

What are you planning for CTE Month 2013?

Thanks for joining! Questions? Contact: Ashley Parker, Media Relations Manager – –Phone: