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Virginia Capitol C onnections, Summer 2015
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Career and Technical Education (CTE)
continues to focus on the big picture—
preparing an educated and flexible workforce.
CTE offers comprehensive programs that
involve K-12 educators, students, parents,
higher education institutions, and local
communities and provides multiple pathways
to success.
With the opening of the first Governor’s
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics) Academies and, soon
thereafter, the Governor’s Health Sciences
Academies, CTE further reinforced its mission of addressing the
need for a skilled workforce. The academies combine core academic
coursework with CTE skill sets, credentials, industry partners, and
pathways to ensure college readiness and fill critical workforce needs.
Twenty-three Governor’s STEM Academies currently educate
students across the Commonwealth. The first six Governor’s STEM
Academies were opened during the 2007-2008 school year with
$120,000 grants from the National Governor’s Association. Since 2008,
the revenue stream for funding Governor’s STEMAcademies primarily
has come from small incentive planning grants. However, school
divisions need more capital to start and sustain Governor’s STEM
Academies.
The Governor’s Health Sciences Academies were started during the
2012-2013 school year to prepare students for health science careers at
all levels. These careers are among the fastest-growing in the nation and
boast the highest increases in numbers in the workforce, according to
the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2014). The nine Governor’s Health
Sciences Academies partner with public school divisions, healthcare
institutions, the private sector, and institutions of higher education in
order to create challenging and relevant programs. For instance, the
Governor’s Health Sciences Academies’ five pathways offer instruction
in informatics, bioresearch, and the modern healthcare system.
Governor’s STEM Academies and Governor’s Health Sciences
Academies require higher-level mathematics and science courses,
communication and teaming skills, and a career focus. The academies
and other STEM initiatives—relevant to all CTE programs—are
growing in popularity with both school divisions and industry. The
Governor’s STEM Academies
and Governor’s Health Sciences Academies By Dr. Brenda D. Long
academies provide options and experiences for students to acquire
STEM literacy, problem-solving skills, and credentials that will prepare
them for postsecondary education and for high-skill, high-demand, and
high-wage careers that are critical to the NewVirginia Economy.
There is an identifiable need to increase the number of and improve
the sustainability of Governor’s STEM Academies and Governor’s
Health Sciences Academies across Virginia. The academies are
important—they have produced competency-based results, have grown
across three governorships, and have survived the recession and budget
cuts. However, the consistent and intentional priority to assure a future
workforce is critical and should be guaranteed as sectors of the economy
change.
The current Virginia economy needs to grow a qualified and
competitive workforce as shown by:
More than 103,000 secondary CTE students earned industry
credentials during the 2013-2014 school year.
Governor’s STEM Academies and Governor’s Heath Sciences
Academies enable students to experience work-based learning through
cooperative education, internships, clinical experiences, job shadowing,
mentorships, and/or service learning.
The Virginia Employment Commission and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics report a high growth of STEM-related and health occupations
inVirginia until 2020.
Permanent line-item funding is needed to equip or update
laboratories to meet the needs of rapidly changing curricula and provide
students with rigorous and relevant programs of study.
The Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education
supports college and career readiness while placing emphasis on
CTE programs that address current high-demand jobs and anticipated
employee shortages.
Dr. Brenda D. Long is the executive director of the Virginia
Association for Career and Technical Education. She has more than
30 years of CTE experience as a classroom teacher and administrator.
JesseW. White is the vice president of public policy for the Virginia
Association for Career and Technical Education. He has extensive
CTE experience as an educator, administrator, and Governor’s STEM
Academy and Governor’s Health Sciences Academy leader.
The staff and members of the
Virginia Automobile Dealers
Association thank those that
have served in America’s
armed forces and continue
to serve the people of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Don Hall
President&CEO
Anne Gambardella
DirectorofLegislative
Lance Corporal
Don Hall, USMC,
training with
NATO Troops
in Sardinia, Italy
2nd Marine Divsion, 1975
Available This Fall
This informative directory recognizes and
celebrates the sacrifices and struggles of
veterans serving as state officials in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Thanks to VADA and others for providing
underwriting for In Service to Our Country.
Direct questions or comments to:
David Bailey
• 804.643.5554
Virginia Officials and their Military Service
In Service
to Our Country
2015
V