Friends of vocational technical & agricultural education,
We are excited to share the outstanding news that Dr. Sheila Harrity is the featured guest on the latest “Learning Curve Podcast” from our friends at the Pioneer Institute. You may view this at your convenience through the link https://pioneerinstitute.org/podcasts/learning-curve/ . ( Note: Dr. Harrity’s portion of the podcast begins at the 12:00 minute mark.)
Sheila, thank you and Pioneer Institute for sharing this most interesting and informative podcast.
David
Dr. Sheila Harrity on Worcester Tech & MA’s Urban Voc-Tech Schools
April 23, 2025by Editorial Staff
In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Sheila Harrity, former Worcester Tech principal and nationally recognized vocational-technical education leader. Dr. Harrity shares insights from her distinguished career in voc-tech schooling. She discusses how Massachusetts voc-tech schools leveraged provisions of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act to achieve academic and occupational excellence, built strong partnerships with industry and higher ed, and dramatically reduced dropout rates. Dr. Harrity reflects on Worcester Tech’s national acclaim, VIP visits from President Barack Obama and the late former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, and school reform policy challenges, while offering three key strategies to strengthen urban voc-techs nationwide.
Guest:
Dr. Sheila Harrity is the Extended Campus Program Coordinator for the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators. From 2014-2022, she was superintendent of the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District, and from 2015-2022 served as vice chair of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. In 2006, Dr. Harrity became principal of the new Worcester Technical High School, a $90 million building that included a bank, spa, bakery, veterinary clinic, restaurant, graphics shop, and automotive garage. Worcester Tech was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, establishing it as one of the 286 best public and private schools in the country, and she was named 2013 Massachusetts Principal of the Year. In 2014, Dr. Harrity was named the National High School Principal of the Year and honored at a White House reception. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and former U.S. Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell were all featured graduation speakers at Worcester Tech. In 1997, she was named the Worcester Public Schools Teacher of the Year and taught mathematics, career exploration, and basketball. Sheila earned an undergraduate degree from Providence College in social work, while playing college basketball and during her junior year the team finished first in the Big East and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. She earned two master’s degrees in education from Worcester State University and received a doctorate in educational leadership from Northeastern University.
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira