CTE Leadership Collaborative

While career and technical education (CTE) programs in high-demand fields exist, there is a shortage of qualified workers to fill middle-skill jobs, the quality and outcomes of programs vary, research and awareness of best practices are limited, leadership and professional development opportunities are uncommon, and shifts in innovation, diversity and de-stigmatization in the postsecondary CTE field remain minimal.

The CTE Leadership Collaborative (LC) brings together diverse perspectives and equips CTE leaders with the resources and skills needed to advance postsecondary CTE. Through grants made to leading organizations and institutions, ECMC Foundation-funded fellowship programs offer professional development to leaders known as ECMC Foundation Fellows (Fellows), including in-person and virtual events; writing and presenting opportunities; and capstone projects. Each fellowship program supports leaders from a range of geographies, a variety of disciplines and a mix of approaches dedicated to improving postsecondary CTE by addressing field-level research gaps, incorporating evidence-based approaches to student success, deepening related media coverage, improving campus-specific data use, integrating company hiring practices, advancing state-wide policies and more. ECMC Foundation ensures collaboration across programs by convening Fellows annually, hosting networking events, facilitating communication and offering funding to support Fellows interested in collaborating on projects.

This year, the CTE LC Fellow community grew to more than 300 Fellows. In recognition of the Fellows’ unique contributions and vast amount of knowledge to share, we began the Fellow Spotlight Series, which showcases past and current Fellows’ ongoing engagement with postsecondary CTE and their diverse perspectives on the field.

The LC includes the annual CTE LC Convening, where Fellows meet to learn and innovate together, enhancing on-the-job performance and potential for promotions, publications and other professional achievements. Held September 18–20 in Denver, Colorado, the 2023 CTE LC Convening brought new opportunities for timely conversations as we focused on the theme of belonging, specifically pertaining to the success and retention of both diverse students and practitioners. Sessions included workshops, keynote addresses, plenary and action learning groups on topics that included expanding accessibility in apprenticeships and training programs, enhancing programs for students with intellectual disabilities, leveraging FAFSA reforms to improve opportunities for students and ensuring postsecondary CTE resonates with employers.

In addition to renewing funding for two fellowships, ECMC Foundation hosted a Pitch Competition and facilitated a Mini-Grant Program to provide platforms for ECMC Foundation Fellows to apply fellowship learnings, launch innovative projects and grow their networks, all while driving equitable change in postsecondary CTE and inspiring collaboration among Fellows from the six fellowship programs.