New Lesson Plan Library Launched ACTE has just completed building a unique online Lesson Plan Library where career and technical educators can share their favorite lesson plans with thousands of other teachers. Be a part of this great new resource and contribute a lesson plan! The Lesson Plan Library includes the ability to search by category, request new lesson plans, view a sample lesson plan and ask questions. The success of this library depends on your participation. Please drop by the ACTE Lesson Plan Library today. It’s in the Resource Center at www.acteonline.org.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

New CTEI/ACTE member Ryan Smith from Dietrich says, "Going to Summer Conference is one of the highlights of my year.  I realized that if I am going to be a professional educator, I need to support the professional organizations.  Besides, they have lots of (teaching) resources that help me do what I love to do."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DEADLINE FOR  NEW PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM IS SEPTEMBER 30 As you know, the New Professionals/First-Timers stipend program is offered each year to applicants who are members of ACTE and who have pre-registered to attend the ACTE convention. Recipients receive a $200 stipend to help offset some of their expenses to come to the convention. Many of the state associations already offer similar programs, but for those who don’t, let your members know that ACTE offers this program and encourage them to apply. Follow this link to details and the application: www.acteonline.org/ convention/conv03_ prof_prg.cfm

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hard-working IVATA and CTEI member Victor Gunter uses the best educational technology available for his ag-science students in Shoshone.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A new school year always holds the promise of exciting and positive experiences with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. I sometimes think of what I could accomplish if all I had to do as an educator was just teach, but there are other issues facing us as educators AND many of them deal with funding...will school districts support professional-development leave with a substitute, what will it cost for our students to travel to regional and state conferences, and the never-ending nightmare of what is to become of the  Perkins Act...are just a few that come to mind as I plan for the year.

CTEI and ACTE are the largest state and national membership organizations of teachers, administrators, teacher eductators, and counselors in the field of career and technical education. The more professionals like you we have, the stronger our voice is in sustaining career and technical education with the budget builders in our state and national legislatures.  Our message will carry much more weight at the state level when we stand united in the form of an organization such as CTEI. 

All of CTEI's efforts are designed to better serve you as a member by promoting opportunities for continual personal and professional development. Our legislative advocacy, partnership in the annual conference and trade show, web services, and professional-development grants are aimed at helping you be the best career and technical educator you can be...giving you that edge you can pass on to the students whose lives you influence. The $1.75 it would cost you per week to join your three most prelevant organizations as a career and technical educator (Affiliate Division, CTEI, and ACTE) does not seem like much when you break it down and put it into perspective. 

Keep the lines of communication open and active by contacting your division officers and  CTEI Board members with any concerns and/or solutions you may have to the problems you and your colleagues may be facing. Help us help you! I also encourage you to keep up with what is happening on the political side of education by contacting your state and national legislators. Let them know that every student's education should relate to career and technical skills and inform them of the purposes, needs and accomplishments of career and technical education in your field.  Tell them exactly what our graduates need in order to build successful lives in the Idaho workforce. As long as your Division, CTEI, and ACTE are in there fighting for you and your students...the future of career and technical education doesn't look quite so bleak. 

The Board was pleasantly surprised to hear about how much was saved by not using the Grove and felt the funds could be used for something else, also. With these depressed funding times, I personally would rather see a school district receive the financial benefit of hosting the conference...and I feel it helps to form a more positive and very visual partnership between PTE and local education. From an Expo point of view, I know that any increase in number of vendors because of being held in Boise would be soaked up in electrical, food, and other costs if held at the Grove. No one was adverse to coming back to CDA in 2005...they all liked the idea if it didn't conflict with a holiday. 

We discussed the points you requested and written responses were as follows (keyed from the suggestion sheets handed in at the end of the meeting):
Admin
If not too late to get out of the Grove for next year, use school if possible.
???
Explore possible options for holding conference at a different location than at the Grove. 
Would like to see the conference in June next year; try the week before 4th of July.
Expo
Vendors liked having it in the school. 
A lot of good comments about having the conference in June. Only negative was the travel on Father's Day.  IDEA--start conference on Tuesday rather than Monday.
IVATA
We enjoyed the conference this year. 
We liked the location and time of year.
June is much better than August in working around fairs for agriculture teachers. 
Rotate locations for summer conference.
ICGA
A school would be ok rather than Grove. 
CDA excellent--would be glad to come back. 
August is better to attract some from post-secondary (because of summer school in session in June) 
The June date was psychologically good for high school counselors--no early return to work in August.
ITTA
SKILLS is always the last week of June. So, this week worked. If Father's Day is one day later next year...it could work. 
The CDA location was great this year. We would like to do it again. 
School setting was good instead of Grove.
IHOEA
Enjoyed meeting in CDA and look forward to all being together again next year in Boise without going to different schools. 
People who carpooled to the conference had a hard time getting around to different sites.
TEAI
Enjoyed the new location. 
June was okay. 
Consider holding summer conference at a large high school versus the Grove (high costs).
IBEA (attendee comments):
CDA was beautiful; it was nice to get out of Boise. 
Everything seemed to be very spread out, but they enjoyed seeing the different schools. 
Best Business Program in 4 years. 
Liked having it in the schools.

• Outstanding leader in the CTEI Association
• Served as CTEI President 2001/2002
• National Board Certified Teacher
• Wisdom and leadership greatly appreciated
• Quietly works behind the scenes
• Always a gentleman
• Well spoken and thoughtful
• ACTE Region V’s Innovative Program of the Year winner 2003
• Great teacher and mentor

• Blackfoot High School 4 years as a teacher
• Does a tremendous job with the Cabinet Making ProgramHas introduced enthusiasm and vitality to a program that was just about dead
• Students are leaving the program with the skills to obtain employment in local shops and are becoming quality craftsman
• He is a positive influence with the youth of the Blackfoot Community
• He has worked in the community as a coach and advisor for many years
• He instills honor and integrity with all of the students that he has coached and taught.

• A Valuable supporting partnership
• Rarely recognized for their hard work and dedication
• Each wear numbers of hats
• Advocate for us from legislature to local schools
• Provide leadership and example
• Help us cope with continual change
• Are willing to listen and discuss the issues
• Work to assist Idaho teachers to keep up with the continual changes in education
• Quietly work behind the scenes to provide innovative inservice at summer conference
• Serve as valuable resources for teachers
• Support staff is hard working and friendly.

• She does an amazing job with at-risk students
• She simultaneously “runs” three programs – FACS, Early Childhood Professions, and IOT Careers
• She uses the Magic Valley Skills Certificate to help her students evaluate their workplace readiness.  The students present their career portfolio to a panel of business people
• The students love her 
• The District loves her
• Her students say:  "She effectively uses classroom discipline.  She goes beyond giving students extra encouragement.  She is very knowledgeable about her subject."

Thank you for your service and congratulations, Patty.

News
Pam Lambert, President

Have you checked out ACTE's web site? It offers a multitude of resources and contact information for Career and Technical educators--especially ACTE's Career Center! It  is a one-stop source for students and parents to explore careers!

• Get Career Skills! - Explore today's hot jobs and careers at websites sponsored by ACTE's Business-Education Partnership.
• Job Bank - Scan career and technical education employment opportunities and job seeker resumes.
• Career Link - A variety of career resource sites on the Internet.
• High Skill, High Wage Jobs - Examples from ACTE's book on career and technical jobs.
• FAQs - Frequently asked questions about career and technical education.

There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. Our nation, communities, churches, schools, hospitals and associations are dependent upon volunteers.  Without them, these organizations could not afford to offer many of their services.  Like all of them, ACTE moves forward by virtue of the strength and energy of dedicated and passionate members who give freely of their time and expertise.

The field of career and technical education is blessed with professionals that are involved because of a desire to make a difference.  The everyday act of helping others gain practical and employable skills and knowledge reflects this spirit of giving and reaching out.  ACTE wants to harness this energy.

There are a multitude of avenues for members to serve.  Volunteering does not mean large amounts of time, traveling long distances or expenditures of money.  Giving back to your profession can be done on the local, state, regional or national level.  Every person can choose for themselves how much and in what way they want to contribute.

Here are some suggestions for how you can volunteer and give back:

1. Serve on a committee in your State Association.  Identify the committee that best matches your interests, skills and experience. 
2. Help to plan the conference program or volunteer for a task during the program for your State Association, Division or Region.
3. Get involved in the government relations effort in your state.  Monitor legislation, communicate with your representatives and visit them in their offices.  Share the career and technical education message with these policy makers.
4. Serve on the Board for your State association or ACTE.
5. Speak at local business clubs and to PTAs about the value of career and technical education.
6. Become involved at the national ACTE level by serving on a committee or task force.  Much of the work of these groups is done via e-mail, telephone or correspondence.  Share your knowledge and experience for the betterment of the entire profession.
7. Provide input on specific issues and participate in focus groups, online surveys and brainstorming sessions.
8. Present a session during the ACTE National Convention, your Regional Conference or State Association meeting. Write an article for your State and/or ACTE magazine.
9. Serve as a mentor to a new career and technical education professional.

The best reason for volunteering, as told by those who do, is that you receive far more than you give.  I hope every ACTE member will step forward and experience the value of being a volunteer.  Please contact me at ACTE or your Idaho State Association President and let us know how we can help you receive the gift of volunteering.

• Effective Board Member Traits
• Key Attitudes for Effective Performance
• Board Member Guidelines
• Partnerships with Fellow Board members/Volunteer Leaders
• Common Understandings

IATFACS – Idaho Association of Teachers of Family & Consumer Sciences
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IBEA – Idaho Business Education Association
Debby LeBlanc, President
Report here...

ICGA – Idaho Career Guidance Association
Report here...

IHOEA – Idaho Health Occupation Educators Association
Report here...

IMEA – Idaho Marketing Education Association 
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ITTA – Industrial Trade and Technical Association
Report here...

IVATA – Idaho Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Report here...

TEAI – Technology Education Association of Idaho
Report here...

IOTA – Individualized Occupational Training Association
Report here...