For more than 50 years, the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency has provided local high school students in Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Maple Valley and Potterville a leg up on the future with career and technical education programming. Vlad Lebedintsev, assistant superintendent for career and technical education at Eaton RESA, provided some insight into the program.
What does Eaton’s CTE program do?
Our programs are very unique, as we work with contracted partners to provide instruction. Classes are held at local industry partner locations and businesses, such as AIS, Capital Region International Airport, Crosswinds Aviation, Farm Bureau Insurance and Potter Park Zoo. Our post-secondary partners include Davenport University, Lansing Community College and The University of Olivet. Students learn from industry professionals, and college professors use current technology and industry standard equipment in a hands-on learning environment. These opportunities often give students the ability to earn industry certifications, direct college credit, participate in work-based learning, leadership opportunities and more.
How do you shape the CTE program to align with industry needs?
All of our programs are approved by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education. In order to start a state-approved CTE program, there are multiple compliance-related requirements the applicant must go through. One of the most important is to conduct a needs assessment and ensure the program aligns with industry demands and needs. Once a program is approved, all of our programs have an advisory committee that consists of industry professionals, post-secondary representatives, parents, students and community members that provide feedback on the program’s alignment to industry and success.
What do you do to dispel the impression that CTE is for a specific type of student?
All students will need to prepare for a career after high school, and CTE is a great avenue to help students do that while in school. CTE considerably changed from the “old” vocational education that prepared students for dirty, low-paying and oftentimes dead-end jobs. CTE is specifically designed to provide students programming in high-wage, high-demand areas that prepare students for a high-paying career and/or further education. We have 17 different CTE programs available at Eaton RESA, anywhere from preparing future airline pilots, health care professionals, law enforcement and criminal justice, business, and information technology-related careers.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is seeing the positive and profound impact we make on students. We open doors for opportunities that sometimes were never even known about. Students are able to better their lives and prepare for their future by earning industry certifications, direct college credit, and participating in work-based learning and leadership programs. These experiences prepare them for careers they are passionate about, all while they are in high school and for free.
