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Introduction from Martha Perez
(October 29, 2007)
Dear Directors,
My name is Martha Perez and I am honored to be collaborating with you in the Career and Technical Education enterprise. As you know, this is an exciting moment for Tech Prep because a new focus on these programs is in the horizon.
Times of change have come with Perkins IV. This brings a great opportunity to further promote excellence in a field that already has done so much for education. Each one of you will leave a legacy behind; an evolutionary legacy for Career and Technical education. Leading change is already a part of your role. You have been the leaders in your communities for some time and your work is an essential part of the future.
Tech Prep programs have fostered the creativity of teachers and learners. Supported and encouraged by Perkins IV, Tech Prep leaders will be the forerunners of the transformation of educational processes—our educational system has long been waiting for this.
Tech Prep programs came into being to help students who were not reached by a traditional educational system. As we speak, teams of educators across the nation and our state are setting forth the Career Pathways initiative. Tech Prep leadership will be a forerunner in the creation of “programs of study” and support statewide secondary/post-secondary alignment to become a concrete reality. Your contribution will be essential.
Collaboration and coordination will be an integral part to successfully align secondary/ post-secondary partnerships and community and business interests. This has been the realm of expertise of Career and Technical Education practitioners for quite some time. The integrative vision of Tech Prep will inform the next steps for education to become alive, relevant and real for students. Integration of academic and career knowledge is the path to student’s success.
This expertise is our edge and our pathway (no pun intended!) to serve students in their acquisition of life-long learning skills. All students will reap the benefits of an integrated, relevant, rigorous curriculum in programs of study with seamless transitions—an intelligent system designed to be open and flexible allowing for multiple entries and exits.
I hope you are as excited as I am to be part of this process. I look forward with great excitement to see what unfolds from the seeds planted today.
Looking forward to working with you,
Martha Perez
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