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 | [email protected] 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 <[email protected]> … 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

Colleagues, We are excited to share this example of a partnership between two high schools, Whittier Tech in Haverhill, and Lahainaluna High School in Hawaii. In fact, it is the oldest school west of the Rocky Mountains! A very interesting and unique effort showing the compassion and concern of the Whittier Tech school and its … Read more

Registration Opening April 8th 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: 3-28-24 Subject: OSHA Course Registration Upcoming Classes: Registration Opening April 8th! Visit: https://mava.us/ OSHA … Read more

Colleagues, We are proud to announce that a Massachusetts vocational technical athletic director has received Statewide recognition! Old Colony Athletic Director Matt Trahan was named the recipient of the Sherman A. Kinney Award from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association! The award, which honors the late Sherman A. Kinney, is given each year to an individual … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, We are excited to share wonderful news that a Chapter 74 vocational technical principal was the recipient of a prestigious Statewide recognition!! Andrew D. Rebello, Assistant Superintendent-Principal, at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River, was honored as the 2024 MSAA High School Principal of the … Read more

Colleagues, We are pleased to share wonderful news from Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham. Recently Adrienne Bogusky, Director of Guidance and Admissions, shared a video piece produced and broadcast on local Framingham Access called ‘The Next Generation of Tradesmen and Women”. It is exceptionally well done and I encourage you to watch and then … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, One of the strengths of Chapter 74 vocational technical and agricultural education is the ability to form collaborations and partnerships with business and industry as well as the schools’ member communities. Part of the reason for this success is the local control and independence of each school to … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, Ten years ago, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program was expanded to include CTE students specifically. Presidential Scholars in CTE are selected for their “outstanding scholarship and demonstrated ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.” Nominees are selected from each state in the country based on their … Read more

MAVA Colleagues, An important message from the 2024 MAVA Connecting for Success Conference Team! Please share this with your entire staff!! Remember CFS is on “Social Media”! David Attention educators! 🌟 Just TWO WEEKS left to showcase your best-practice or hot new tricks at the annual Connecting for Success conference! The CFS Team is eagerly … Read more

MAVA Collogues, Exciting news from MAVA member Taconic High School in Pittsfield. We thank Tammy Gage, Assistant Superintendent for College and Career Readiness, for sharing this with us. David These Taconic students are the lightning that comes before the ‘Thunder Report’ By Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle & STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE <![if … Read more

Colleagues, We are always excited to share activities that have proven successful in one or more of our MAVA schools. Today we are pleased to share a very successful advocacy building event from our colleagues at Southeastern Regional. You will find more information below and some photos. David Southeastern Regional Hosts Legislative Breakfast March 15, … Read more

Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education, <![if !vml]><![endif]>We are pleased to share three students at Nashoba Valley Technical High School sat on a student panel run by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education about the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy award recognizes students who have achieved proficiency in … Read more