On Sunday, I was
up bright and early at 4:50 a.m. to head to the airport for a flight to
Washington, D.C. Now, although I did get
to see some of the fascinating historical sights while I was there, I wasn’t
going for a vacation. I was packed and ready to attend the Association for
Career and Technical Education’s (ACTE’s) event called National Policy Seminar.
I had the opportunity to travel with a group of three other students, each of
us representing a different Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).
When my flight
arrived in Washington, D.C. I headed to the hotel, and that evening we attended
a “First Timers” session, where those who were attending the conference for the
first time got to learn about just what the next few days would entail. From
educators and advisors to business professionals and administrators, there were
people from across the country in attendance. We all had one important thing in
common: we were passionate about Career and Technical Education and the impact
it has on the lives of students. As we heard about the best strategies to
relate to legislators and share our stories, I got so excited for what the next
few days had in store.
That evening, the
group of students and chaperones from Iowa ACTE met and developed our plan for
our legislative meetings which would take place over the next few days. We each
had prepared a story of our own about a way we’ve experienced the incredible
impact Career and Technical Education has on students. Between finding our
passions and deciding our future profession to developing leadership and career
skills, it was extremely evident that we were serving as advocates for an
incredible cause.
We also reviewed
what main concerns we would discuss in our visits. One of the biggest struggles
CTE is currently facing is inadequate funding. While CTE and many CTSOs have
seen a significant amount of growth in the number of students and programs, we
haven’t seen an increase in Perkins funding to accommodate them. Perkins funding,
established through the Carl D. Perkins Act, is usually where the majority of
the financial support for these CTE programs comes from. An increase in Perkins
funding would be incredibly beneficial to students across the nation, and we
hope to see this happen in the future. We also encouraged our legislators to be
involved with the CTE Caucus, which allows them to collaborate with other
legislators in support of Career and Technical Education.
On Monday morning
we had our first meeting with Representative David Young. Next, we had some
free time to see a few sights. We visited the Supreme Court, and the Library of
Congress, and went and saw the Declaration of Independence and the
Constitution. While experiencing all of this history was incredibly fascinating,
I would be lying if I told you traipsing all over Washington in official dress
(high heels and all) was the most comfortable. While my feet were suffering, it
was well worth running into a few random strangers who recognized the blue
jacket. During my time in D.C., three different people told me how great it was
to see the FFA there in Washington. It was incredibly inspiring to be reminded
that I am a part of an organization that is known and respected by people
across the country.
Tuesday was
jam-packed with visits. The day started with a meeting with Senator Joni Ernst.
Next, we met with Representative Dave Loebsack, followed by Representative Rod
Blum and Representative Steve King’s staff. At the final visit of the day, we
met with a member of Senator Grassley’s staff, and got to have a tour of the
United States Capitol. That evening, the leaders of the CTE Caucus hosted a
reception. We got to meet fellow CTSO students from around the country as they
represented their respective programs, and network with congressmen,
professionals, and educators interested in supporting CTE. I even had the
opportunity to meet Dr. Steve Brown, the advisor for the National FFA
Organization.
Wednesday wrapped
up with a few more conference sessions. These focused on ways to gain support
within our communities for Career and Technical Education, and the ways that
programs are appealing to more and more students. They had two different
panels, all comprised of experts in CTE from a variety of backgrounds. It was
interesting to hear from so many different perspectives and learn about the
variety of experiences and opportunities that CTE provides for students. It was
soon time to head back to Iowa after a busy few days.
I am incredibly
thankful to have had the opportunity to represent FFA and CTE students at the
2018 National Policy Seminar. My time in D.C. was a great reminder of the truly
amazing impact that Career and Technical Education has on students across the
nation. Through our involvement in these courses, and in CTSOs, we become
well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the
future. Career and Technical Education provides students with the opportunity
to discover their niche. There is only so much which can be learned from a
textbook, and these courses go beyond the limitations of an average classroom
setting. The skills learned in CTE classes, and the opportunities offered by
their accompanying organizations, allow youth to graduate as employable,
competent young adults.
Many
times, students graduate from high school without having any idea what
profession they’d like to pursue in the future. CTE courses provide students
with insight that can guide them when deciding on a career path. In school, I
never found the place I belonged until I was able to start taking agricultural
courses and become involved in FFA. This is an opportunity that is made
available to each student in a school which offers these types of classes.
These programs will be essential to overcoming the skills gap and having a
hard-working and knowledgeable workforce. It was a privilege to interact with
and learn from so many people who share my passion for CTE and its impact on
students. I encourage everyone who has been involved in Career and Technical
Education courses and Career and Technical Student Organizations to share your
story. We need support for these programs, and the most powerful way to
communicate our message is by demonstrating exactly how CTE has benefitted you.
I thoroughly enjoyed representing FFA in our nation’s capital for a few days,
and having the opportunity to advocate for a cause so significant to me.
Peyton Schmitt
State Secretary
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