Interview
oct-web-Kids Standard Magazine_Oct Issue_For Web
oct-web-Kids Standard Magazine_Oct Issue_For Web
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PARENT’S CORNER<br />
CREATE AN INNOVATOR:<br />
EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE<br />
By: Tom Neal<br />
iTEAM Instructor,<br />
Technical Campus - NW<br />
Oakland Schools<br />
It is both a complex and exciting time in<br />
education. As a parent and educator,<br />
I understand that it is easy to get confused<br />
by all the learning opportunities that<br />
exist for kids today: traditional schooling,<br />
online courses, hybrid learning, specialized<br />
programs, dual enrollment and early<br />
college.<br />
Is this really necessary?<br />
The truth is that there is an entirely new<br />
level of demands placed on education. No<br />
longer can a student work through the<br />
traditional process, choose one path - either<br />
of industry or post-secondary learning<br />
- and then find success. Demands from<br />
industry are rigorous, and the costs of<br />
post-secondary schooling are higher than<br />
ever. Combine all of these factors with our<br />
kids - a generation of Millennials - who<br />
learn, function and react differently than<br />
we do, and we end up with a complex set<br />
of challenges.<br />
I believe in education with purpose and<br />
that experience is everything, especially<br />
for our children’s generation. Fortunately,<br />
teens in Oakland County have great opportunities<br />
to experience education with<br />
purpose. There has been a substantial investment<br />
in Career and Technical education<br />
(CTE) through the four Oakland County<br />
Technical Campuses, and through 27 of<br />
the county’s 28 districts that directly offer<br />
CTE programs. Students who attend<br />
the multi-million dollar campuses are<br />
thoroughly trained using high-quality,<br />
industry-standard equipment with the<br />
latest technology. Each program at the<br />
campus is taught by professional instructors<br />
who have years of industry experience<br />
and extensive knowledge in their<br />
profession.<br />
Why consider CTE? Kids are different;<br />
many of them often don’t know which<br />
direction to take. Career and Technical<br />
education is designed to help them explore<br />
and experience a variety of different paths,<br />
as well as excel in the real world after<br />
graduation. CTE programs greatly expand<br />
their opportunities, preparing them for<br />
additional training, college, and a career.<br />
Programs include Engineering and Health/<br />
Medical to BioScience, Visual Imaging,<br />
Culinary, Construction Technology,<br />
Automotive and Business/Marketing/<br />
Information Technology. There is something<br />
for everyone.<br />
Another reason to consider CTE is related<br />
to something near and dear to all<br />
of us, finances! The campuses offer high<br />
school and college credit for free, helping<br />
students get a great head start on<br />
foundational college classes while developing<br />
their professional skills to give them the<br />
edge. The campuses also offer challenging<br />
student leadership opportunities, numerous<br />
national industry certifications, paid<br />
internships, and scholarships, all through<br />
a no cost/convenient block schedule with<br />
district-provided transportation.<br />
At this point, I would like to take a minute<br />
to highlight my program. I teach in iTEAM -<br />
Information Technology, Entrepreneurship,<br />
Advanced Marketing. When students join<br />
iTEAM , they are transformed into professional<br />
employees. This program is managed<br />
as a business, where students are<br />
recruited by their instructors (the CEO and<br />
CIO), develop resumes, and interview for<br />
a VP, Management or Associate position.<br />
Students work in one of four departments<br />
based on their interests (Tech Support,<br />
Sales & Marketing, Web/Multimedia, or<br />
Employee Relations) completing projects<br />
for real industry clients. This is an incredible<br />
opportunity to learn in a business setting,<br />
immediately apply knowledge to real<br />
projects, and earn national certifications,<br />
college credit, and meet academic credit/<br />
graduation requirements for Senior Math,<br />
Algebra I & II, ELA 12, Economics, and<br />
Civics.<br />
Does CTE work? Statistics show that<br />
nationwide, 9 out of 10 high school students<br />
enrolled in a CTE program graduated<br />
on time (compared to 7 of 10 non-<br />
CTE students). According to a study by<br />
the research group MDRC, students who<br />
graduated from career academies are<br />
earning, on average, 16% more than their<br />
traditional high school peers eight years<br />
out of high school. If we want our kids to<br />
be innovators, we have to give them an<br />
experience!<br />
October 2015<br />
15<br />
Publication INC.