News Release
For Immediate Release
September 30, 2024
Contact
Gina Patterson, executive director
434-295-8722 or gina@vsba.org
Culpeper Technical Education Center Hosts Site Visit for Virginia School Leaders and Workforce Development Stakeholders
Charlottesville, VA – Earlier today, members of the Virginia School Boards Association visited the Culpeper Technical Education Center (CTEC) in Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) for an impactful site visit focused on career and technical education (CTE) initiatives and workforce readiness. School board members, school division representatives, VSBA Staff, and VSBA President, Dr. Cardell Patillo, were in attendance.
In addition, members of the VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments, which includes a subcommittee on Workforce Readiness, and the VSBA Task Force on School Infrastructure Needs participated in the site visit. The VSBA Task Forces have been instrumental in advocating for policy changes that increase student outcomes by engaging policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels of government on the importance of highly qualified educators in the classroom, course offerings that allow students to gain work experience while in high school, and the need for infrastructure that facilitates high quality instruction in the classroom.
The site visit agenda included a variety of presentations and a tour highlighting the cutting-edge programs and opportunities offered at CTEC. The event began with a lunch provided by CTEC’s Culinary Arts students, followed by a student presentation offering attendees a look at the real-world projects and skills being developed through CTEC’s programs. Additionally, attendees heard an overview and introductions from local leaders for the CTEC programs. Attendees then toured CTEC’s state-of-the-art facilities, gaining firsthand insight into the center’s innovative approach to CTE.
Following the tours, a panel discussion was held to give a high-level overview into how CTEC became a reality through their planning process and implementation. The panel included Dr. Tony Brads, CCPS Division Superintendent, John Egertson, Culpeper County Administrator, Rob Hauman, CCPS Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Randi Richards-Lutz, CCPS Director of Career and Technical Education.
“The work being done at CTEC is a model of what can be achieved when education and industry work hand-in-hand,” said Dr. Cardell Patillo, VSBA President. “We were excited to see how these programs are preparing students for success in the workforce while addressing the needs of local businesses.”
School divisions represented at the event included Alexandria City, Culpeper County, Danville City, Newport News, Portsmouth City, Prince George County, and Washington County.
About the Virginia School Boards Association
The Virginia School Boards Association, a voluntary, nonpartisan organization of Virginia school boards, promotes excellence in public education through advocacy, training, and services. The Association offers conferences, information, training, and counseling designed to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s educational leaders.
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