1. School Counselors: Promoting CTE as a Postsecondary Option
Brian Law
ACTE Region II VP
Valdosta High School Counselor
Valdosta, Georgia

2. “College for All”
Did you know that high school students today hear the “college for all” message?
Do you personally and professionally believe that all students can succeed in college?
Do you believe that college is the only reliable (consistent) path to financial success?
What are the implications of the “college for all” message for CTE?
Dugger, S.M. Foundations of Career Counseling: A Case Based Approach: 2016: Pearson Education, Inc.

3. Discussion What are your reactions to the “College for All” movement?
What about academic rigor and CTE?

4. To get to the future, you must understand the past!
Vocational Education
Meeting employer needs since the Smith-Hughes Act 100 years ago
Bring ease to social unrest of unemployed in the 1960s and 1980s
Creating a technical workforce in last 10 years
Career Technical Education
Increasing academic rigor
Incorporating STEM
Meeting the needs of innovations
Replacing the “baby booming” populations of “vocational” trained adults.

5. School Counselor’s role in CTE
Advocating for CTE
Explaining Curricular Requirements
Facilitating Consideration of CTE Options
Assisting with Postsecondary Search and Selection Process
Assisting CTE Students with Career Development Needs
Dugger, S.M. Foundations of Career Counseling: A Case Based Approach: 2016: Pearson Education, Inc.

6. It is Elementary My Dear!
Elementary career counseling should begin focusing on character education and social skills - directly affect the workforce and lead into work ready skills/soft skills.
Knowledge of career options using career cluster vocabulary (elementary friendly terms)

7. Ideas for promoting CTE: Elementary
Careers on Wheels
Career Speakers to promote CTE
Local Career Day
Character Education (soft skills)
Career Cluster Lessons
Other ideas?

8. It is Best in the Middle!
Middle school counseling should focus on interest.
Skills begin to develop in certain areas. Begin to put the pieces of career exploration together using career clusters to narrow scope.

9. Examples of Career Clusters

10. Ideas for promoting CTE: Middle
Interest Inventories
Career Inventories to include personality and aptitude
Job Shadow Days
Career Portfolios
Focus on Career Clusters/Pathways
High school credit for CTE coursework
Graduation plans
Other ideas?

11. Hooking a Career in High School!
High school counselors should focus on skills and abilities.
Promote career pathways and focus on Career Technical classes for exposure to skills.

12. Ideas for promoting CTE: Secondary
Skills/Aptitude Inventory (affirmation)
Six Year Plan
Dual enrollment at Career Colleges and Technical Schools for associates, certificate and diploma programs
Apprenticeship opportunities
Promote CTSO involvement
Local job shadowing in CTE areas
Family and Community Engagement presentations promoting CTE options
Other ideas?

13. Thanks for your support of CTE!
Brian Law ACTE Region II VP School Counselor Valdosta High School 3101 N Forrest Street Valdosta, GA Ext. 4004