Community Collaborative
The Career and Technical Education Community Collaborative Project (CTE CCP/SB70)-(The Governor's initiative on improving and strengthening CTE, at both the community college and secondary level, was successfully carried through this bill) funded through the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office focuses on four main goals:
- Outreach to middle schools providing career information for middle school students and the opportunity to participate and learn about the college programs and the college experience.
- Expand and enhance career pathways from middle school to high school and to college.
- Provide professional development activities for the collaborative partners.
- Develop an externship program component.
2010-2011 Highlights
Middle School Outreach and Career Exploration - Canvassed area middle schools to assess interest in career awareness programming. Maclay Middle school expressed interest. Delivered 300 it's up 2 u career awareness curriculum booklets, which include information on industry sectors and career pathways available in high schools and colleges, to Maclay Middle school. 7th and 8th graders will be using in it in their 30 minute Intervention and Enrichment periods during fall 2011.
- The Externship Project - The Los Angeles Mission College Career Technical Education Community Collaborative Project completed the Fall 2010 Externships. Eight (8) participants completed their externships by turning in all required paperwork, including a 3 page summary and a 5 to 10 minute presentation of their externship experience on Friday, December 17th, 2010. The goal of the externships is to bring insight and understanding from the world of business into the classroom. The Fall 2010 Externships were conducted in a business/company under the Energy & Utilities Industry Sector.
- Enhancing Career Pathways - The 7th Annual Crossfade Video and Animation Festival, which showcased projects done by high school and college students, was held on December 11, 2010. Several companies in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment Industry Sector were present to discuss careers in the film industry. The discussion touched on what possible courses/classes to take in middle school and high school that articulate to college. Some of the companies also brought high-end filming and lighting equipment to the event to give the students hands-on experience.
- Two Lectures and Site Visits in the Energy and Utilities Industry Sector - These activities meet the professional development goals for the project and are tentatively planned for the Spring 11 semester.
Community Collaborative staff attended a representative tour of the facilities of the Los Angeles Department of Water (LADWP) Valley Generating Station (VGS) and Truesdale Power Line Training Center (TPLTC) on January 21, 2011. This meeting included discussions for a future event involving local high school faculty & counselors and LAMC faculty and administrators to provide a borader understanding of the business aspects of the energy and utilities fileds. These site visits at company locations would further enhance learning and broaden access to information on the emerging energy and utility trends. Several topics were covered including sustainable business practices provided by the on-site environmental coordinator, essential skills and qualifications for the various careers available at the site and the importance of academics relating to practical work in the field.
On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, three teachers from local high schools and one ROP representative along with LAMC Community Collaborative staff attended a site visit/tour of the VGS. Station representatives customized their presentation to focus on LADWP VGS career pathways especially as it related to high school students. The site visit/tour included an information exhcange forum that featured station employees speaking about their personal journey through school and into the career pathway that they have chosen. This was also a good networking opportunity for the school representatives that attended for their respective institutions.
On Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 40 chemistry students from the "green" cohort class from San Fernando High School were treated to a site visit/tour to the LADWP TPLTC in Sun Valley, CA where they observed the mechanical and operational processes for both overhead and underground applications. The students observed through various demonstration and active training programs the skills needed to safely perform the duties of an overhead or underground technician. Site representatives spoke about the educational background necessary to qualify for various departmental jobs. This site visit/tour also offered an opportunity for the department to present on equipment and best practice methods in the Energy & Utilities Industry Sector. The two teachers that accompanied the students were also able to understand and learn more about business operations of this field, which they could bring back to the classroom.
