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Hello, Region V Members,

Oct. 1 marked the official national day of Pumpkin Spice. It seems there are two camps when it comes to pumpkin spice, bring it on or heavens no! For me, I enjoy a crisp fall day where the air is cool and my coffee is warm (yes, pumpkin spice in the fall, but not until fall!). Every morning, I pull up the national day calendar to see all the interesting, important, fun and quirky national days that are celebrated across the nation. Perhaps we need to start a national ACTE Region V Day to celebrate our incredible region and the amazing work each of you do daily.

In our district this year the focus is on professional learning communities (using the Solution Tree model) and developing/improving our MTSS systems. An aspect of learning communities that I particularly like is the concept of getting really clear about essential learnings, looking at the boulders (“must know”), the rocks (“nice to know”), and the butterflies (“fun to know”) in our curricula and determining the boulders, rocks, and butterflies in each unit. This process has shifted my way of thinking to really focus on the boulders first and getting really, really clear about those boulders. Singleton programs in schools and districts are more challenged to find an effective PLC because the essential learnings in our content may be vastly different from program to program. While our conferences are not a PLC, I find that attending our ACTE conferences really helps me refocus on the essential learnings, make connections with others that can help us improve our practice, and support growth for us in the development of those essential standards, so in many ways, for me the conferences are boulders (“must have”) in order to improve my CTE practice. 

A new book I am reading this month is called, ‘Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well’, by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen. Check out this Ted Talk by one of the author’s Sheila Heen. This book focuses on receiving feedback, the importance of receiving feedback as well as the challenges of receiving feedback. The introduction includes a story, Digging for Ponies:


“There is an old joke about a happy young optimist whose parents are trying to team him to see the world more realistically. To that end, they decide to give him a large sack of horse dung for his birthday.

‘What did you get?’ asks his grandmother, wrinkling her nose at the smell.

‘I don’t know’, cries the boy with delight as he excitedly digs through the dung. ‘But I think there’s a pony in here somewhere!’


The moral of the story, the authors note, is similar to this situation, when receiving feedback, it may not be very pleasant, but there might be something worthwhile to come from it. May you find more “ponies” among some otherwise unpleasant “dung”.

Board Member - Region V


Sincerely,

Shani Watkins

ACTE Region V Vice President


Region V News

Attention First Time Region V Leadership Conference Attendees!


If the 2023 conference in Fargo, North Dakota, will be the first time you’ve attended a Region V Conference, be sure to apply for one of the stipends that are available.  Up to ten $500 stipends will be awarded for the 2023 Conference in North Dakota and the 2024 Conference in Hawaii.  The stipend will be paid over two years with $250 paid upon attending each conference.  Awards will be made at the conference.  Applications can be found on the Region V website.  Deadline for submission is March 1st.  We will notify you by March 15th if you are receiving the stipend.


Visit Region V Website

2022–23 Region V Important Dates


Your Region V policy committee members have been hard at work preparing several opportunities for us to meet and collaborate with Region V members. Check out this calendar of events and opportunities to engage and connect with one another, both virtually and in person! As opportunities are added, we will continue to update this document and share with you! Region V Calendar. This calendar includes hotlinks to a variety of helpful tools and materials for you. Check them out!

Donate to ACTE Support Fund


ACTE’s support fund promotes career and technical education nationwide. The fund is designed to generate positive awareness, increase member and public engagement, and expand the reach of CTE for all students. Your donation supports, the following types of outreach: annual twitter chat during CTE month with the National Career and Technical Student Organizations, guest blogs with partner organizations, interviews with Education Talk Radio, and development of written content that supports career and technical education. Donate Now!


2022–23 Region V Policy Committee Members

I am excited to announce our 2022-2023 Region V policy committee members, representing you and your states! Please join the Region V policy committee in welcoming Alyssa Alcos to the Region V policy committee. Ron Umehira had to step down from his role and Alyssa has agreed to support the remainder of Ron’s term. We are excited to have her join our team.

As positions change in various states, it is sometimes challenging for us to keep up-to-date on contacts for our state representatives for ACTE and Region V. State presidents, Executive Directors, and state leaders, please be on the lookout for an email soon from one of the above representatives. If you do not receive an email, please reach out to me, Shani Watkins, at shani.watkins@westsoundtech.org, so that I can get you connected to your state liaison.

2023 Region V Conference: A World of Opportunities

SAVE THE DATE: April 12–15, 2023 in Fargo, North Dakota


The North Dakota conference planning team is excited to host the 2023 Region V Conference in Fargo, North Dakota, from April 12–15. Check out the video the North Dakota team put together: https://youtu.be/HYcnMtbJtaE.

 

Discover a World of Opportunities as you attended ACTE Region V Meeting in Fargo, North Dakota, from April 12–15. Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned veteran, you will find something new at this conference. A few highlights of the conference include a presentation from motivational speaker, Alex Kajitani, and an evening tour and meal at the Fargo Air Museum. Thursday's afternoon (April 13) events will include various business and industry tours that are in and around the Fargo area.  

 

Please visit the ACTE Region V website if you would like additional information about the conference. If you would like to present at the conference, the call for presenter form will be posted on the above website around the time of ACTE Vision meeting.  

 

Also, a reminder to anyone who has not been to a Region V conference before, there is a First-timers Scholarship you can apply for that supports attendance for two years, so you could apply by the due date for the conference this coming year in Fargo and if awarded, have support for both the Fargo conference and the next conference in Honolulu. The total scholarship is $500, $250 for the first year and $250 for the second year’s attendance.

2022 CTE Excellence in Action Award


Utah Career and Technical Education (CTE) recently announced the Davis Catalyst Center Entertainment and Digital Media program and the Unmanned Aerial Systems program as the winners of the 2022 Utah CTE Excellence in Action award. These programs were selected based on their uniquely inventive and effective approaches to stimulating student learning, offering extensive work-based learning experiences, maintaining strong partnerships with higher education institutions, industry, and community organizations, while preparing students for postsecondary education and career success.

 

The Entertainment and Digital Media program and the Unmanned Aerial Systems program represents the best CTE programs in the state of Utah.


The Davis Catalyst Center opened in January 2022 and offers many opportunities for students within a variety of CTE programs. The Davis Catalyst Center is a place where innovation, collaboration, and education meet. Students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by working in collaborative groups to complete real-world projects while being mentored by industry partners.


The Entertainment and Digital Media program and the Unmanned Aerial Systems program partners with businesses and industry partners to make meaningful connections for students. Students complete real-world projects and are connected with opportunities to work with local businesses and industry professionals. Students have received numerous awards for their excellence.


On September 21, 2022, these two Davis Catalyst Center programs were honored, by the CTE state director, for their excellence in action.

From ACTE

Professional Development Conferences & Events

Advance Rates for VISION End Oct. 14!

With robust in-person and virtual options

Join career and technical educators for our largest conference of the year at ACTE’s CareerTech VISION, happening this Nov. 30–Dec. 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Or you can choose to attend virtually for an immersive professional development opportunity.

 

The 2022 event will offer in-person attendees:

 

  • Inspirational keynote presentations focused on cultivating your leadership and professional development
  • CareerTech Expo, the largest and latest collection of CTE products and services
  • 300+ concurrent sessions, covering timely topics in high-quality secondary and postsecondary CTE
  • Focused preconference workshops, tours and the ACTE Awards Gala on Nov. 30 (additional fees for workshops, tours and the Gala required)
  • Access to the virtual platform, including 55 on-demand sessions, for up tp 30 days post-event

 

Virtual attendees will receive:

  • Live-streamed opening and closing General Sessions, featuring keynote speakers and CTE leaders on our mainstage
  • Access to 55 live-streamed concurrent sessions, covering high-quality secondary and postsecondary CTE
  • All-new Expo robots giving virtual attendees the opportunity to visit booths remotely
  • Access to the virtual platform, including 55 on-demand sessions, for up to 30 days post-event
Learn more and register
inclusion access equity and diversity

IAED Mentors & Mentees


ACTE is committed to building an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diversity of the CTE community. ACTE has developed multiple sessions, both pre-conference and general sessions, at the CareerTech VISION conference that are focused on Inclusion, Access, Equity, and Diversity. Please see the program schedule for details  

Member Reminders

Election Vote ACTE

Renew Your Membership by Nov. 2 to Vote!


The 2023 ACTE board of directors’ election will be held this Dec. 2–Jan. 2! Please note these key dates:

 

  • Be sure your membership is current by Nov 2 to vote — renew now!
  • Voting will open during CareerTech VISION on Dec. 2 and run through Jan. 2
  • Winners will be announced in January 2023


Read more

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Techniques Reader Survey


Tell us honestly, what do you think about Techniques? We're conducting a brief readership survey to make sure we continue developing content that CTE educators find meaningful and of value. (Submit by Dec. 3, and you'll be entered to win a $50 gift card.)


Take the Survey

Upcoming Deadlines to Apply for ACTE Leadership Programs

 

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Upcoming Webinars


We are excited to host several upcoming free webinars on a wide range of topics:

 

  • Be the Change Through Plant-based Diets, Oct. 19, 3:00 p.m. ET
  • Students with Disabilities, Oct. 20, 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Curriculum Development & Design in Career & Technical Education, Oct. 27, 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Careers in Construction: Learning from Young Craft Professionals, Nov. 3, 3:00 p.m. ET
  • NextLevel Fellowship Program Info Session with Fellows, Nov. 10, 1:00 p.m. ET

 

Learn more and sign up to attend

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