When they have Autonomy Over Aspects of their Education They will rise to Extraordinary Levels !!!!!

Colleagues, “When they have autonomy over aspects of their education they will rise to extraordinary levels.” Nothing more need be said… David <![if !vml]><![endif]> Holly McClanan, Superintendent…Southeastern Regional Voc-Tech. Cybersecurity & Networking seniors welcome Patrick Tutwiler, PhD as the inaugural guest on their Hawk Talk podcast. hashtag#SoutheasternShines hashtag#CTE hashtag#PowerSkills <![if !vml]><![endif]> Thanks to Dr. Patrick … Read more

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR KRISTEN MAGAS HEADS TO NASA FOR HERA MISSION!

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Engineering Instructor Kristen Magas heads to NASA for HERA Mission! On Friday, October 11, 2024 Tri-County held a "Send-Off" for Engineering Instructor Kristen Magas! Mrs. Magas is part of a NASA crew that will be performing a 45-day mission at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in The Human Exploration Research … Read more

Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Names New Administration Team

MAVA Members, We are pleased to extend this good news and congratulations on recent administrative appointments at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River. David Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Names New Administration Team A New Principal and Director of Guidance Join Diman FALL RIVER—On Monday, October 21, 2024, Diman Regional Vocational … Read more

HVAC training facility is a perfect example of the public/private partnership in the Commonwealth.

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are excited to share this wonderful news as Secretary Tutwiler visited McCann Technical High School in North Adams to celebrate its new HVAC lab that was supported by a $3.1 million Skills Capital equipment grant. In addition to the HVAC lab, the Secretary toured the advance manufacturing, … Read more

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $17 Million for Career and Technical Education Equipment Improvements

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are excited to share this wonderful news as the Healey-Driscoll Administration awarded more than $17 million in Skills Capital Lab Modernization Grants to 18 MAVA Chapter 74 vocational technical schools across Massachusetts!! This funding will be used to purchase and install equipment related to high demand industries … Read more

A terrific example of collaboration between a MAVA comprehensive Chapter 74 vocational technical school and an agency to provide free dental care!

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are pleased to share this terrific example of collaboration between a MAVA comprehensive Chapter 74 vocational technical school and an agency to provide free dental care. Attleboro High School and their Dental Assistant students are commended for providing this cost-free service. For further information contact Jeremy Guay, … Read more

A Chapter 74 vocational and agricultural high school in Northampton held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new companion animal building

Great news to share with you from Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School. We thank Leslie Skantz-Hodgson, Librarian & Humanities Department Head for assisting us in sharing this piece. David <![if !vml]><![endif]>Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education We are pleased to share some exciting news from Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School in Northampton. … Read more

MAVA Schools Awarded Nearly $1.7 Million in Grants to Advance CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, Six (6) MAVA Chapter 74 vocational technical schools were recipients of a total of $1,674,984.60 to Support Training and Job Opportunities in the Clean Energy and Climatetech Sector. The schools and grants are listed below. David $16 Million in Grants to Advance Clean Energy Workforce Development Investment to … Read more

SAVE THE DATE –An important message from the 2025 MAVA Connecting for Success Conference Team!– Contest for 2025 Conference Graphic!!!

Connecting for Success Conference SAVE THE DATE: June 23-27, 2025 Connecting for Success is the premier professional development conference for vocational, technical, and agricultural educators in Massachusetts. This year’s conference will be June 23-26, 2025, at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough. This includes the pre-conference on June 23-24 and the main conference … Read more

Today’s Front-Page Article in The Boston Globe on Expanding Vocational Education in Massachusetts

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, This morning our Executive Director shared this terrific message: The “Boston Globe” today published a front-page article titled: “Something to build upon: Increasingly popular vocational schools look to the state for help to grow.” The piece, written by Christopher Huffaker, highlights the growing popularity of voc-tech education and … Read more

Bristol-Plymouth Tech Student Wins Lights On Festival Logo Contest

Oct Colleagues, We are always excited to share good news when a Chapter 74 vocational technical student uses their skills to win a contest. A Bristol-Plymouth junior captured the City of Taunton Lights On Festival Logo Contest. MAVA extends its congratulations to Jake Aumock and wishes him continued success. David Bristol-Plymouth Tech Student Wins Lights … Read more

This Official Announcement Marks an Era of Consummate Statewide and National Leadership

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, Although we were all aware….this official announcement marks an era of consummate statewide and national leadership…. Best wishes and thank you Mike from all of us. David Blackstone Valley Tech needs a superintendent for the first time in 31 years. Tom Benoit The Milford Daily News UPTON — … Read more

23 September, 2024 09:40

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, Let me begin with an apology. Ray Budd, now a junior studying arboriculture at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, wrote this amazing piece last Spring. It was published in a national trade magazine but unfortunately I failed to share it when it was first published in … Read more

Massachusetts SkillsUSA State Officers heading to the Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C.

MAVA Leaders … We just received this wonderful picture from Karen Ward, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Massachusetts. It shows our SkillsUSA state officers heading to the Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C. As we have in past years, MAVA is helping to fund the trip. Karen and the officers are very appreciative. At some point, … Read more

Greater Lowell Technical High School Expands Free Early College Partnership with UMass Lowell

Colleagues, Good news to share from Greater Lowell Technical High School as it is expanding its Early College partnership with UMass Lowell (UML) through the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy (CCA). Superintendent-Director Jill Davis praised the partnership, stating, “This initiative perfectly aligns with our mission of providing a 2-in-1 education, paving the way for career and college … Read more

What a survey shows about Gen Z students, their outlook for the future, and how engaged they are at school

MAVA Colleagues, No surprises in this recent survey. Students need to be engaged in their learning . Interesting comments are highlighted. David Do Students Think What They’re Learning Matters? What a new survey shows about Gen Z students, their outlook for the future, and how engaged they are at school <![if !vml]><![endif]> By Caitlynn Peetz … Read more

Shawsheen Valley Technical High School Celebrates Historic Success at SkillsUSA National Conference

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, Students from Shawsheen Valley Technical High School returned from the SkillsUSA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, with exceptional accomplishments, marking a historic milestone for both the school and the state of Massachusetts. Senior Cole Kelley made history by securing his third consecutive gold medal in the HVACR competition, … Read more

A Chapter 74 vocational technical school respond to the growing demand for skilled professionals in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Municipal Water Treatment

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are pleased to share this exciting partnership developed by a Chapter 74 vocational technical school’s Adult Education Program. These collaborations, at Shawsheen Valley Tech in Billerica, respond to the growing demand for skilled professionals and designed to address workforce shortages in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Municipal … Read more

Exciting Announcement: SkillsUSA Massachusetts’ First Annual Report

Friends of Vocational Technical Education, It is our sincere pleasure to share a message from Karen Ward, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Massachusetts. We are proud to share an incredible announcement, “the release of our inaugural annual report, a significant milestone for our organization! This report aims to highlight our achievements over the past year, celebrate … Read more

What policies are needed for CTE to work?

MAVA Colleagues, This morning, I had the pleasure to watch the panel session from Harvard’s Emerging School Models entitled “What policies are needed for CTE to work?” The panel included Shaun Dougherty (Boston College), Mikko Silliman (Aalto University, Finland), & Jamie Gass (Pioneer Institute). It was very well done, and Jamie Gass was outstanding in … Read more

Time to Enroll in Leadership Academy ONE

Time to Enroll in Leadership Academy ONE Colleagues, The future is now!!! We are most excited to announce that now is the time to enroll your future leaders in Leadership Academy ONE. This Academy is an intensive course that encompasses all aspects of leadership and organizational behavior within CTE. Academy Coordinator Kathy Conole will again … Read more

What policies are needed for CTE to work?

MAVA Colleagues, We are pleased to share this information concerning a conference this week at the Harvard University Kennedy School. It certainly is not common for CTE to be discussed at a Harvard conference, but it will be on Friday morning. The two-day conference, which is completed sold out, is entitled “Emerging School Models”. Our … Read more

Tyngsborough Police and Fire Departments partnered with Greater Lowell Tech

Colleagues, It is common for Chapter 74 vocational technical & agricultural schools to open their doors in service to their communities. We are pleased to share wonderful news from Greater Lowell Technical High School. Police Chief Richard Howe, Fire Chief Wes Russell, and Superintendent Jill Davis report that the Tyngsborough Police and Fire Departments partnered … Read more

“Everyone wants to go to Putnam.”

Colleagues, Some interesting facts were included on this piece on school choice. “Currently, three high schools, Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Central High School and Duggan Academy are the most popular, and both Putnam and Duggan have a wait list this year.” “But it still worries School Committee members, especially since there are not … Read more

Mentoring the Next Generation of Tradesperson

Colleagues, Most interesting Cooperative Education experience for a Blackstone Valley Tech Senior! David Mentoring the Next Generation of Tradesperson Sound the Alarm! August 7, 2024 There is an alluring to a fire. It’s cozy, warm, and inviting on a cool fall evening. But a fire can occur unexpectedly and escalate rapidly. When it does, a … Read more