Siemens Foundation and Advance CTE Award Maryland $20,000 to Drive More Students to High-Quality CTE

BALTIMORE – The Siemens Foundation and Advance CTE are working together with the Maryland State Department of Education through a grant to support promotion of Career and Technology Education (CTE).

Maryland, Indiana, New Jersey and Washington will work with Advance CTE to implement recruitment activities using nationally-tested messages about academic, technical, and employability skills necessary to succeed in postsecondary education and the labor market. Maryland will receive $20,000 and eight months of technical assistance from Advance CTE to develop social media campaigns promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-related CTE programs.

“Students and their parents need to know there’s more than one way to succeed in college and employment, and CTE can often get you there faster and for less money,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “It’s no secret that our economy is and will continue to value the skill sets provided by CTE programs, particularly those in STEM. It’s time for our society to do the same, and we’re hoping that driving communications around this value will do just that.”

“Today’s CTE programs are engaging and provide students with the opportunity to explore career options, gain real-world skills and prepare for their future,” said Kimberly Green, Executive Director of Advance CTE. “One of the greatest challenges we face is telling the story of CTE’s success in a way that makes it a viable option for more parents and their children. We are excited to work with these states to build creative recruitment efforts so that more students can find success through CTE.”

Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools at MSDE, has long believed in CTE’s importance. “CTE is preparing students that are career and college-ready,” Dr. Salmon said. “Students are engaging in high-wage, high-demand programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials as well as early college credit. CTE is an excellent way for students to prepare for their future.”

CTE ensures that students are being prepared for careers in their field of interest, while also creating a pipeline of talented and skilled employees in STEM industries. This work is not only critical to student success, but also to our nation’s economy.

To learn more about this project visit: www.careertech.org/recruitmentstrategies