Fall 2008

How MVCTC connects How MVCTC connects students tostudents to

TechnologyCareerCommunity

MVCTC STEM Model MVCTC STEM Model How it fi ts withHow it fi ts withOHIO CORE

Student Success StoriesStudent Success StoriesHow it could be YOU!How it could be YOU!

Our Mission We are dedicated to providing premier educational choices and advanced employment preparation for youth, adults, and organizations of the Miami Valley.

Our LocationThe MVCTC campus is located 1/2 mile south of I-70 at Exit 26 (Hoke Road) and 1/4 mile south of the State Route 49 and Hoke Road junction in Clayton, Ohio. The campus is 11 miles northwest of downtown Dayton.

For more InformationVisit our web site: www.mvctc.comcall toll free:1-877-76M-VCTC (1-877-766-8282)

Connections

Partnering SchoolsAnsoniaArcanum Butler BethelBrookvilleCarlisleEatonFranklin MonroeJeffersonMiami EastMiamisburgMilton UnionMississinawa Valley National TrailNew Lebanon

NorthmontNorthridge Preble ShawneeTippecanoe Tri-County NorthTri-VillageTrotwood MadisonTwin Valley South Valley View Vandalia Butler Versailles Wayne West Carrollton

About MVCTC Connections – This magazine was originally mailed as a newsletter to all MVCTC families and our 27 partner school administrators three times a year. We have learned that citizens throughout the Miami Valley are interested in the success of their career-technical school, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, so we extended our mailing list. We mail at minimum rates which means we cannot control precise delivery.

Contents Connections Fall 2008

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featured articles

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Mr. Robert Bell – Montgomery County ESCMr. Larry Besecker – Darke County ESCMr. Bruce Clapp – Northmont SchoolsMrs. Peggy Crabtree – Preble County ESCMr. Robert Cupp – Vandalia Butler SchoolsMs. Teena Davis – Trotwood Madison SchoolsMrs. Carla Frame –Tipp City SchoolsMr. James Hart – Huber Heights SchoolsMr. Joe Idzakovich – Miamisburg Schools

Mrs. Tammy Lainhart – Carlisle SchoolsMr. Rick McKinney – Eaton SchoolsMr. Tom Ording, Vice President – Versailles SchoolsMr. Gary Roberts, President – Montgomery County ESCMrs. Shelley Swigart – Milton Union SchoolsMrs. Joy Weaver – Montgomery County ESCMr. Thomas Wolf – West Carrollton SchoolsMrs. Myrna Yoder – Miami County ESCMrs. Debbie Gossett, MVCTC TreasurerDr. John Boggess, MVCTC Superintendent

Board of Education Members

2 Increasing Opportunities – Dr. John Boggess, Superintendent

3 Financial Overview

4 MVCTC Keeps People Connected

7 MVCTC Points of Pride

8 Success Story – All in the Family: The Evans Brothers

9 MVCTC and NCR Partnering for the Future

10 Technology: Get a (Second) Life™

13 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Initiative for All Students

16 Success Story – Eye Opening Experience: Ryan Mayes

17 MVCTC Youth Connections for At-Risk Youth

18 MVCTC Adult Education – Your Partner for Success in the New Economy

20 Student Ambassadors Speak Out

he Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton is pleased to bring you the fi rst edition of

CONNECTIONS, our bi-annual publication devoted to emerging topics and devel-opments in career-technical and adult education for the Miami Valley. Since our beginning in 1970, Montgomery County Joint Vocational School (MCJVS), now the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC), has matured into a world-class educational center. Many facets of your regional career center have changed through the years and we actively strive

Connections

Expanding Access Increasing Opportunitiesto make you aware of our growth and how it positively affects your community. MVCTC CONNECTIONS will be yet another way to inform and educate all of our stakeholders and constituents about developments in the many occupational, academic, and technology opportunities created at MVCTC. MVCTC has wonderful success stories to tell, and CONNECTIONS is the tool for sharing these stories with the fi ve county areas we serve. These stories directly refl ect the talents of our diverse student body and staff, part-nerships with business and industry, and partnerships with post-secondary colleges and universities. The articles in CONNECTIONS will also illustrate MVCTC’s commitment to community, academ-ics, technology, and students. They will highlight our longstanding emphasis on hands-on/mind-on contextual learn-ing and MVCTC’s interpretation of the new three “Rs” of education - Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship - as the basis for student success. Each issue will also focus on the importance of technol-ogy supporting student learning and

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On behalf of all of us at Miami Valley Career Technology Center we are delighted to share with you our story. Thank you for your readership and support.

how MVCTC has incorporated advanced technology into our delivery systems. CONNECTIONS will also document the Adult Education division of MVCTC. This division has always provided adult students with advanced skill train-ing and industry credentials. This will continue when our Adult Education division joins the University System of Ohio in January 2009. MVCTC’s transition will provide adult students with addi-tional career pathways and transferable college credit. Adult students will gain the skills needed for today’s job market and will provide the more highly skilled workforce necessary to make the Miami Valley competitive in the new global economy. Times have changed. New tech-nologies are transforming old jobs and creating new ones. The knowl-edge and skills needed for success are constantly being redefi ned. “Average” is not good enough. Only “World Class” will do. MVCTC CONNECTIONS will keep you abreast of how your 21st century vocational/career technology center navigates the sea of change.◆

Dr. John Boggess, MVCTC Superintendent

2 / Fall 2008

MVCTC

Financial Overview

Instructional and Pupil Support

57%

Staff Support6%

Administration9%

Operations, Facilities28%

State Foundation40%

Local Other3%

Local Real Estate45%

TangiblePersonal

Property Tax3%

Property Tax Allocation/Rollback

9%

Where the Money Comes From (Sources)

• Local Real Estate (45%): includes taxes levied for residential, agricultural and commercial real estate property. The MVCTC school district receives local real estate revenue from eight counties, with 68% coming from Montgomery County. Other counties included: Butler, Champaign, Darke, Miami, Preble, Shelby and Warren.

• Tangible Personal Property Tax (3%): includes taxes levied on business’ furniture, fi xtures, equipment, machinery and inventory, and certain public utilities. Due to H.B. 66 tangible personal property tax will be phased out by tax year 2009.

• Property Tax Allocation (9%): includes Homestead/Rollback, Electric Deregulation Property tax replacement and Tangible Personal Property tax loss replacement, will be phased out by 2017.

• State Foundation (40%): includes payments from State funds for Ohio schools.

• Local Other (3%): includes investment earnings, proceeds from rental of district facilities and other miscellaneous revenue.

District Treasurer, Debbie L. Gossett provides vital information about the current fi nancial condition of the school district. The pie charts on this page show the revenue sources and operating expenses for the Miami Valley Career Technology School District for the 2007-2008 school year.

General Fund Revenue 2007-08

General Fund Expenditures 2007-08

Fall 2008 / 3

Where the Money Goes (Uses)

• Instructional and Pupil Support (57%): includes classroom teachers (including special education), counselors, classroom supplies, materials and equipment for career tech labs.

• Operations/Facilities (28%): includes utilities (electricity, water, gas and telephone) maintenance of facilities, security, buses and technology.

• Administration (9%): includes building principals and offi ce staff, central offi ce staff and supplies.

• Staff Support (6%): includes instructional supervisors and offi ce staff, professional development and supplies.

ell phones, text messaging, the Internet ..... these new ways of communicating are connecting us in ways our

ancestors would not have dreamed pos-sible. It is a new world ... a wired world ... full of endless possibilities.

The Miami Valley Career Technology Center is also all about connections.

Unlike a traditional vocational school, MVCTC teaches hands-on skills in combi-nation with the latest technology. MVCTC programs are designed to prepare teens and adults for the job market of a rapidly changing world.

Connecting with neighborhoods.MVCTC serves 27 school districts located in 5 counties. These school districts represent rural, suburban, and urban communities, creating a school population that spans socio-economic groups and includes students of

4 / Fall 2008

a variety of cultures and backgrounds. This melting-pot environment opens students’ minds to the diversity that they will encoun-ter in the workplace and in life. As a result, MVCTC graduates are more aware and tolerant of differences and better prepared to work with all types of people.

Connecting with faculty. The MVCTC faculty is a group of dedicated professionals who are versed in both the practical skills and the newest software and technology advances in each disci-pline. They effectively combine lecture and hands-on discovery to challenge

Young people today know all about being connected.

C

Connections

students in a career-focused yet academi-cally rigorous curriculum. By continually updating subject matter and teaching methods, these master teachers are help-ing students to stay current with the latest developments in their chosen fi elds.

Connecting with technology.All of the programs at MVCTC are designed to use the newest available technologies. Classrooms have state-of-the-art equip-ment and each student is provided with a laptop computer. The sleek design of the wireless campus creates an environ-ment that is in line with the top hi-tech companies in the world. With these tools, teachers can upload the latest information to prepare students for careers that are constantly evolving.

Connecting with the Ohio Core.Ohio legislators passed the Ohio Core in December of 2007, changing the minimum requirements for a high school diploma. The main focus of the Ohio Core is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer-ing, and Mathematics), insuring that all Ohio students complete additional credits

in math and science. The curriculum at MVCTC concentrates on teaching the STEM components, not only as separate subjects but also together in the context of real world career opportunities. With practical knowledge of the STEM com-ponents and how they work in tandem, MVCTC graduates are training to be the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

Connecting with careers.Students who are accepted into MVCTC fi nd a full range of career path options. The major areas offered are Arts and Communications, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Information Technology, Health, Building and Con-struction, Human Resources, Industrial Technology and Manufacturing, and Mechanical Technologies. Individual pro-grams within each area are designed to prepare students for a number of specifi c career possibilities. These career paths emphasize fi elds that are key to the future economic growth of the region and the needs of its citizens.›

Fall 2008 / 5

graduates are training to be the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

Connecting with educational partners.Many students who graduate from MVCTC continue their education at a college or university. Others take further coursework at technical schools or con-tinue learning as interns or apprentices with professionals in their chosen fi elds. Students in some MVCTC programs can earn dual enrollment college credit. Dual enrollment is a collaboration between colleges and high school faculty who are approved by the colleges to teach a col-lege level course at the high school. Stu-dents then receive both high school and college credit for completing the course. Partner colleges for MVCTC include Miami University Middletown, Sinclair Commu-nity College, Wright State University, Clark State Community College, and OSU/Agri-cultural Technical Institute.

Connecting with business partners. Many MVCTC students participate in the School-to-Work Apprenticeship Program which pairs students and employers in their chosen fi eld of interest. Students are exposed to the actual work environment, developing their skills under the wings of a business partner. For students who show promise, many partners will offer an immediate transition from school into the workforce and/or tuition reimbursements for additional education. This can mean a guaranteed job after graduation.

Connecting with each other.Each MVCTC student is part of a Career Technical Student Organization. These

organizations include Business Profession-als of America (BPA), Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), FFA, Future Educators of America (FEA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and Skills USA. In the classroom and through these organizations, stu-dents develop the ability to share ideas, to be part of a planning team, and to work side-by-side on classroom and community projects. Since most jobs demand that employees work together in teams, such exercises are invaluable for graduates when they enter the real world of business and industry.

Connecting with the community.MVCTC classes and Student Organizations are involved with a number of community connections including charity work and projects like Habitat for Humanity. Most MVCTC graduates settle in the community, joining local companies. Because of their training at MVCTC, these young people will have the knowledge and skills to contrib-ute to the local economy and improve life for all residents of the Miami Valley area.

Connecting with adults.MVCTC also has an adult education curriculum that is designed to train or retrain adults for new jobs in today’s challenging job market. When layoffs, closings and other circumstances cre-ate a need for additional skills, MVCTC has programs that can help displaced workers find new career paths. These programs may help people to stay in the Miami Valley area for employment, to develop new businesses and ser-vices, or to find ways to stimulate new economic growth for the area.

MVCTC is all about connection. Wireless technology, computers, and the latest ways to connect are all part of each class, but that is only part of the story. Although the world may be fl attening and shrinking, the most important connec-tion is still the human connection. It is the guiding hand of a skilled teacher, demon-strating a new concept, opening a mind, and fostering the excitement of discovery. It is that connection that truly continues to change the world, one student at a time.◆

6 / Fall 2008

Connections

MVCTC♦ 2,434 students were served by MVCTC in the 2007-08 school year, including enrollment at the main campus, 7 satel-lite programs at other high schools, and Youth Connections, a MVCTC program for at-risk youth.

♦ The MVCTC main campus attendance rate is 95%.

♦ The MVCTC graduating class of 2008 had a combined total of $1.3 million in college scholarships, dispelling the myth that career technical education is not for the college bound student.

♦ In the 2007-08 school year, MVCTC Youth Connections helped 22 students earn $132,000 in scholarships to Sinclair Community College through the Fast Forward Center.

♦ MVCTC offers 26 College Tech Prep programs as part of the Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium, allowing high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.

Each student who qualifi es earns scholar-ship money towards enrollment at Sinclair Community College.

♦ In the “one year later” follow-up survey of 2007 graduates, 59% of the class members were enrolled in some type of college, and 97% of the class members were employed.

♦ 8 MVCTC projects (“Project Pass”, Career Camp, Adult LPN, Multicultural Celebration, Habitat for Humanity House Construction Trades, Sports Medicine, Computer Information Technology using Second Life™, and Special Olympics Vol-unteer Program) have been recognized as outstanding by the Southwest Ohio School Board Association.

♦ MVCTC has been named a Top 100 School in the nation based on NAEP testing.

♦ MVCTC was the 2007 National Tech Prep Network Hull Parnell Excellence Award winner for the Computer Information Technology and NCR intern partnership.

♦ MVCTC has 5 National Board Certifi ed Teachers on staff. National Board Cer-tifi cation is the highest credential in the teaching profession.

♦ Over 30 MVCTC students qualifi ed to represent the State of Ohio at the 2008 Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Competition in Dallas, TX.

♦ 19 MVCTC students received national recognition for placing in the top of the 2008 SkillsUSA National Competition.

♦ The MVCTC Construction Challenge Team placed 2nd in the nation at the Na-tional Competition in Las Vegas in 2008.◆

For more information on the ex-citing events taking place on the MVCTC campus, be sure to visit www.mvctc.com and check out the “News and Events” links.

Fall 2008 / 7

MVCTC Points of

All in the familyor Brandon and Sean Evans of West Carrollton, the Miami Val-ley Career Technology Center is a family affair.

“My dad went to MVCTC and my mom graduated from there with a major in drafting. Then my brother graduated from MVCTC so when it was my turn, it was the only clear choice for me,” says Sean. Sean enrolled in the Computer Infor-mation Technology Tech Prep program. This curriculum provides training in computer hardware, computer concepts, software applications, operating systems, networking, programming and design, and problem analysis. “We studied hardware and software, and basically we learned all about how computers work,” says Sean. “I now know what a computer

technician does and I worked on electrical components and other things related to hardware. But we also covered program-ming, developing software, and installing operating systems.” Recommended by his teacher Melissa Seifman, Sean and Mike Chronberry, an-other MVCTC student, were the fi rst to be part of an IT internship with NCR. Begun in 2006, this program is limited to students who demonstrate excellent grades, at-tendance, and integrity while attending MVCTC. All four Computer Information Technology teachers must agree to recom-mend a student for the program. Through the NCR internship, the student sees the connection between the MVCTC curriculum and the skills needed for a real world job. Students who intern get a more realistic view of expectations, the ethics and professionalism that a job demands. They also see how continuous lifelong learning will impact their ability to keep up with the constantly changing world of IT. Students must maintain aca-demic performance at MVCTC by keeping an internship journal and meeting with a MVCTC instructor weekly. NCR supervisors provide weekly feedback by completing a student-performance evaluation. After graduation from MVCTC, Sean enrolled in the University of Dayton with a major in Computer Engineering. Now starting his third year at UD, Sean has con-tinued his internship with NCR. In a typical semester, he carries 17 credit hours of col-lege study and works 20-30 hours a week at NCR. This is a busy schedule that may

F“My dad went to MVCTC and my mom graduated from there - it was the only clear choice for me.” 8 / Fall 2008

Connections

The Evans Brothers

MVCTC Graduates Sean and Brandon Evans

guarantee him a job at NCR after gradua-tion. “I think that is a strong possibility,” says Sean. “But I have also considered using my IT training in a military or health application or perhaps starting my own business someday.” Sean’s brother Brandon is a 2004 graduate of the MVCTC Graphic Commer-cial Art program. “I was interested in art as long as I can remember,” says Brandon. “At MVCTC, we studied all types of media from graphite to scratchboard. It was more than graphic art; it was fi ne arts too.” Thanks to instructors Jack Spitler and Lisa Hetzer, Brandon was able to earn college credit from Sinclair Community College while attending the Graphic Com-mercial Art Program at MVCTC. After completing his associate de-gree, Brandon stayed on at Sinclair and is now the Publications Coordinator for the Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium. He designs all the written and web-based materials for the Consortium which links career tech programs in 58 area second-ary schools. The Consortium includes MVCTC, Greene County Career Center, Butler Tech, Ohio HI-Point Career Center and a number of high schools with career tech curriculums. The goal is to create a seamless career tech bridge between the junior year of high school and the associ-ate degree at Sinclair or another commu-nity college. “I really think that career tech is the wave of the future in secondary educa-tion,” says Brandon. “The last two years of high school can be just wasted time but career tech can put value into those two years. MVCTC got me up to speed with the tools of the trade that I would need for a job. Thanks to MVCTC, I became profi cient in the Photoshop and Illustrator skills that I now use in my job every day.” Brandon and Sean are the sons of Charles and Leslie Sue Evans.◆

Fall 2008 / 9

In August 2007, the Miami Valley Career Technology Center Computer Information Technology partnership with the NCR Corporation was named the fi rst place winner of the Daniel M. Hull and Dale P. Parnell Partnership Excellence Award. Given by the National Career Path-ways Network, this award is intended to honor collaborative programs that link career technical educators and local busi-ness leaders to create meaningful work opportunities for students. As part of the senior year of study at MVCTC, students in the Computer Informa-tion Technology curriculum can apply for a potential fi ve-year internship experience with NCR. The fi rst two students hired by NCR in 2006 are now beginning their fourth year internship at NCR as third year college students. As they have advanced in their studies, they have been given new assignments to increase their skills in various IT areas. In 2007, three more interns joined the program and additional students will be chosen in the fall of 2008. The Hull-Parnell Partnership Excel-lence Award was presented to representa-tives from MVCTC and NCR at the National

Career Pathways Network Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The award included $3,000 for the Computer Information Technology program at MVCTC and $7,500 training vouchers for MVCTC staff mem-bers. Information about the MVCTC-NCR partnership model was also presented to educators from across the country. “MVCTC students have strong PC tech-nical competencies and display excellent interpersonal skills and work ethics,” says Greg Metzger, NCR Corporation, IT Services Technology and Infrastructure, Client Product Management. “The only notice-able gap between the high school interns and college interns is in the area of overall maturity and job experience in a corporate environment, which is to be expected.” “The MVCTC/NCR partnership has provided several benefi ts,” says Metzger. “These benefi ts include improved PC Lifecycle service levels for end-users at NCR, improved PC asset utilization within NCR, increased operational effi ciencies, and an established pool of NCR-experi-enced college bound students who can be considered for more technical college-level internships at the company.”◆

MVCTC and NCR

Partnering for the Future

Superintendent Dr. John Boggess congratulates 2008 Friend of MVCTC Award recipient, Mr. Greg Metzger.

magine being a high school student and working along-side staff members at the San Diego Zoo or viewing an

actual open-heart surgery. Such experiences might seem unlikely, especially since today’s economic conditions are causing most schools to curtail fi eld trips. But through virtual technology, students can be magically trans-ported to meet people who are skilled experts in their fi elds in worlds that are way beyond the reach of a school day fi eld trip. Teachers at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center are creating ways to use virtual technology to en-hance learning experiences for their students. As the internet continues to evolve, one of the newest facets in its development is the emergence of virtual environments. These virtual worlds are available in everything from education to shopping to per-sonal pages and social networks.

Technology: Get a (Second) Life™!

I

10 / Fall 2008

Connections

Computer Information Technology Students and their Second Life™ Avatars

Second Life™ is one such 3-D virtual world. It is a global community of residents working together to build an on-line space for creativity, collaboration, commerce, and entertainment. When you join Second Life™, you create an “ava-tar” which is your persona in the virtual world. There are discussion groups, mov-ies, games, educational activities, and more to explore. It is free to join unless you purchase virtual land or shop or trade with other residents. To capitalize on this new technology and provide a safe internet experience for its students, MVCTC purchased an “is-land” in the Second Life™ internet-based virtual world. MVCTC students become residents of the island, entitling them to study, learn, and create in a more con-trolled environment within the Second Life™ virtual world. “The future impact of Second Life™ on education lies in its ability to take you virtually anywhere in the world,” says Rhonda Phillips, MVCTC Business and Information Technology Supervisor. “It opens up the opportunity for students to visit a global world to meet others and explore. Seeing the excitement of a student who just participated in a virtual fi eld trip to another country without leav-ing the school is priceless.” On the computer screen, the MVCTC Second Life™ Island looks like a model of the MVCTC campus, situated between Ohio University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Students in the Computer Information Technology programs are using Second Life™ to learn computer-programming skills. As part of the lesson, students learn to design and build a virtual world, design computer

programs for that world, and experience the use of the newest internet revolution, the 3-D browser. “With Second Life™, the students can understand the concepts behind 3-D object building, which is the basis for 3-D animation,” says Melissa Seif-man, Computer Information Technology Instructor. “Students break items down to their primitive objects, mathemati-cally scaling them so they are in the right proportion, and creating textures to make them look realistic. Then I can teach them the scripting commands which cause the built objects to interact with each other in a realistic manner.” “Thanks to Second Life™, I have been able to improve my math when scaling and building objects,” says Michael Pope, Computer Information Technology Senior from Carlisle High School. “I have been improving my skill in creating textures for plants and cloth-ing alike. With this type of technology, it may change schools in the future by some classes being online based.”›

“The future impact of Second Life™ on education lies in its ability to take you virtually anywhere in the world.”

Fall 2008 / 11

“By using Second Life™, I am able to take my students on virtual fi eld trips to the Holocaust Museum and the International Space Muse-um,” says Mrs. Siefman. “Last year, we visited a university that does environmental experiments in Second Life™ by changing the parameters of the plant growth scripts, and studying the effects as the time passes in the world of Second Life™. This year, I want to implement role-play-ing into Second Life™. I plan to have the students develop ‘help-desk’ problems and symptoms. The ‘customers’ will role-play their symptoms, and the ‘help-desk’ will problem solve using avatar character interaction. This will teach critical thinking, and emphasize customer service skills, as well as give the students practical problem-solving for their fi eld.” One of the benefi ts of using Second Life™ in education is the cost savings. Second Life™ allows for virtual meetings, professional development, and interviews, which reduces travel expenses. Second Life™ is global so students learn different cultures and customs. Students also learn economics since people who use Second Life™ are now making real money designing and selling virtual items in Second Life™. Over $700,000 U.S. dollars are spent every 24 hours in the virtual world. On

March 21, 2008, Congress held its fi rst virtual congressional meeting. Some countries have created virtual embassies where you may visit to learn more about the country, its culture, and its policies. “Second Life™ means learning while having fun,” says Levi Grant, Computer Information Technology senior from Franklin-Monroe High School. “To me, it is a great feeling to be learning at my own pace, learning key programming concepts in class and then being able to apply them in a graphical interface. I have always been a computer junkie. I love program-ming and using this software will help me be at the top of my fi eld. I believe that anyone who wants to be in the informa-tion technology fi eld should use this software as a learning tool.” “The students are very excited to learn Second Life™ for several reasons,”

says Mrs. Seifman. “One reason is that it is the future of the web, education, and doing business. Another is that to them, it simply is ‘fun’. Students today have grown up immersed in audiovisual elements. They are used to thinking in parallel and multi-tasking. Second Life™ ‘speaks’ to them in the way that they enjoy due to its game-like interface. It helps them learn.”◆

For more information about MVCTC and the technology education provided to our students, please visit www.mvctc.com.

12 / Fall 2008

Connections

Technology: Get a (Second) Life™!

n 1957, the fi rst satellite – Sputnik – was launched into the atmosphere and the world was changed forever. This inven-

tion created the possibility for instant communication with all parts of the world. For Americans, the reaction was not applause but jealousy over the fact that it was Russia, not the United States, who launched Sputnik. Suddenly there was a call for more math and science in American schools. We could not be left behind; we had to produce bigger and better Sputniks of our own. It has been 50 years since the satel-lite race began. The world has changed rapidly and globalization of the world’s products and services is changing the way people research, create, manu-facture, and distribute. To stay on the

STEM and the Ohio Core

I cutting edge of innovation, American schools are again being urged to educate young people with a renewed emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The Miami Valley Career Technol-ogy Center is perfectly poised to put the STEM emphasis into action. New math and science labs at MVCTC allow science, technology, engineering, and math to be taught in context with each other. Math, science, and career technical instructors are working together to develop STEM problems to be solved, relevant to each career fi eld. “MVCTC has defi ned the engineering in STEM as a verb, not a noun,” says Nick Weldy, MVCTC Math and Science Supervi-sor. “This means we do not limit our-selves to delivering the curriculum only

Fall 2008 / 13

Connections

STEM is not just about taking more math and science classes; rather it is about engineering solutions to problems using the tools of math and science in conjunction with the latest technology.

ing foreign language, fi ne arts, business technology, and career technical studies as elective choices for all students. Starting in 2010, students will be required to take one year of physical science, one year of biol-ogy, and one year of an advanced science like chemistry or physics. But STEM is not just about taking more math and science classes; rather it is about engineering solutions to problems using the tools of math and science in conjunc-tion with the latest technology. The inquiry based lab experiences suggested by the Ohio Core are designed to teach students how to think, how to research, how to dis-cover. In this system, the teacher becomes not just the giver of knowledge but the facilitator of the learning process. The MVCTC approach fi ts perfectly

with the guidelines of the Ohio Core. MVCTC has restructured its curriculum to integrate academic studies in STEM and career technical disciplines. The classes use inquiry based learning to solve prob-lems and develop critical thinking skills. Teams of teachers are guiding students to question, analyze, and fi nd solutions to real world problems. This integrated approach to studying STEM, coupled with hands-on training and an emphasis on problem solving skills, will give MVCTC students the tools to succeed in college study, the workforce, and their chosen careers. As recom-mended by the Ohio Core, many MVCTC students are receiving dual enrollment credits for college while still in high school. Since many MVCTC graduates continue

to those wanting to enter an engineering fi eld. The curriculum at MVCTC is designed for all students, not just those considered academically high achievers.” To implement STEM in all Ohio schools, the Ohio legislature recently passed the Ohio Core, an initiative designed to better prepare students for college by promoting a more rigorous curriculum for secondary students and changing the minimum high school graduation requirements. Key components of the Ohio Core in-clude increasing math requirements from three units to four, including Algebra II or equivalent; teaching science courses as inquiry based lab experiences; incorporat-ing economic and fi nancial literacy into the curriculum; offering college preparation on the high school campus; and includ-

14 / Fall 2008

Connections

to live and work here, they are helping to create a strong and competitive economic base for this region of Ohio, the ultimate goal of the Ohio Core. Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit differs from Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) because students remain on the high school campus, taking college-level courses, taught by high school teachers approved by the partner college. Students do not have to travel to a college campus and can continue to participate in other classes and activities at their high school. MVCTC is partnering with Miami University Middletown to offer Dual Credit for classes in intermediate college algebra, college physics, pre-calculus, and statis-tics. The courses are taught by MVCTC faculty under the mentorship of Miami

Middletown faculty. “The high school versions of the classes have assignments, exams, lectures and labs that are similar or identical to the college classes,” says Miami Middletown Assistant Dean Cathy Bishop-Clark. “The same text and same syllabus are used and the high school students actually complete the work at a faster pace than their college counterparts.” The push for Dual Credit began in 2006 when Ohio passed State Bill 311. Alarmed by the fact that Ohio does not have enough college graduates in its workforce to stimulate economic growth, the State offered 16 grants statewide to develop program models of dual enroll-ment, particularly focusing on students who might not have considered college as an option. MVCTC received a $225,000

grant to develop the partnership with Miami Middletown. “We have seen some very positive out-comes from this program for our students, beyond the course curriculum,” says Dr. John Boggess, Superintendent. “Our stu-dents put forth more effort, develop posi-tive study habits, and have an increased awareness of college expectations. This program and the relationship with Miami Middletown are a perfect fi t for us.” Students enrolled in MVCTC College Tech Prep career technical programs take college-level classes to prepare them for high skilled jobs. Selected credits from these career technical programs can be applied towards a degree at Sinclair Com-munity College. This fall, MVCTC began a partner-ship with Wright State University for Dual Enrollment English classes. In the fall of 2009, Wright State will add Dual Enrollment classes in economics. Dual Enrollment in Agricultural Science classes will begin in the 2009-2010 school year through the Ohio Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio. “Ohio needs 230,000 new college graduates in the coming years to be able to compete globally,” says Dr. Boggess. “If we can get high school juniors and seniors started on that path and show them that they can do college work, then we all benefi t.”◆

As recommended by the Ohio Core, many MVCTC students are receiving dual enrollment credits for college while still in high school.

Fall 2008 / 15

Eye Opening ExperienceRyan Mayes – A Success Story

heard my friends talking about it and I saw an opportunity to get a head start, to jumpstart my career,” says 2008 graduate Ryan Mayes

about his decision to attend the Miami Valley Career Technology Center. Mayes chose Sports Medicine Tech Prep as his fi eld of study. “Sports Medicine is a relatively new program at MVCTC and I really liked our teacher Matt Money,” says Mayes. “It was challenging and we learned so many hands-on things like CPR and how to determine body composition.” The Sports Medicine curriculum includes exercise science, sports injury prevention, rehabilitation, nutrition and weight management, emergency proce-dures, and fi tness training. According to

I

MVCTC Health and Consumer Sciences Supervisor Sandy Royer, Mayes exemplifi es the Sports Medicine program motto – “go above and beyond.” “Ryan is inquisitive, personable, driven, and will-ing to pursue unknowns to strengthen his knowledge base,” says Royer. “He met the challenge of leaving a smaller high school to come to a new program at MVCTC and his en-

thusiasm was evident in his assignments, projects and presentations.” In addition to classes at MVCTC, Mayes was a Student Ambassador. Chosen from 200 applicants, these 40 students receive leadership and public speaking training. They talk to sophomores about MVCTC and its programs and also meet the new junior students on the fi rst day of classes to help them adjust to life at MVCTC. Mayes, Alicia Shaefer, and Steven Taulbee, all MVCTC ’08 graduates, attended the HOSA (Health Occupational Students Association) National Competition in Dallas in June. They fi nished in the top ten in the nation in Biomedical Debate. Mayes also qualifi ed to attend the International Sci-ence and Engineering Fair in Atlanta as an alternate. He earned the honor by placing

second at the 2007 State Science Fair with his project entitled “How Does Form Affect Running Performance.” “MVCTC is a great place,” says Mayes. “You see so many different people there and learn to work with others. Coming from a small high school like Bethel, it was a real eye opener for me to be with a big-ger, more diverse group of people.” The MVCTC Sports Medicine Tech Prep program is designed to prepare students for careers like physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, fi tness and athletic training, and sports psychology, but the possibili-ties are endless. Mayes entered Ball State University in the Fall of 2008 as an Exercise Science major. “I am thinking about 2 possible careers right now,” says Mayes. “I could add business studies to my major and open my own Wellness Center or perhaps I will become a doctor. That takes a lot of schooling but I can handle it.” Son of Merinda Mayes and Sylvester Roberts, Mayes was a three-sport athlete at Bethel High School, his home school near Tipp City. He was able to continue on the Bethel football, basketball, and track teams while attending MVCTC. As for his MVCTC experience and how it prepared him for his future, Mayes says, “I loved it there. It was the best decision I have made in my life so far.”◆

16 / Fall 2008

Connections

VCTC Youth Connections is an alternative educational program that serves 32 school districts in the

Miami Valley area. The Youth Connections program targets students who are:• disconnected from school because of poor attendance • unable to succeed in a regular school setting• testing below achievement levels for their age group• defi cient in the areas emphasized in the Ohio Graduation Test• under expulsion from school for non- violent reasons

Youth Connections emphasizes instruction in a small personal setting with a great deal of fl exibility. The curriculum allows students to receive their high school diploma and gain skills necessary for future long-term employment. All students enrolled in Youth Connec-tions are part of the Career Based Interven-tion (CBI) program. MVCTC has the largest CBI program operating on one site in the state of Ohio. While attending MVCTC’s Youth Connections, students are still enrolled in their home high school. They are able to participate in extra-curricular activities and graduate from their home high school. Youth Connections was originally designed for students age 15-19, but a program for eighth graders was added in 2007 when it was determined that there was a need. The goal of the eighth grade

program is to help students who have fallen behind in school get back on track. Youth Connections helps students fi nd suc-cess in school where previously they had only found failure. Since opening in 2000, the MVCTC Youth Connections program has helped over 500 students in the Miami Valley earn their high school diplomas. In 2008, Youth Connections assisted 22 students to earn $132,000 in scholarships to Sinclair Commu-nity College. In addition, students enrolled in Youth Connections have completed ap-proximately 400,000 work hours and have earned over $1,250,000 in the paid portion of Career Based Intervention. To learn more about the MVCTC Youth Connections program, please contact your school guidance counselor or call Youth Connections directly at 937-226-1741.◆

Connections for At-Risk Youth

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Fall 2008 / 17

ith the aging of the population and increased emphasis on disease preven-

tion and nutrition, health care occupa-tions are today’s most rapidly growing career fi elds. According to recent fi gures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 587,000 new

jobs created in nursing profession in the period of 2006-2016. To address that demand, the Miami Valley Career Technology Center is cur-rently investing 5.8 million dollars in a new 40,000 square-foot facility to house health care classes. MVCTC is committed to preparing highly skilled and quali-fi ed employees for careers in the health

Adult Education at MVCTCHealth Care for the Future and Retooling a Workforce 18 / Fall 2008

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Connections

Fall 2008 / 19

care profession. The school intends to increase opportunities within current of-ferings and possibly expand the number of its health care programs for adult students. MVCTC will use the new building for its nursing and medical assisting programs, and it plans to add dental as-sisting in the spring. The potential exists for adding training in ultrasound, dialysis, and x-ray technology. The new facility will have eight classrooms, fi ve technical labs, and a multi-function learning center. But health care offerings are only part of an extensive Adult Education program at MVCTC that serves 600-700 full-time and 3,000-4,000 part-time students, 1,500 students in the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program, and 350 students who receive their GED through MVCTC Adult Education classes. The Adult Education pro-gram at the MVCTC is uniquely positioned to provide new skills for a rapidly changing job market. As the needs of the Miami Valley’s workforce are redefi ned by plant clos-ings and challenging eco-nomic realities, MVCTC is ready to take the lead to insure on-the-job success for adult workers in many careers. MVCTC Adult Education offers eleven long-term and over thirty short-term programs. Most long-term programs are divided into components of short-term classes; this allows for multiple start dates in a given calendar year. Upon completion of a program, a student also has the opportunity to obtain the certifi cation needed to secure a job in that fi eld. In most cases, the cost of taking the certifi cation exam is included in the MVCTC class fee.

Long-term programs include Aviation Maintenance Technician (FAA Certifi cation), Carpentry (NCCER Certifi -cation), Electrician (NCCER Certifi cation), Heating/Ventilation and Air Condition-ing (ICE Certifi cation), Heavy Equipment Operation (NCCER & CEL Certifi cation), Masonry (NCCER Certifi cation), Machine Tool Craftsperson (NIMS Certifi cation), Medical Assisting (CMA Certifi cation), Medical Coding (CCA), Practical Nursing (LPN Certifi cation), and Plumbing (NCCER Certifi cation). Students registering for long-term programs must have a high school diploma or GED. MVCTC does offer GED classes as part of the Adult Education program.

Short-term classes are offered for everything from Farm Business Planning and Analysis to Computer Software Skills, Masonry, and EMT Training. License renewal classes for contractors are of-fered in the fi elds of electricity, plumb-ing, and heating and air conditioning. The Nursing Assistant program prepares students to take the STNA (State Tested Nursing Assistant) exam. Adult classes are offered on the main campus in Clayton, Ohio, and at three satellite locations. These loca-tions are partnerships with the Veterans Administration, the Montgomery County

Department of Jobs and Family Services, and the Brethren Retirement Community in Darke County. Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to enroll in MVCTC Adult Education, but the average adult students are in their 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s, with children to sup-port, and therefore strong motivation to gain employment. Some want to gain new skills in their fi elds or become more familiar with new technology. Others need to completely change careers due to plant closings, downsizing, or out-sourcing of their present jobs. Financial aid is available to adult students enrolled in long-term pro-grams. Over 90% qualify for Federal

Pell Grants and/or locally ad-ministered Workforce Invest-ment Act funds. Employees who have lost their jobs due to recent plant closings in the Miami Valley may qualify for federal funding as “dislocated workers.” With this designa-tion, these people may attend MVCTC classes at no cost, receiving the re-training they need to pursue a new career. In his Turn Around Ohio Plan, Governor Stick-

land is establishing the “Ohio Skills Bank” to insure the future of Ohio’s economy. MVCTC has been tapped as a major training provider in the system of “career pathways” that are vital to this plan. Beginning in January of 2009, the University System of Ohio will assume governance of adult education programs throughout the state, establishing a system of credit transfer and course equivalency that will put career technol-ogy training on a par with college degree programs.◆

20 / Fall 2008

Connections

tudents who are chosen to be MVCTC Student Ambassadors receive special training in lead-ership and public speaking.

These students share their knowledge of MVCTC and its programs with potential students. In this issue, three Student Ambassadors talk about the quality of their experiences at MVCTC. Tim Stine is a Marketing and Media student from Milton-Union High School who plans to attend Cedarville University or Xavier University to major in Sports Marketing/Management. He feels that MVCTC has given him an “extra step” towards meeting his goals. “MVCTC is a place of opportunity,” says Tim. “This is a place where you can get your foot in the door for what you want to do. MVCTC lets you strive for your goals, and achieve them without limits.” Trevor Holsinger is an Allied Health Tech Prep student from Preble Shawnee High School. He is impressed with the teachers at MVCTC and how they prepare the students for the future. “MVCTC

teachers pose a challenge for their stu-dents each day,” says Trevor. Tiffany Frazier is an Environmental Technology student from Miami East High School who was attracted to MVCTC be-cause of the accomplishments and advice of her older sister. “I believe that if you are able to do what you are interested in, then you are more likely to want to do it right,” says Tif-fany. “MVCTC makes learning fun because you actually get to decide what you want to learn. It means being excited for school and wanting to make the most out of what you can be. The MVCTC is a place for opportunity, career advancement, fun in learning, and most importantly, a jump start towards college.” “MVCTC has provided me the op-portunity to experience greater diversity in the student body,” says Tiffany. “I think that this is the most important difference because it allows you to interact with so many different types of people, who all add a little something extra to your life.”◆

Student Ambassadors Speak Out

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MVCTC Career Programs

• Agricultural Services• Air Force Reserve Offi cer Training Corps (AFJROTC)• Allied Health• Allied Health Technologies Tech Prep• Architectural/Engineering Technology• Auto Collision• Auto Services• Automotive Engine Rebuilding and Machining• Automotive Technology• Automotive Technology Tech Prep• Aviation Maintenance Technician• Biotechnology Tech Prep• Career Based Intervention• Carpentry• COSA – Ag Resources Management• COSA – Animal Science Management• COSA – Environmental Engineering• COSA – Food Science• COSA – Plant Science• COSA – Power Technologies• COSA – Veterinary Science• Clerical Services• Computer Information Technology• Computer Information Technology Tech Prep• Computer Network Engineering Tech Prep• Construction Technology• Cosmetology• Criminal Justice• Culinary Arts• Dental Assistant• Digital Design Technology Tech Prep• Early Childhood Education• Electrical Trades• Electronics Engineering Technology Tech Prep• Financial Management• Global Information Systems• Graphic Commercial Art• Graphic Commercial Photography• Heating/Ventilation and Air Conditioning• Heavy Equipment Operator• Hospitality Services• Interactive Multi-Media Development Technology Tech Prep• Legal Assistant• Marketing and Media• Masonry• Mechanical Construction and Plumbing Systems Technology• Medical Offi ce Management• Motorcycle Service Technology• Pathway To Engineering Tech Prep• Precision Machining Technology• Sports Medicine Tech Prep• Teacher Academy• Welding

MVCTC Student Ambassadors Trevor Holsinger (Preble Shawnee), Tim Stine (Milton Union), and Tiffany Frazier (Miami East).

Calling All

Alumni !Calling all alumni of the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School (MCJVS) or the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC)!

We are in the process of organizing an Alumni Association and we would love to hear from

you. Soon we will be announcing plans for membership, events, reunions, community involvement, and ways that you can support MVCTC for future generations! Please visit www.mvctc.com/alumni to register as a graduate.

We are very proud of our graduates and would like to share your successes with the rest of the Miami Valley. If you have a MCJVS or MVCTC graduate success story to contribute about your-self or a friend or family member, please visit www.mvctc.com/alumni and click on the “share a graduate success story” link to tell your story.

Early College Connection Opportunities are avail-able for MVCTC students with options such as, Tech Prep, Dual Enrollment, Apprenticeship, and other avenues to post secondary education.MVCTC Early College Connection Partnerships include Sinclair Community College, Clark State Community College, Hocking College, Edison Com-munity College, University of Northwestern Ohio, Wright State University, Miami University Middle-town, Columbus State Community College, the Ohio State University/ATI, and University of Dayton.

Early College Connection Partners

6800 Hoke RoadClayton, OH 45315-9740

MVCTC Adult Education offers several classes to prepare students for careers in the health care fi eld. • Practical Nursing program prepares students for professional licensure and employment as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Full time students attend fi ve days a week for 41 weeks of classes over 11 months; part time students at-tend three days a week over 22 months. Classes are offered at the VA Medical Center in Dayton or the Brethren Retire-ment Community in Greenville. Upon successful completion of the program, students may move on to Registered Nurse programs with local colleges.

• Medical Assisting program teaches students the multiple skills necessary to work in medical offi ces, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Classes are offered at the VA Medical Center in Dayton. Students completing this 30 week program will be eligible to take the certifi cation exam to earn the title Certifi ed Medical Assistant (CMA).

• Nurse Aide Training program teaches students the knowledge and skills to become a State Tested Nursing Assis-tant and provide direct patient care in

a variety of health care settings. This 78-hour program is offered both day and evening at the VA Medical Center in Dayton. Following completion of classroom and clinical hours, students may apply for state testing.

• EKG Technician program teaches students basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, ECG techniques and recognition. Upon successful comple-tion of this course, students will be eligible to take the National Healthcare Association certifi cation exam.

• COMING SPRING 2009 MVCTC Adult Education will be offering a Dental As-sisting Program in the evenings on the Miami Valley Career Technology Center campus in Clayton.

MVCTC Adult Education classes start quarterly and fi nancial aid opportuni-ties are available to those who qualify. Some of the healthcare programs may require pre-admission assessments. For more information about these and other Adult Education programs at MVCTC, please visit www.MVCTC.com and click on Adult Education, or call 800-716-7161.

Are you a service agency or community group? Do you need a speaker for your next group function? At MVCTC, we have a wealth of talent available to speak on a variety of topics. Please contact Kelly Herzog, Public Information Coordinator, at 937-854-6056 for more information or to schedule a speaker today!

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 4895

CINCINNATI, OH

MVCTC Adult Education Nursing Programs Start Twice a Year (January and July)