Colleagues, I am certain you are all very familiar with the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) as it relates to our retirement from MTRS in Massachusetts. It has had negative effects on workers who originally did pay into social security and then switched over to a public pension fund here and in approximately 14 … Read more

Good Morning Dave and Steve, Can you share this with the MAVA group. We have the Bruins items being auctioned off tonight and I know we have some huge Bruins fans out in MAVA land. I included a video from the Bruins as well below. Contact Jim with any questions. (617)629-5250 X 610401) Somerville High … Read more

Colleagues, At the request of our Executive Director, we are forwarding this important information concerning Regional Licensure Assistance Centers to Support the Educator Workforce. Please share with appropriate members of your professional staff. Have a positive Tuesday! David A message from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education April 30, 2024 View this email … Read more

MAVA Colleagues, At the request of Jeff Cathcart, we are pleased to forward the attached flyer which provides a great deal of information on a paid professional development & educational opportunity!! Please consider sharing this summer paid employment opportunity with appropriate members of your staff. Questions, please contact Jeff Cathcart, Director Pre-Apprenticeship and Vocational School … Read more

Assabet Valley Regional Automotive Technology Program Receives Donation of 2024 Ford Mustang GT Media Contact: Camryn Langille — John Guilfoil Public Relations Assabet’s Automotive Technology and Collision Repair program received a donation of a 2024 Ford Mustang, courtesy of Acton Ford. Superintendent-Director Ernest F. Houle is delighted to share that Assabet’s Automotive Technology and Collision … Read more

MAVA Colleagues, Let me begin, by introducing a terrific graphic that you will be seeing on some of the emails you receive from yours truly. I wish I could say that I was that artistically talented but that I am certainly not! Thanks goes to our colleague Shelly Zayas, District – Wide Director of Chapter … Read more

Colleagues, We are pleased to share the great news that a student from Southeastern Regional will sit on a State Council. Jateja Spriggs has been selected to serve on Governor Maura Healey’s Youth Advisory Council. A Brockton native, Jateja is a senior in the Legal and Protective Services Program at Southeastern. She plans to receive … Read more

Colleagues, A team of Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School Advanced Manufacturing students are the first school in the NASA HUNCH program to make parts for NASA that will leave the International Space Station and go into orbit to assist with experiments in outer space. collaborating on a project. The students are part of HUNCH … Read more

Colleagues, Exciting opportunity for one of our deserving technical programs/instructors. I hope many of you will consider applying for this award. Best Regards, Brian D. Cummings MassCTE Executive Director Worcester Technical High School 1 Officer Manny Familia Way Worcester, MA 01605 Phone: (508) 751-7526 Cell: (508)688-7147 MassCTE Email: bcummings *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* TWO WEEKS LEFT! We are … Read more

MAVA Colleagues, We are very pleased to share this wonderful news from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School!! A Federal grant will provide funding for expanding existing infrastructure and facilities at its Danvers campus. In addition, It will also provide space for Company2Heroes, a non-profit service dog training organization specializing in dogs working with … Read more

Registration Open!!!!! Colleagues, We are most pleased to share this email from Mario Sousa MAVA’s OSHA/Safety Coordinator. Please share this with all of your vocational technical & agricultural instructors!!! David To: All CTE Educators From: MAVA Safety Office Date: 4-20-24 Subject: OSHA Course Registration Upcoming Classes: Registration Open! Visit: https://mava.us/ OSHA 502 Construction Standards Update … Read more

SkillsUSA Week in Massachusetts 50TH ANNUAL STATE LEADERSHIP & SKILLS CONFERENCE APRIL 25-27, 2024 Friends of Vocational Technical Education, Across the Commonwealth this week Chapter 74, students and staff will be celebrating SkillsUSA Week!! This incredible support for our student is led by Executive Director, Karen E. Ward of SkillsUSA Massachusetts. An incomparable leader, motivator, … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, In the event you did not see this in the Boston Globe today, I am quite certain that you will find it of interest. I have highlighted some of the most interesting points. This has numerous implications, in my opinion, in a number of ways. For example: Potential … Read more

To MAVA Membership Please see information below regarding a paid educator externship opportunity with AGC MA. We are excited that this outstanding opportunity is available again in 2024! Applicants may include high school educators, school counselors, co-operative education coordinators, principals, superintendents, and administrators. AGC MA strongly encourages women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals to … Read more

Colleagues, We are pleased to share this exciting project at a Chapter 74 vocational technical school. The Greater Lowell Tech Plumbing and Painting and Design Students shared their skills to help the city. Another example of the cooperation between a vocational technical school and a community, which happens “everyday” across our Commonwealth! David Greater Lowell … Read more

Colleagues, We are proud to announce the results of the 16th annual Massachusetts ProStart Student Invitational. Nearly 100 culinary students from 11 high schools participated in the competition! Cambridge Rindge School of Technical Arts won the culinary competition, with Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School of Rochester taking the management event. Those two schools … Read more

Colleagues, We are proud to announce that a Massachusetts Chapter 74 vocational technical school librarian has received Statewide recognition! Shawsheen Valley Tech librarian, Katie McGinness was honored with President’s Award by the Massachusetts School Library Association. Katie’s creative initiatives and dedication to modernizing the library’s physical collection have transformed the library at Shawsheen Valley Technical … Read more

Colleagues, Please see the article below about the recent event held at Attleboro High School (a MAVA member school) in collaboration with AET Labs and Kaestle and Boos Associates. The event was truly a professional development success. To help prepare students for the upcoming Skills USA mechatronics competition, AET Labs hosted the "Festo MecLab Team … Read more

Colleagues, We are always excited to share activities that have proven successful in one or more of our MAVA schools. Work has begun to replace a deteriorated building with a new, permanently affordable family home. Chapter 74 students utilizing the skills they have obtained to build much needed affordable housing. Today we are pleased to … Read more

Interim principal named as permanent leader at Westfield Technical Academy Published: Apr. 11, 2024, 2:46 a.m.<![if !vml]><![endif]> Bruce Hastings has accepted the position of principal of the Westfield Technical Academy after serving as interim for 8 months. Westfield News By Amy Porter | The Westfield News | aporter@thereminder.com WESTFIELD — Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced to … Read more

Colleagues, We are pleased to share this exciting collaboration between three of a Chapter 74 vocational technical school’s departments and the Lowell Fire Department. The students of Greater Lowell Tech sharing their skills to help the city. Another example of the cooperation between a vocational technical school and a community, which happens “everyday” across our … Read more

MAVA Colleagues, An important message from the 2024 MAVA Connecting for Success Conference Team! Please share this with your entire staff!! David Renowned Gen-Z Leader and Author Miracle Olatunji to Headline 2024 Connecting for Success Conference The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) proudly announces Miracle Olatunji as the keynote speaker for the highly anticipated … Read more

Brian, This is awesome!!!! Noticed the last line said: “Still Need to Register for the 91st Annual MassCTE Conference, Leadership and Awards Banquet? Don’t miss it! Go here and get signed up ASAP!” Is it ok if I share this out or is it too late. Thanks, David David J Ferreira From: Cummings, Brian <cummingsb@worcesterschools.net> … Read more

Very nice to see Technical Education Concepts promoting this at our event. Join us 3pm in Patriot 2 First Showing at the MassCTE Conference this Saturday, April 6th: Body Interact – a Virtual Patient Simulator for HS and CTE Programs! Body Interact offers CTE educators an opportunity to expose students to life-like virtual patient scenarios, … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are excited to share this piece from the Wall Street Journal, “How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation.” It was initially brought to my attention by Upper Cape Tech Superintendent Roger Forget. (https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/gen-z-trades-jobs-plumbing-welding-a76b5e43?mod=hp_lead_pos7) David “How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation” <![if !vml]><![endif]> America needs … Read more