Wow, what a quick week! September is slipping away—but you can’t beat this beautiful weather.
This week has been one of meetings, meetings, meetings for me. I’ve had a chance to get out and meet all the new superintendents in our career-technical planning district (CTPD). We’ve got a lot of new faces this year! (And some familiar faces in new positions.) I like to get out and meet them in their districts and give them a quick overview of Ohio Hi-Point’s programs and our relationship with their respective districts. And I look forward to giving them a tour of our facilities at my first CTPD Superintendents Meeting on September 29! One note of interest—Dr. Bobby Moore, the new Superintendent at Mechanicsburg Local Schools, is a graduate of the Precision Machining Program at Dayton Patterson High School. (I shared with him that I’m also a graduate of a career-tech program—although I think quite a few years before he was!) He clearly understands and values what career-technical programs can mean to students.
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to serve as a tour guide for the Union County Covered Bridge Festival. We went through training so that we could share information about the County’s many covered bridges with our bus-loads of tourists. It was a really fun experience and I learned so much! (I’d recommend taking the self-guided tour if you ever get the chance.) In one of my groups, there was a young man who looked to be about 10 or 11 who was absolutely fascinated with the architecture of the bridges. I asked him about his school, and in the course of our conversation and all the talk of bridges, it came up that his brother had attended Ohio Hi-Point in our Architectural Mechanical Design Program. He went on and on about the really cool bridge his brother had built for a competition, how lightweight it was, how strong it was (and why). I have to admit he pretty much lost me on the architectural details—but what wasn’t lost on me was his enthusiasm for the applied physics learning experience his brother had gotten at OHP! I told him I hoped he would be coming our way as an 11th grader—and I get the feeling he probably will be!
On Monday, I met with representatives from Honda’s Educational Outreach Program (at their request) to discuss how we can work more closely with Honda. With input from several staff members, we generated a lot of ideas for having them work with our students on employability and “soft” skills, possible internships, and of course our various advisory committees. And we also discussed several ways we might be able to help them with various projects within their vast organization. I’m looking forward to an even stronger relationship with this great corporate partner!
Wednesday at the Champaign County Community Improvement Corporation Meeting, Mary Lee Gecowetz, a member of the Grimes Field Airport Development Committee shared with the group that an aviator from another city who was in Urbana for the recent fly-in learned of our Aviation Occupations program and was absolutely astounded at the work our students are doing at such a young age. So astounded, as a matter of fact, that he’d like to replicate the program in his community! Shane recently shared a press release with all of you about three recent graduates from this program who are now attending college in aviation programs. It’s really great to see a new program develop and to see the “payoff” at the end of the road—students continuing their education in a career field they’ve found a passion for because of career-technical education!
Today you may see some “smaller” students on our campus. We have fourth graders visiting today and tomorrow as part of the Logan County Agriculture Tour. They are learning about our renewable energy and energy-saving projects on campus such as wind and solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, and composting. We’re glad to be able to host this event, show off our campus, and hopefully be recruiting a few students for the incoming class of 2016! Thanks to all of you who have given of your time, talents, and lab space to make this project possible.
I’ll end with a kind of cute story about one of our students. I was in the lunch line this week and recognized the young man in front of me as one of our Culinary Arts students. I told him I heard his class was going on a field trip to Gordon Foods. He said very earnestly and without missing a beat, “It’s not a field trip. Field trips are just another excuse for getting out of school. It’s a study trip and we have a lesson planned that we’ll be studying on the trip.” I told him I was sure he’d learn a lot and have a great time as well! (And obviously someone has been teaching him the importance of making the most of “study” trips!)
Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 11, 2009
Today marks an anniversary many of us would rather forget. I’m sure many of you, like I, will pause each time you write or think about today’s date to reflect on the horrific events of eight years ago. It was a day that changed us as a country forever—and maybe even as individuals. I know I lost some sense of being invincible as an American and feeling immune from the terrors we heard about around the world. We’ve endured some of the inconveniences of additional security measures that other countries have lived with for decades. And yet it was also the beginning of a new era of patriotism and pride in knowing that we as Americans stood to lose so much because we have so much. I hope we never forget that. We all join together this Patriot Day to honor those who lost their lives and to remember the families and loved ones who miss them still.
Along the lines of being thankful, JoAnn Ventresco (English teacher at Bellefontaine Campus) has shared with me that her English students have been writing essays on what the “American Dream” means to them. JoAnn shared the following (and we did not correct for grammar or punctuation—she’s working on that!):
The more I read the more I am just blown away by the minds and talent I have in my classroom this year. I keep telling my juniors they are too quiet, but clearly they have a lot to say! Look at this one, written by AN ELEVENTH GRADER:
As Thomas Wolfe once said, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him...", I think this is the true "American Dream", The things in which people should focus on now in these times of life, Instead of just trying to have the best... Be happy with what’s given to you and make something of it on your own. When you have accomplished this task in life you will understand what the "American Dream" is and you will be able to say you felt something that no man nor woman could feel by just being rich or having the best house nor car...
Another student wrote:
Luckily living in America gives us the opportunity to follow through with a lot of the dreams that we have. Personally my dream is to work in the Health Care field. By living and growing up in the united states i have been handed multiple options to take advantage of in order to succeed in the Health Care Field. For example coming to Hi Point. I plan to continue on living my American dream until I feel content with my life.
Our students do great work—and they’re able to do so because of the great work out staff does with them. I’ve often said I hear great news about OHP from some of the most unlikely place! Carrie Preston, Special Education teacher on our Bellefontaine Campus, shared the following amazing story with me:
I just thought you'd like to know that OHP has a good reputation, all the way to Indiana! I recently caught up with a childhood friend of mine, who lives there. When I told her what I do for a living this was her response: "Some of my friends have kids going to Hi-Point. They are thrilled with it and felt like the move to Hi-Point was EXACTLY the right plan, and frankly, the better option. I mean, they are thrilled! So whatever you and your staff are doing...big props to you!"
Yep—big props to all of you! Thanks to JoAnn and Carrie for sharing so we can all enjoy.
We continued a tradition on Wednesday and recognized Dr. Earl Sloan’s birthday (which is actually September 8) by having our students and staff pay tribute to the contributions his trust has made to our labs through state-of-the-art equipment. Two of our high-school students and three adult education students shared their thanks with representatives of our Sloan Trustees. I know it’s been said that teenagers tend to be self-absorbed ingrates (and I was probably guilty of that at that age!) But I can honestly say that our high-school students were equally as sincere and eloquent in their words as the adult students as they thanked the Trustees. How neat it was to hear all those students describe the specific impact the Sloan-sponsored equipment has had on their training and their future plans. I want to thank the staff who were present to personally thank the Trustees and particularly those who spoke. I know Mr. Marker and Mrs. Reynolds very much enjoyed the birthday party! (A photo of the student speakers, Mr. Harold Marker, and Mrs. Connie Reynolds is shown at right.)
Have a great weekend and enjoy every bit of this wonderful, outdoor weather while we can!
Along the lines of being thankful, JoAnn Ventresco (English teacher at Bellefontaine Campus) has shared with me that her English students have been writing essays on what the “American Dream” means to them. JoAnn shared the following (and we did not correct for grammar or punctuation—she’s working on that!):
The more I read the more I am just blown away by the minds and talent I have in my classroom this year. I keep telling my juniors they are too quiet, but clearly they have a lot to say! Look at this one, written by AN ELEVENTH GRADER:
As Thomas Wolfe once said, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him...", I think this is the true "American Dream", The things in which people should focus on now in these times of life, Instead of just trying to have the best... Be happy with what’s given to you and make something of it on your own. When you have accomplished this task in life you will understand what the "American Dream" is and you will be able to say you felt something that no man nor woman could feel by just being rich or having the best house nor car...
Another student wrote:
Luckily living in America gives us the opportunity to follow through with a lot of the dreams that we have. Personally my dream is to work in the Health Care field. By living and growing up in the united states i have been handed multiple options to take advantage of in order to succeed in the Health Care Field. For example coming to Hi Point. I plan to continue on living my American dream until I feel content with my life.
Our students do great work—and they’re able to do so because of the great work out staff does with them. I’ve often said I hear great news about OHP from some of the most unlikely place! Carrie Preston, Special Education teacher on our Bellefontaine Campus, shared the following amazing story with me:
I just thought you'd like to know that OHP has a good reputation, all the way to Indiana! I recently caught up with a childhood friend of mine, who lives there. When I told her what I do for a living this was her response: "Some of my friends have kids going to Hi-Point. They are thrilled with it and felt like the move to Hi-Point was EXACTLY the right plan, and frankly, the better option. I mean, they are thrilled! So whatever you and your staff are doing...big props to you!"
Yep—big props to all of you! Thanks to JoAnn and Carrie for sharing so we can all enjoy.
We continued a tradition on Wednesday and recognized Dr. Earl Sloan’s birthday (which is actually September 8) by having our students and staff pay tribute to the contributions his trust has made to our labs through state-of-the-art equipment. Two of our high-school students and three adult education students shared their thanks with representatives of our Sloan Trustees. I know it’s been said that teenagers tend to be self-absorbed ingrates (and I was probably guilty of that at that age!) But I can honestly say that our high-school students were equally as sincere and eloquent in their words as the adult students as they thanked the Trustees. How neat it was to hear all those students describe the specific impact the Sloan-sponsored equipment has had on their training and their future plans. I want to thank the staff who were present to personally thank the Trustees and particularly those who spoke. I know Mr. Marker and Mrs. Reynolds very much enjoyed the birthday party! (A photo of the student speakers, Mr. Harold Marker, and Mrs. Connie Reynolds is shown at right.)
Have a great weekend and enjoy every bit of this wonderful, outdoor weather while we can!
Friday, September 4, 2009
September 4, 2009
We’re back in full swing, and how fun it has been to have our high-school students back and to see a group of our adult education students celebrate success! (It’s also great to have all of our staff back—we really do miss you in the summer!)
On the high-school side, the last three weeks have been busy, busy, busy with student orientation sessions, classes starting, and getting everyone settled in. I want to share a comment I heard at a recent Logan Co. Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting. One of the members, whose nephew is attending OHP this year, made a point to tell me how impressed her sister (the young man’s mother) was with our orientation/registration night. She appreciated how smoothly everything flowed and how helpful everyone was. I know many of our staff assisted with making those orientation/registration evenings as convenient and efficient for students and families as possible—and you were obviously successful!
On Thursday evening, our Adult Education Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing conducted its 27th graduation ceremony. The ceremony was moved to a new venue this year—Marysville High School—because we had outgrown our own facility. Good problem to have! Among our Bellefontaine daytime and evening programs, our Marysville satellite class, and our Urbana satellite class, we had 67 practical nursing students complete this rigorous nursing program and proudly accept diplomas. As I walked from the packed parking lot into Marysville’s Alumni Hall, I saw everything from little girls in frilly dresses and little boys in shirts and ties (which I’m sure weren’t their idea!) to the elderly on walkers filing in to support the graduates. One of the things that makes this ceremony so rewarding every year is the excitement and pride on the faces and in the voices of family members and loved ones. What a tremendous example these adult students set!
As we talk about “back to school,” I’m reminded of how many course approvals I’ve signed recently for staff members returning to school! I think it’s wonderful that so many of you are practicing what you preach—the importance of lifelong learning—and seeking to better your skills. I know it’s tough as an adult student to juggle family, job, and just life along with school. I wish you all the best and trust your classes will give you new perspectives and new skills!
I’ve been off campus for a day and a half this week working with the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents to prepare our proposal to legislators for corrections to career-technical education in the Corrections Bill for HB1 (state budget). It’s going to be a very time-consuming process. But, as we’ve discussed in our meetings thus far, the next biennium budget will likely set the career-technical funding formula for the next 15-20 years. So it’s time well invested. How can you help? Be prepared to have your students show off their skills and share their future plans as we have legislators visit us. Be prepared to share written “success stories” of your students past and present. Continue to hold yourself and your students to high standards of teaching and learning. And work diligently to utilize resources efficiently and effectively—always be analyzing the “return on investment.” The overall “pie” of the state budget has shrunken and needs to be sliced up among many state agencies. But I’m optimistic—I’m confident—we and our stakeholders will demonstrate the tremendous value we add to workforce development in Ohio.
Have a great, extended holiday weekend—and try to rest at least as much as you labor this Labor Day!
On the high-school side, the last three weeks have been busy, busy, busy with student orientation sessions, classes starting, and getting everyone settled in. I want to share a comment I heard at a recent Logan Co. Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting. One of the members, whose nephew is attending OHP this year, made a point to tell me how impressed her sister (the young man’s mother) was with our orientation/registration night. She appreciated how smoothly everything flowed and how helpful everyone was. I know many of our staff assisted with making those orientation/registration evenings as convenient and efficient for students and families as possible—and you were obviously successful!
On Thursday evening, our Adult Education Nancy J. Knight School of Nursing conducted its 27th graduation ceremony. The ceremony was moved to a new venue this year—Marysville High School—because we had outgrown our own facility. Good problem to have! Among our Bellefontaine daytime and evening programs, our Marysville satellite class, and our Urbana satellite class, we had 67 practical nursing students complete this rigorous nursing program and proudly accept diplomas. As I walked from the packed parking lot into Marysville’s Alumni Hall, I saw everything from little girls in frilly dresses and little boys in shirts and ties (which I’m sure weren’t their idea!) to the elderly on walkers filing in to support the graduates. One of the things that makes this ceremony so rewarding every year is the excitement and pride on the faces and in the voices of family members and loved ones. What a tremendous example these adult students set!
As we talk about “back to school,” I’m reminded of how many course approvals I’ve signed recently for staff members returning to school! I think it’s wonderful that so many of you are practicing what you preach—the importance of lifelong learning—and seeking to better your skills. I know it’s tough as an adult student to juggle family, job, and just life along with school. I wish you all the best and trust your classes will give you new perspectives and new skills!
I’ve been off campus for a day and a half this week working with the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents to prepare our proposal to legislators for corrections to career-technical education in the Corrections Bill for HB1 (state budget). It’s going to be a very time-consuming process. But, as we’ve discussed in our meetings thus far, the next biennium budget will likely set the career-technical funding formula for the next 15-20 years. So it’s time well invested. How can you help? Be prepared to have your students show off their skills and share their future plans as we have legislators visit us. Be prepared to share written “success stories” of your students past and present. Continue to hold yourself and your students to high standards of teaching and learning. And work diligently to utilize resources efficiently and effectively—always be analyzing the “return on investment.” The overall “pie” of the state budget has shrunken and needs to be sliced up among many state agencies. But I’m optimistic—I’m confident—we and our stakeholders will demonstrate the tremendous value we add to workforce development in Ohio.
Have a great, extended holiday weekend—and try to rest at least as much as you labor this Labor Day!
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