Building Better CTE Pathways

Dan Frank, Instructor at Rocklin High School, and Carol Pepper-Kittredge, Director of the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies at Sierra College have been working together over the past three years to both improve articulation, professional development and work towards developing an integrated pathway (vertical integration) for the Engineering and Design Industry Sector.

Carol has just finished an excellent report that describes steps they took to collaborate and the impact on student outcomes.  Their initiative was very collaborative and comprehensive and provided reciprocal value to both organizations by integrating the program projects and sharing of resources.

Some examples of the commitment and efforts include:

  • Working together to attend the same professional development activities
  • Presenting at various professional development activities
  • Working together to develop a plan for an articulation agreement
  • Participating in a group that links math and CTE
  • Working together to make trophies for NASA competitions
  • Linking a secondary and post-secondary students through a shared project
  • Sitting on advisory committees at both levels
  • Working on externships with college faculty and business partners
  • Shared resources

Dan says this has been a long and challenging process and that they are nowhere near done. The work was made possible by a SB70 grant awarded through the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges.

CTE Community Collaborative 09-140 and 09-141 Final Report

Appendix A CTE Community Collaborative 09-140 and 09-141