A COOPERATIVE PUBLICATION SHOWCASING FLORIDA’S CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
T E C H N I C A L
E D U C A T I O N
T O D AY
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Postsecondary Technical Education System
Building
Connecting
Leading
Postsecondary Schools Edition
Skills for work—skills for life—skills for a stronger Florida
Issue
3
December 2007
„ Healthcare: Reaching Higher Goals
A
ngela Turner was a
working mother of
four when she made a
life-altering discovery.
She realized that she
wanted to become a nurse. This summer
Angela graduated from a Florida technical center’s practical nursing (LPN) program. She competed in the SkillsUSA
National event where she placed third (in
the nation!) in the Health Knowledge
Bowl. She also competed in the Health
Occupation Students of America
(HOSA) LPN event where she placed
second in Regionals, third in States, and
fifth at Nationals. Angela returned home
with a HOSA scholarship for the technical center’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program. Now she is well on
her way to her dream job of becoming an
air ambulance nurse.
Embracing her sense of curiosity,
Angela now looks at things differently.
“There is so much out there! Opportunities to meet new people, enjoy new
experiences and to learn and grow from
others.” When asked about her experience at the technical center, the words
came easily. “Everybody here has helped
me. They have pushed me and guided me
to reach my goals. It’s a family environment surrounded with professionalism.”
learn
explore
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„ Making A Difference
A
s a Florida technical center
Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) Program Director, J. M. Flanagan
loves his job. “I make a difference in
someone’s life every day,” he says. Now
that’s job satisfaction!
Flanagan (as he prefers to be called)
takes his job seriously. He is an up-front,
straightforward guy who focuses on raising awareness of the EMS programs and
watching students grow within their
chosen vocation. His goal is to develop
students into confident and secure
professionals, sure of their knowledge
and skills and able to apply them in any
situation. As lead advisor for SkillsUSA,
a national Career and Technical Student
Organization (CTSO), Flanagan’s students hone their skills and compete at the
regional, state and national levels. CPR,
first aid, and leadership skills are just a
few of the categories in which students
practice and compete. With energy and
enthusiasm, Flanagan not
only makes a difference
in someone’s life every
day, he’s teaching others
how to make a difference
too.
dream
work
invent
build
T
echnical education
impacts thousands of
Florida’s citizens every day.
Citizens like Angela, whose
education is helping meet
Florida’s critical need for
healthcare workers.
Florida’s 144 regional technical centers are building a
stronger workforce—one
graduating class at a time.
Florida’s minimum wage:
$6.79 (January 2008)
Florida’s average wage for
an experienced:
Practical nurse—
$20.41
Registered nurse—
$31.98
achieve
create
Te c h n i c a l E d u c a t i o n T O D A Y
e x p a n d
a
f u t u r e
p u r s u e
a
p a s s i o n
e x p r e s s
s u c c e s s
„ Careers on the Water: A Mariner’s Life
P
edro Cabrera has always loved the
water. From childhood, Pedro has enjoyed fishing, boating, and water sports. He has
ventured 60 miles out into the Gulf to go deepsea fishing. While diving with his dad, he was
surprised by a sea turtle that thought his arm
looked like an appetizer. He’s been zooming
around on his Jet Ski when the engine stalled.
Fortunately, he was able to draw on his newly
acquired knowledge from a Florida technical
center’s Marine Service Technology program to
get the Jet Ski started again. Pedro got a jumpstart on his dream job by attending the program
while still a high school senior. During his senior
year, Pedro competed at the SkillsUSA State
competition and came home with a silver medal
in the Marine Technology Service event.
Whether it is rebuilding a carburetor, deep-sea
diving with his
“Pedro got a
dad, or seafaring
jump-start on
across the Gulf of
his dream job
Mexico, it is a
mariner’s life for
by a t t e n d i n g
Pedro.
t h e p ro g r a m
while still a
high school
senior.”
„ Captain Kelly at the Helm
K
elly Ewing is at home on the
water and off. As a Marine
Service Technology teacher at a
Florida technical center for the past eight years,
Kelly teaches students from 16 to 76. Using a
self-paced program, students learn what it takes
to become a marine technician who can work on
any boat system. From engines to trailers, on
fiberglass or wooden hulls, students learn the
mechanical and structural skills necessary to
repair boats of all sizes and shapes. Engines in
various states of repair surround the shop. Outside is a large tank of water where students test
reassembled engines. Down the walkway
students work on replacing the floor in a boat and
then repairing its fiberglass hull. One of Kelly’s
goals is to teach students how to use service
manuals and the proper tools to safely adapt to
unique situations. With Captain Kelly at the
helm, you can be sure
students are learning
to float your boat—
and are building a
better future around
our local waterways.
F e a t u r i n g
Florida Postsecondary Technical Centers
l e a r n
f o r
l i f e
c a r e e r
d r e a m s
t o m o r r o w ' s
t r i u m p h s
„ From Farmworker to Student
T
wo years ago, Brenda
Gonzalez spent long days
working in the fields harvesting
crops. Today she is an avid student
in the cosmetology program at a Florida technical
center. Brenda realized that the time was right to
expand her career options and that attending the
center offered her the opportunity to gain valuable and marketable skills. After watching mom
start classes, Brenda’s daughter Jacqueline
enrolled in the barbering program while another
daughter Jessica enrolled in business management. Brenda is leading by example!
Brenda has embraced her new role as a
student. This summer she competed at a national
SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City. She came
home with a gold medal in the American Spirit
event! As the president of the American Spirit
club, she has organized many events. When the
town of Greensburg, Kentucky was 80% demolished by tornadoes, Brenda helped organize two
car washes and raised a total of $1,000 to donate
to Greensburg. She helped promote patriotism
and citizenship with an on-campus ceremony
presented by the American Legion in honor of
veterans. A turkey shoot was also hosted to thank
local businesses for their support. Gaining new
skills, leading by example, giving thanks and
taking pride in America are just a few ways
Brenda Gonzalez fills her days.
„ Florida Wages—Experienced Workforce
OCCUPATION
Minimum Wage (January 2008)
WAGES
$6.79
Captains, mates, and pilots of water
vessels
$31.55
Motorboat mechanics
$20.10
Riggers
$20.68
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators
$15.91
Fire fighter
$26.67
Practical nurse
$20.41
Registered nurse
$31.98
Emergency medical technician and
paramedic
$16.72
Manicurist and pedicurist
$14.44
Hairstylists and cosmetologists
$14.58
Source: Florida Research and Economic Database
Your Florida Technical Centers
Thomas P. Haney Technical Center
Bay County Schools
Gadsden Technical Institute
Gadsden County Schools
Technical Education Center Osceola
Osceola County Schools
Bradford-Union Technical Center
Bradford County Schools
D. G. Erwin Technical Center
Aparicio-Levy Adult Technical Center
Henry W. Brewster Technical Center
Learey Technical Center
Tampa Bay Technical Evening School
Hillsborough County Schools
Marchman Educational Center
Pasco County Schools
Atlantic Technical Center
Sheridan Technical Center
William T. McFatter Technical Center
Broward County Schools
Charlotte Technical Center
Charlotte County Schools
Lake Technical Center
Lake County Schools
Withlacoochee Technical Institute
Citrus County Schools
Lee County High Tech Center North
Lee County High Tech Center Central
Lee County Schools
Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology
Collier County Schools
Lively Technical School
Leon County Schools
Miami Lakes Educational Center
Robert Morgan Educational Center
Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center
George T. Baker Aviation
Miami Dade County Schools
Manatee Technical Institute, Main Campus
Manatee Technical Institute, East Campus
Manatee County Schools
DeSoto Family Education Center
Workforce Education and Support Services
DeSoto County Schools
A. Phillip Randolph Northside Skills Center
Duval County Schools
George Stone Career Center
Escambia County Schools
Pinellas Technical Education Center
Clearwater
Pinellas Technical Education Center
St. Petersburg
Pinellas County Schools
Traviss Career Center
Ridge Technical Center
Polk County Schools
First Coast Technical Institute
St. Johns County Schools
Radford M. Locklin Technical Center
Santa Rosa County Schools
Sarasota County Technical Institute
Sarasota County Schools
Community, Technical and Adult Education
Marion County Schools
Suwannee-Hamilton Technical Center
Suwannee County Schools
Okaloosa Applied Technology Center
Okaloosa County Schools
Taylor Technical Institute
Taylor County Schools
Westside Tech
Winter Park Tech
Mid Florida Tech
Orlando Tech
Orange County Schools
Walton County Vocational Technical Center
Walton County Schools
Washington-Holmes Technical Center
Washington County Schools
Technical Education Today is a collaborative effort of the Florida Leadership for Career
& Technical Educators (FLCTE), a division of the Florida Association for Career & Technical
Educators (FACTE). For more information contact:
discover
perform
plan
Marsan Carr, Executive Director
FACTE
factexec@facte.org
Diane Culpepper, President
FLCTE
culpepd@ocps.net
Article contributions may be sent to:
Doug Wagner
wagnerd@ManateeSchools.net
Leslie Rowe
rowel@ManateeSchools.net
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