Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education,
We are most pleased to announce that representatives of one of the states of Brazil, Estado Do Piaul, will be visiting nationally recognized Worcester Technical High School on Tuesday, August 15, 2023
As part of their mission to revamp their high schools into vocational/technical and or career-oriented schools, the state of Piaui Brazil is having their Governor, Secretary of Education, and a few other members to tour the United States. They have chosen Massachusetts to be one of their stops.
Some of their goals include:
– how statewide expectations and programming are established
– how the schools are set up (including a tour of Worcester Tech)
– how to establish relationships with the state as well as individual institutions for opportunities for their state, students, & schools moving forward.
MAVA has been invited to the table, for that discussion would offer a broad statewide view of how Massachusetts programs operate and may be able to help provide more opportunities for students across Estado Do Piaul.
Other include:
Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education of Massachusetts
Rachel Monárrez, Superintendent of Schools for Worcester Public Schools
Sue Mailman, CEO of Coghlin Electric and Worcester Public Schools School Committee
Tim Murray, President and CEO of Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Worcester Technical High School General Advisory Board
The full tentative agenda is included below:
Worcester Worcester Technical High School
Public Schools 1 Officer Manny Familia Way, Worcester, MA 01605 (508)799-1940 www.techhigh.us
Drew Weymouth Michelle Phenix Brian Potter Kim Smaltz
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Patricia Suomala, Ed.D Stephanie Stockwell Edward Walker
Director Career and Technical Education Assistant Principal Dean of Students
Worcester Public Schools welcomes the Government of Piauí, Brazil to discuss technical education in Massachusetts and at Worcester Technical High School as well as establish a lasting relationship with the government and schools in the state of Piauí.
Address: 1 Officer Manny Familia Wy, Worcester, MA 01605
When you enter the driveway, there is a parking lot that is the first right turn once you enter. Park there and then enter through the main entrance ahead of them. Principal Drew Weymouth will meet Governor Fonteles’ group in the lobby.
Timeline and agenda:
10:30 – 10:45 Greetings, introductions, and opening remarks of the Massachusetts and Piauí teams.
Massachusetts Participants:
Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education of Massachusetts
Rachel Monárrez, Superintendent of Schools for Worcester Public Schools
Sue Mailman, CEO of Coghlin Electric and Worcester Public Schools School Committee
Tim Murray, President and CEO of Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Worcester Technical High School General Advisory Board
Steven Sharek, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
David Ferreira, former Executive Director and current Communications Coordinator of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
Drew Weymouth, Principal of Worcester Technical High School
Patricia Suomala, Director of Technical Education at Worcester Technical High School
Ruth Seward, Director of Night Life Adult Education for Worcester Public Schools
Ricardo Torres, Focused Instructional Coach at Worcester Technical High School
Piauí participants:
Rafael T. Fonteles, Governor of the State of Piauí
F. Washington Bandeira, Secretary of State of Education of Piauí
Victor Hugo de Almeida, President of the Agency for Attraction of Strategic Investment in Piaui – Investe Piauí
Álvaro L. Carneiro, Special Advisor to the Governor
Christian R. Paz, Director of Innovation at Investe Piauí
Ellen G. Moura, Senior Systems Analyst in the State Government
Ada N. Ferraz, Journalist
Captain Marcus, Governor’s Aide-de-camp and Security
Vinicius Nascimento, State Representative of Piaui
Priscila Nascimento, Administrative Director at Investe Piauí
10:45 – 11:00 Video and/or slides on Piauí, presented by Governor Rafael Fonteles and Mr. Victor Hugo de Almeida
11:00 – 11:55
- Worcester Tech
- Number of students, faculty, size of area and population served, annual budget
- Approximate proportion of population served that is Hispanic/Brazilian
- Overview of trades/degrees
- Number of students or graduates per trade/degree or Academy
- Partnerships with local business – internships, job fairs, etc.
- Student and faculty exchange with France and other countries
- General Advisory Board – Cooperation with local businesses and workforce.
- Partnerships with local businesses – internships, job fairs, etc.
- Cooperation between vocational schools and the Chamber of Commerce?
- Worcester Public Schools
- Worcester demographics, approximate proportion of population that is Hispanic/Brazilian?
- Split and profile of student population between technical/vocational and traditional high schools?
- Worcester priorities/goals: does technical/vocational schools and traditional high schools compete for the same resources/funding? If so, how are resources allocated?
- Massachusetts Secretary of Education
- Strategy for vocational/technical schools: prioritization of areas/degrees, including preparation of workforce for renewable energy and healthcare?
- How vocational/technical education complements the higher education system: target population and areas?
- Funding: in what proportion is the vocational/technical education system in MA funded by the state, districts, and private sources? If the latter, are there partnerships with companies?
- MAVA – Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
- What is the purpose and priorities of the association?
- How is MAVA organized?
- How is MAVA funded?
- What are the main projects and/or activities that MAVA undertakes? Does this scope change every year? How does MAVA coordinate with its member schools ?
- Strategy for vocational/technical schools: How do MAVA schools decide which career/technical programs to offer? How are private companies involved in this process? How is the state involved?
11:55 – 12:00 Signature of Memorandum of Understanding
12:00 – 12:30 Tour of Worcester Tech with current students: Ana Clara Orozimbo, Antonio Sousa Carvalho, Alyssa Spencer, Isabella Marufuji, Leeangelis Moreno
- Allied Health and Human Services
- Allied Health
- Animal Science
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Coghlin Construction Technology
- Electrical
- HVAC/R
- Information Technology & Business Services
- ISS&N
- Programming and Web Development
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira
