Applications for the 2016-2018 CTE Demonstration Project Grant will be available Spring 2016. Do you have a project in mind? A project in the works that needs some funding or a face-lift? Start planning now!

Call for proposals will be announced in the early spring and the application deadline will be June 1, 2016.

Information on Past Awarded Grants

The Career Technical Education Demonstration Project Grant program is based on Wyoming’s Career Technical Education Strategic Plan developed in 2007 entitled, “New Directions for High School Career and Technical Education in Wyoming”.  The program’s purpose is to continue the work started in 2008 to: (i) Prepare high school students for postsecondary options, including two (2) year and four (4) year college, apprenticeship, military and formal employment training; (ii) Connect academic and technical curriculum grounded in academic and industry standards; (iii) Provide innovation strategies for ensuring student access to career choices, as well as opportunities for work-based learning and dual enrollment in related postsecondary education courses; (iv) Support workforce, education and economic needs of Wyoming.

The awarded consortia of required core partners and additional partners under this program may request the Wyoming Department of Education for reimbursement of expenses associated with planning, development and implementation of a CTE demonstration project as a new or expansion to any existing high school CTE program in a school district.

Amounts awarded under this program shall be used for the following: 1) Curriculum development, 2) Project design costs, and 3) Fund initial purchases of equipment and supplies incurred for the demonstration project.  Consortia project proposal applications must focus on systemic development of career clusters, career pathways, career guidance, course sequencing, academic core-career technical education integration and curriculum alignment with industry standards.

Economic Development Areas and Career Clusters

The demonstration project must also lead secondary students from all levels to the workforce, certificate, credential, or college in the identified economic development areas and career clusters.  The Wyoming Department of Workforce Development in partnership with economic development agencies identify areas of critical need for economic development for each grant funding period.

After nearly two decades as FCCLA State Advisor, Patty Micheli is ending a career punctuated with successes and challenges, but proud of the organization and what it’s meant to students and educators. We asked her to step back in time to recall the early days and look forward to the next era.

Thank you Patti, for your time and commitment to Wyoming youth and educators.

Patti began her career in FCCLA during the transition from the Future Homemakers of America to Family career and Community Leaders of America.

As a brand new advisor, she was uncertain of roles and responsibilities, and just where she fit in. “It was an overwhelming undertaking, and I didn’t have much knowledge of what a state FCCLA advisor did. I’d worked very hard to be prepared, but had no idea (of what to expect). Those advisers were ready to chew me up and spit me out!”

The first fall conference was in Jackson where the main business was accepting the name change from FHA to FCCLA. Micheli recalls unforeseen circumstances led to an early end of the event, but things soon improved. “We’ve come along way since then,” she laughs.” “Over the nineteen years, I have had many highlights,. Every year I feel, has been the best, but then the next year is even better.”

Challenges and Changes

Closing FACS programs across the state presented one of her greatest challenges. Teachers didn’t fully realize the impact  they can have on students through FCCLA. “I strongly believe that FACS programs are needed more today than ever because students are not learning basic skills of finances, nutrition. relationships or basic life skills in the home,” she says.

Another frustration was the disadvantage to students for national recognition due to Wyoming’s one delegate status. “It was impossible for outstanding students to be elected  to a national office  because  Wyoming had only one voting delegate based on population. Micheli passionately lobbied for change, ultimately persuading the national office to change the election process to one state, one vote. The last two years, Wyoming has had a national presence. “I voiced my opinion over and over to any and everyone that would listen that this really put our students at a disadvantage. This has been an exciting change for Wyoming. Having deserving candidates elected  as a National officer has been one of my greatest experiences.”

Watching watching members grow from year to year has been especially gratifying for Micheli, like the shy seventh grader receiving outstanding national scholarships as a senior because she learned to do interviews; the keynote speaker spending time after the session to privately talk with students about their personal problems; succeeding and working with amazing advisers that are committed to making a difference. “I love working with these advisers and their outstanding students. They have been an inspiration to me.”

“FCCLA is the only student organization with a focus on families. We help our students recognize the need to balance careers with community service and family responsibilities,” she remarks.

Micheli notes that while the national organization does a great job of identifying issues and challenges facing young people today,   the state was a leader in  anti-bullying in schools. “We received a $10,000 grant and did a three day national FCCLA STOP the violence training for all of our members.”

She’s confident FCCLA will continue to grow and prosper, and most importantly, help students feel a sense of belonging and learn to function as contributing individuals.

“My hope is that as these committed advisers retire, new advisers will gain that same commitment and FCCLA will keep growing and growing and influencing lives for the better. I will greatly miss FCCLA, and I will always be passionate about it. I know  it will just keep getting better and better. I’m excited for the future of our state organization.”