May 30, 2019 | Internships, Programs
While we live in a digital age, there is no substitute for hands-on, work-based learning, which is why staff at Nashua Technology Center (NTC) are pushing to ramp up internships in its Automotive Technology program.
Citing approximately 400 job openings for automotive technicians in the state, NTC Director Amanda Bastoni said it is not enough, however, to offer just any kind of internship to students or industry partners.
“We used to send all of the students out on internship for a full semester, but that model wasn’t working,” she said. “It may have been successful at one time, but dealers started saying that kids weren’t showing up and it was really hard to manage. We knew we needed to make a change.”
This change consisted in reducing the time for internships to one month. She said students now go out Monday to Thursday and come back on Friday to discuss their respective experiences with the teacher.
“It has worked so well,” said Bastoni, who said a lot of preparation went into this programmatic change.
“Our teacher taught the students how to do job interviews, while I, as CTE Director, had all the kids do a survey,” she said.
This survey consists of questions that relate to the local dealership preferred by students as well as their objectives and commitment level to the internship itself.
“Not all students were allowed to participate,” she said.
Bastoni said she also personally interviews students now and provides feedback regarding their interview skills, all of which helped to determine where to place them.
“We made sure the kids who went into the internships really wanted to make this a career,” she added.
Students appreciate the internship model, too.
Senior Christian Belonga, who currently interns at MacMulkin Chevrolet in Nashua, said his internship has helped him realize what it would actually be like to work in the field.
“I like the placement because it gives me that real world experience and it is hands on,” he said. “I have quit my job at Market Basket and now want to work with cars in dealerships.”
Senior Jordan Smith just received a job offer from Tulley Buick GMC.
“I love working with the guys there — I feel absolutely prepared,” he said. I have been doing tires, exhaust, oil changes. Without this class, I wouldn’t know what I wanted to do after school.”
As for how it benefits industry partners, Bastoni said it not only provides dealerships with immediate help, it helps build a pipeline for future employment.
“It gives the dealers a chance to see if the kids are good fit,” she said. “It helps establish a nice relationship between dealers and students.”
According to Bastoni, the effort put into revamping their internship model within Automotive Technology reflects a statewide trend at all CTE centers.
“Internships are such a good idea,” she said. “Research tells us that kids that go into an internship are more likely to go into that industry. It is really good preparation.”
The only caveat is that students must recognize that these are places of business.
“We need to make sure when we send students out that we really support them,” she said. “I will continue to personally interview students before they go out until I really feel like a streamline process has been created.”
To learn more about NTC or Automotive Technology, visit https://nsd-schools.nashua.edu.
May 16, 2019 | Industry, Programs
Recently, Aaron White and Sheamus Powers, students in Portsmouth High School Career Technical Center’s Automotive Technology program, placed 7th in the nation at the National Auto Tech Championship in New York City.
The achievement, according to Portsmouth Career Technical Education (CTE) Director Diane Canada, helps underscore not just the strength of the program, but its relevancy to – and partnership with – industry.
“We have been accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) since 2008,” she said.
This accreditation includes a close working partnership, one that is replicated at all CTE centers across the state.
“I work with all the high school and colleges,” said Jessica Dade, NATEF Assistant Executive Director and Career Coordinator. “I make sure there is a pipeline between the technicians and all the other students that are employed by the auto industry. I help create the pathway from high school and college directly into the industry.
This pathways, she said, leads to hundreds of different opportunities – from auto technician to marketing and accounting.
“It is a fast growing and high-tech industry,” she said. “It is a great career pathway for anyone.”
Such support from NATEF as well as from the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (NHADA) is critical, according to David Lily, who teaches in Automotive Technology at Portsmouth High School.
“With support from the NHADA and the NH community college system, our students have everything they need to start a successful career,” he said.
In the case of White and Powers, this career has a boost from NHADA, which awarded them scholarships as a result of their success at the National Auto Tech Championship.
In the case of White, his scholarship will go toward his degree at the Toyota T-Ten Program at Lakes Region Community College. Powers’ scholarship will be applied toward covering the costs to take the Ford Asset Program at Manchester Community College.
They are both working at NHADA member stores.
“Sheamus is at Hampton Ford and Aaron at Toyota of Portsmouth,” said Dade, who said it is a huge honor for everyone involved in their respective success.
“They are rated within the top 14 auto students in the country,” she said. “It shows that hard work and determination can really pay off. It really humbles you when you see 18 year-olds work so very hard. It is very rewarding seeing it come full circle for them.”
Lilly agrees and said he hopes one takeaway from his students’ accomplishment is a deeper understanding as to what takes place in CTE in general and his program in specific.
“People who are not aware of what current CTE programs offer don’t realize what high level training students are receiving,” he said. “It’s not only from a technical aspect on the cars, but also using the repair software and the technical reading and writing involved.”
He said students are problem-solving every day using industry tools and resources in Automotive Technology at Portsmouth High School Career Technical Center.
“The thought that students are just learning to change oil and tires could not be further from the truth,” he said.
To learn more about Portsmouth High School Career Technical Center, visit portsmouthcte.com.
May 6, 2019 | Achievements, Programs
Advanced CTE recently recognized the top eight Career Technical Education (CTE) programs of study with the Excellence in Action Award. These programs represent the best of CTE, with each providing clear pathways into college and careers, rigorous academic and technical coursework, strong industry partnerships, and effective work-based learning experiences that offer opportunities for career exploration and subject-matter mastery.
The Biotechnology program of study at Nashua High School North was launched in 2003 to provide learners with rigorous and integrated academic and technical coursework in the biotechnology field. Throughout the two-year program, learners master advanced laboratory techniques most in demand for medical and scientific careers, such as analyzing cell structures, DNA extraction, molecular cloning, chromatography, protein purification and data collection. Learners demonstrate an understanding of the skills they’ve learned by completing a capstone project their first year and a research project their second year. Through dual credit courses with Great Bay Community College, Biotechnology learners can earn up to eight college credits, creating a seamless transition to postsecondary education.
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May 4, 2019 | Achievements, Article, Leadership
Longtime St. Vincent de Paul board member and Exeter Rotarian Rachael Ela was named Citizen of the Year at the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year awards.
The annual ceremony, which honors businesses and community leaders, took place March 28 at the Ashworth by the Sea in Hampton.
Ela was named Citizen of Year for her numerous contributions over the years to the Exeter community, including her work organizing the annual Rotary Club’s “Stuff a Bus” food drive to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Exeter and for running the club’s annual charity auction. As a past president of the Exeter Area Rotary Club, the group awarded a grant in partnership with Christ Church to provide water filtration systems to Cuba, she said.
Ela said she looked up to the former director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Exeter, Cleo Castonguay, for his generosity and kindness he showed towards those in need during his 30-plus years at the organization before his death last spring at the age of 71. She said one of the first events she ever attended in Exeter after moving to town seven years ago was the Chamber’s Business of the Year Awards when Castonguay received the inaugural Citizen of the Year Award in 2012 and he was the primary reason why she decided to volunteer at the organization.
“Cleo was such an important part of my life and I strive to emulate him as best I can in everything I do, so to be recognized in the same way he was, it’s really beyond comprehension,” Ela said. “This is an incredible honor. Service is a reward in itself; you get so much more than you give. I hope people see the opportunities there are to give back and they ask more questions about how they can get involved serving the community.”
Also recognized was retiring Seacoast School of Technology Principal Margaret Callahan.
Callahan has worked as SST principal for the past 14 years and was honored with the Chairperson’s Award for her years of service at the technical center, which serves five Seacoast school districts beyond SAU 16. She said the enrollment at the school has increased “dramatically” since beginning her tenure and the school now offers 33 dual-enrollment programs, which allow students to earn college credits while taking SST classes.
SST was also recognized as a Business of the Year in the education category by the chamber.
“This was an incredible honor when I looked around the room; it was just so inspiring to be in the same company as everyone there who serve the community so well. A lot of them have been great supporters of SST through the years,” Callahan said. “Our certifications are just as valuable as a degree depending on the industry. Students and families see the value in tech education and if it’s something they think they want to pursue professionally; our programs are designed to prepare them as much as possible.”
The other individual award winners included Cooperative Middle School English teacher Melissa Tobey as Educator of the Year; Derek Foley of Liberty Mutual as Ambassador of the Year, and Chamber Director of Member Partnerships Bobbi Vandenbulcke received the President’s Award.
The other Business of the Year winners were Clean by Sea, for business services; ReVision Energy, for manufacturing, construction or real estate; Staples, as a large retail or wholesale business; Wireless Zone, as a small retail or wholesale business; Sea Dog Brewing Company, for large tourism and hospitality; Laney & Lu, for small tourism and hospitality; St. Vincent de Paul, as a non-profit; Elliot Evans, of Edward Jones, for independent financial services; and Kennebunk Savings Bank, for commercial financial services.
Jennifer Wheeler, president of the chamber, said each of the award winners made significant contributions to making the Exeter area a thriving community.
“We are so proud of this year’s award winners,” Wheeler said. “There is so much to celebrate in our communities and it is important that we take time to recognize these outstanding businesses and individuals who continue to make this region a vibrant community to live, work and play.”
Exeter Hospital was the Business of the Year Awards’ diamond sponsor and Mark Whitney, vice president of strategic planning at Exeter Health Resources, said though the hospital is a major economic driver in the region, maintaining a healthy community takes the entire business community pulling together in the same direction.
“We see both Exeter Health Resources and the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce as community leaders and catalysts and that is why we value our partnership so deeply,” Whitney said. “Improving the health of the community is a team sport and we like being part of this team.”
LaCasse, Alex, and Alex LaCasse. “Exeter Chamber Honors Community Leaders, Businesses.” Seacoastonline.com, Seacoastonline.com, 4 Apr. 2019, www.seacoastonline.com/news/20190404/exeter-chamber-honors-community-leaders-businesses.
May 4, 2019 | Achievements, Teachers
The first EVER New Hampshire teacher of the year award was recently presented at Salem High School. Like the 1st album of a great band, the first teacher winner reconciles YEARS of never choosing, so the competition was intense and the winner SO DESERVING!
This winner will:
- Be recognized first and foremost in front of their peers today.
- Be honored at the New Hampshire CTE conference in August with all of our other award recipients.
- Be given a banner to display and hang in their school for the 2019-20 school year.
Some basics about the award – The New Hampshire CTE teacher of the year must be a full time teacher who has demonstrated sustained long-term excellence in all aspects of Career and Technical education. The award recognizes a teacher who has gone above and beyond to provide students with experiences that exemplifies the best of what we have to offer. The selection process involves gathering quite a bit of data. We appreciate all of those involved in this process – for all the nominees!
So.. let’s talk about some specifics regarding the winner in your midsts today.. Here is how she was portrayed by her professional peers here and elsewhere:
- This teacher is a consummate professional who spends countless hours working with students, inspiring them to become all that they can be.
- This individual arrives to school well before their contracted hours and
stays late into the day or evening to help students succeed.
- The CTSO this person runs has a rich history of being one of the best in the state, and even the country. The CTSO consistently earns chapter of excellence and wins multiple gold medals at states. In addition, they have been a top 10 contender at Nationals multiple times.
- This teacher’s robust program advisory committee consists of several of her alumni, now working in the profession, who are honored to give back!
- This teacher has built a culture of excellence in their program (starting their career in Salem in 1999) where a seat has become highly coveted and a privilege to be accepted. Enrollment in the program continues to soar because of the quality and rigor of the program.
- Whenever this teacher is observed, you are in awe by their stories and real world examples that apply to the content they are teaching.
- This teacher is in frequent and consistent communication with students, caseworkers and parents (including a weekly blog). They have set the bar for communication concerning student achievement – and is always proactive – when there is any hint of a student struggling.
- This teacher has masterfully pushed students outside their comfort zone, while protecting and encouraging them at the same time.
- This teacher brings the best of CTE authenticity given her career in nursing that continues on. This teacher moonlights nights and weekends in the day surgical unit at Elliot Hospital. It is this commitment to keeping a close connection to current practices that brings to life the examples she shares.
- Many of this teacher’s students have gone on to become nurses, physicians, PT’s, OT’s, PA’s, nurse practitioners and other allied health professionals – serving us all – on a daily basis!
Congratulations to the 2019 New Hampshire CTE Teacher of the year, Janine Parent, Health Science teacher here at Salem High School.
May 4, 2019 | Miscellaneous
MILFORD – U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., would certainly never discourage anyone from pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Still, during her Tuesday visit to Milford High School, Kuster acknowledged that four-year degrees are likely not the best path for everyone.
“It is so oppressive for people with the burdens they have for college debt right now, and parents are overwhelmed,” Kuster said while speaking with students and staff members. “They’re wondering, ‘How can we possibly pay for this,’ and young people are coming out literally in hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt.”
full article
May 4, 2019 | Miscellaneous
MILFORD – With handshakes and smiles, students put their best selves forward last week during a job and internship fair at Milford High School.
Representatives of 45 local companies had booths set up in the gym for the all-day event so students could quiz them about opportunities for summer jobs or long-term careers.
“Every company is actually hiring” for paid or unpaid internships, part-time, full-time or seasonal jobs, said Jennifer DiMaria, the high school’s career specialist who organized the April 18 event after school counselor Kiersta Stallman came up with the idea. full article
May 1, 2019 | Leadership, Programs
Recently, Margaret Callahan, principal at Seacoast School of Technology (SST), was awarded the Honorary State Future Farmers of America (FFA) degree in recognition of her support and dedication to agricultural education students in New Hampshire.
Acknowledging she was “overwhelmed” and “stunned” by the accolade, Callahan said the real story is the strength of the Animal & Plant Science program at SST.
“It consistently has one of the highest enrollments of any program in the school and the longest waiting list,” she said. “It is extremely popular and we have an incredible teacher in Anne DeMarco.”
It is a program, said Callahan, she has long supported.
“They work hard and they believe in what they are doing and they have a great teacher, so it just makes sense to support it,” she said.
In speaking about the program, she noted one of its most important aspects is student involvement in various fairs and competitions that test their respective skills and knowledge.
“We typically bring 70 kids to the Deerfield Fair, and every one of those students is going to compete in something, so it is very much a business trip for them – it is serious stuff,” she said.
She said students in Animal & Plant Science also typically earn spots at the Eastern State Exposition in the fall in Springfield, Massachusetts. She described it as “a huge agricultural event.”
“ I have even been to the national competition with them and I typically go to the Granite State FFA Convention every year,” she said.
This year, SST FFA Members of the program won 15 state titles at the 89th Granite State FFA Convention. In addition to the 15 state titles, other highlights included 39 students participating in the event. Jenna Marston, president of the SST FFA, won the Outstanding Chapter Officer Award, while Stephanie Gablosky won the Wilbur H. Palmer True Grit Award.
“It is a great program and the kids are amazing,” she said.
According to Callahan, another key aspect of the program is the FFA itself.
“Through FFA events, students are learning not only how to compete, but leadership, which is related to all of those skills learned in competition,” she added.
Callahan said she hopes the takeaway by the general public regarding her award is that agricultural education is alive and well in the state of NH. She said she also wants the general public to understand the value it provides the local economy.
“Not enough people know about FFA or agricultural education in the state,” she said. “I want people to know FFA and agricultural is not something from the past. It is about our future. These students are all learning about the future of agriculture and the scientific side of everything.”
She cited examples of current work by students as consisting of artificial insemination on cows, aquaculture, aquaponics and hydroponics.
“It is very scientific and important stuff,” said Callahan, who credited DeMarco for her efforts.
“We are really fortunate that we have the teacher we have and that the students are pursuing this education,” she said.
To learn more about Animal & Plant Science at SST, visit https://www.seacoasttech.com/animal-plant-science.
Apr 24, 2019 | Apprenticeships, Leadership
On Monday, May 13, dozens of educators and industry leaders are expected at Business Roundtable: Apprenticeship as a Workforce Solution, hosted by Apprenticeship NH and NHTI, Concord’s Community College.
According to Amie L. Pariseau of the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association, the apprenticeship model is important in NH.
“Apprenticeships can assist employers who are struggling with workforce shortages by connecting them to students who are currently enrolled in Career & Technical Education or Community College programs,” she said. “Employees can also choose a current employee who shows potential that they want to foster growth in.”
Apprenticeship can also serve as a recruitment and retention tool.
“It’s a way for businesses to ensure they have a continuous pipeline of employees with the specific skills and training needed for the industry,” she added.
Al Lawrence, founder of Artisan Electric in Madbury, NH agrees and said the apprenticeship model also “does something a traditional education cannot do.”
“I’ll pay you to learn,” said Lawrence, who said he offers a paid four-year apprenticeship at his company.
His belief in and support of the apprenticeship model results from his appreciation for the outcomes it tends to generate within those who complete it.
“It is more than technical proficiency and skills — and, of course, that is important,” he said. “In the apprenticeship model, you are putting someone to work in the field to learn and experience it. In our program, we focus on developing skills like leadership, problem solving, communication and how to be a good team member.”
Such skills, said Lawrence, are generally lacking in today’s incoming workforce.
“Honestly, a lot of business owners like me are approached by people looking for a job, and the first thing they want to know is what is in it for them,” he said. “As an apprentice, I try to re-frame that and teach the person the skills we need them to have in this industry. They need to deliver value to the company.”
At Business Roundtable: Apprenticeship as a Workforce Solution, Pariseau said the goal of the event is to break down the structure of apprenticeship and discuss five key components: business involvement, structured on-the-job training, classroom instruction, rewards for skill gains and national credential.
“We hope to find employers to engage in the conversation about making apprenticeship part of their strategy to tackle their workforce challenges,” she said.
ApprenticeshipNH is a US DOL grant-funded program housed at the Community College System of NH that helps employers in high-demand industries build registered apprenticeship programs.
“They’ve been hosting roundtable discussions across the state in hospitality and other sectors as well, such as manufacturing and healthcare,” she said.
According to Lawrence, such discussions, while useful, just scratch the surface of a comprehensive solution.
“The larger question many of us face–whether it is the hospitality industry or the trades–is how do we attract young people?” he said. “How do we get kids excited about these industries, because many of us are struggling to handle the work we have now, and New Hampshire has a workforce that continues to age.”
To RSVP for Business Roundtable: Apprenticeship as a Workforce Solution, email apprenticeshipusanh@ccsnh.edu, or call 603.230.3526.
Apr 16, 2019 | Impact, Students
Students on the right “career path” in CTE
While Career and Technical Education (CTE) has garnered more attention in recent years, much is still misunderstood about it.
“CTE is not a lower level of education,” said Samara Holmes, current student at Seacoast School of Technology (SST). “Technical schools and entering ‘the trades’ have a bad reputation that shouldn’t be looked down upon.”
According to Holmes, SST has provided her and other students with the ability to earn college credit, and practice the real world application of learned skills.
“These are opportunities that wouldn’t be given to any other regular high schooler,” she added.
Fellow SST student McKayla Hartman agrees and cited several examples, one of which includes taking the Autodesk Inventor Certification Test in May, which she said will give her “a head-start to achieving [her] career goals.”
A current sophomore at Newmarket High School and in her second year of SST’s Pre-Engineering program, Hartman already has her sights set high. For her, the sky may not even be the limit.
“My main interest is exploring a career as a flight engineer and eventually working for NASA in the aerospace department,” she said. “I hope to maybe even become an astronaut and explore extraterrestrial life on other planets.”
She cited her enrollment in SST’s Pre-Engineering program as an important step toward that goal.
“I have been able to explore multiple engineering disciplines and discover my love and dedication to aerospace engineering,” she said. “I have been introduced to people who have similar aspirations as me, which have, in turn, allowed me to form many wonderful friendships, too.”
Holmes, a junior at Exeter High School who is currently in SST’s Computer Science program after finishing the Pre-Engineering course last year, cited a similar experience.
“SST helped me discover what career path I should follow,” she said.
Noting she has always been interested in “computing and creating,” Holmes acknowledged she was not sure if such interests could necessarily translate into a career.
“When I entered the engineering program freshman year, I was able to learn more about the types of engineering fields I could enter,” she said. “It helped me narrow down what I wanted to do.”
Hartman and Holmes not only share similar interests, they had the chance to work together this year on a project that garnered several accolades.
At the New Hampshire Science and Engineering Exposition on March 21, the students earned the Yale Science and Engineering Award and a $2,000 scholarship each to the New Hampshire Academy of Science.
For their teacher Vaso Partinoudi, the recognition was well-deserved given that the project focused on 4D printing and the fourth dimension, which refers to transformation over time or through a change in conditions.
“As soon as I looked at the poster Samara and McKayla created for this project, I knew they were going to place [at the exposition] – it was college level,” she said. “No one has heard of 4D printing, which is also how I knew they’d place. The judges were looking for the unexpected.”
As for the specifics, the project entailed submerging a 3D printed object into hot water to see if it would transform into another shape without human intervention. Hartman and Holmes also looked at how layering different materials on top of one other would be affected by the hot water.
The method for altering these structures can have real-world applications in the fields of engineering, robotics, medical, aerospace and others.
“We’re proud of the work we did,” Hartman said. “When we learned we got the special award from Yale, we started jumping up and down.”
“It’s pretty cool because we didn’t really expect that we’d win,” added Holmes.
On March 30, Holmes and Hartman secured additional recognition, as they both received awards in the Aspirations in Computing ceremony from the National Center for Women in Technology.
Expressing excitement at the recognition both students have received in recent weeks, Partinoudi said the real takeaway is how CTE helps inspire students to broaden their horizons.
“Winning the awards was the icing on the cake,” she said.
Accolades aside, Holmes said she is excited for her future and said her ability to direct herself is a skill she directly attributes to her CTE experience.
“Being able to know what you need to do, what you want to do, and combining those to achieve those goals is a skill that I will use in any aspect of my life,” she said. “High school has definitely been where I have achieved most of my goals because of self direction. I would not be as independent and prepared for life as I am right now without SST.”
