DOVER – If you are a student aged 12 to 15 with an interest in natural resources and law enforcement, Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police is once again offering summer Youth Academies.

The Youth Academy is a five-day program designed to teach youth about boating safety, hunter safety, and how to protect our natural resources while looking to nurture the relationship between our law enforcement officers and the community. Participants in the Youth Academy attend tuition-free.

This year’s offerings include a Basic Youth Academy and two Advanced Youth Academies:

• Natural Resources Police Basic Youth Academy (New Castle County)
  Monday through Friday, June 25-29, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
  Application Deadline: Friday, May 25, 2018
• Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (Kent County)
  Tuesday through Saturday, July 10-14, Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center, 3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, DE 19901
  Application Deadline: Friday, May 25, 2018
• Natural Resources Police Advanced Youth Academy (New Castle County)
  Tuesday through Saturday, July 17-21, Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
  Application Deadline: Friday, May 25, 2018

The Basic Youth Academy is limited to the first 20 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have not already completed a hunter safety course or boating safety course when the academy begins. Applications must include a 250-word essay on why the applicant wants to take part in the Academy and what Delaware’s natural resources mean to him or her. Students who complete the program will receive both their hunter and boating safety certifications.

The Advanced Youth Academies are for those who wish to continue learning what it is like to be a Natural Resources Police Officer, as well as learning additional outdoor skills. The Advanced Academies are open to youth ages 12 to 15 years old who have either completed the Basic Youth Academy or have already earned their hunter safety and boating safety certifications. An overnight camping excursion is included and parent/guardian participation is mandatory for this portion.

The Advanced Youth Academies are limited to the first 15 qualified applicants, with priority given to those who have already completed the Basic Youth Academy. Applications must include a 500-word essay on either what they learned from the Basic Youth Academy or, if they did not attend, what the applicant learned when they took their hunter and boating safety courses.

Applications are available online at de.gov/fwenforcement, and at DNREC’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

Opportunities to support the Youth Academies are available. Without the generous support and donations from our community businesses, private organizations and individuals, the youth academies would not be successful.

For more information regarding the Youth Academy, please call Captain Brian Pollock at 302-365-8703 or email brian.pollock@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 31

Contact: Sgt. Brooke Africa, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-382-7167 or 302-739-9913, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

WILMINGTON, Del. – On December 12, 2017, Governor John Carney will host a roundtable with Delaware employers to discuss the expansion of work-based learning in Delaware. Governor Carney will be joined by Mark Brainard, President of Delaware Technical Community College, and representatives from Delaware employers to discuss workforce development, Delaware’s career pathways efforts and the importance of work-based learning in preparing Delaware’s students to succeed in today’s economy.

WHAT: Employer roundtable to discuss the expansion of work-based learning.

WHO:  Governor John Carney

Mark Brainard, President, Delaware Technical Community College

Executive Matt Meyer, New Castle County

State Senator Nicole Poore

Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education

Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Secretary, Delaware Department of Labor

John Riley, Interim CEO, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Gary Stockbridge, President, Delmarva Power and Chair, Delaware Workforce Development Board

Michelle Taylor, President, United Way of Delaware

Dr. Dusty Blakey, Superintendent, Colonial School District

Vicki Gehrt, Superintendent, New Castle County Vo-Tech School District

Heath Chasanov, Superintendent, Woodbridge School District

Rich Heffron, President, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Roy Proujansky, Chief Executive, Nemours

Chris Cowan, Senior VP for Human Resources, Christiana Care

Larry Brecht, Executive Director and General Manager, AstraZeneca

Mark Turner, Chairman, President and CEO, WSFS Bank

Scott Malfitano, Vice President, Corporation Service Company

Denise McKelvey, Head of Human Resources, JPMorgan Chase

Neal Nicastro, Plant Manager, PPG Paints

Edward Capodanno, President, ABC Delaware

Antre Alleyne Founding Executive Director DelawareCAN

Cynthia Pritchard, President & CEO, Philanthropy Delaware

Paul Herdman, President & CEO, Rodel Foundation of Delaware

 

WHEN: Tuesday, December 12, 2017

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Delaware Technical Community College Wilmington Campus, Conference Rooms A & B

300 North Orange Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

RSVP: Media planning to attend should RSVP to Jessica.Borcky@delaware.gov by 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 11.

###

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting today announced more than $400,000 in public grants to support new high school pathway programs. The effort expands on the statewide Delaware Pathways initiative to prepare all students to excel in key fields that offer good job opportunities in the new economy. The 40 competitive grants, awarded from federal Perkins funds, will benefit 16 districts or charter schools for the 2018-19 school year. Find a full list below.

The grants will support students as they enroll in advanced coursework and training in business information management, architectural engineering, public and community health, early childhood teacher preparation, agricultural power and engineering, and agricultural structures and engineering. This funding also expands opportunities for students to pursue training in current pathways, including business management and administration, healthcare, construction, and education and training. The new programs will begin in the 2018-19 school year.

Grant funds are used by school districts to implement career and technical education programs as part of a larger state effort to connect our public education system, post-secondary institutions, and employers. Students take hundreds of hours of specialized instruction and hands-on training in their pathways, giving them the opportunity to graduate with work experience, college credit, and industry credentials that are relevant to those industries. As a result, students receive a head start on getting a job and earning a degree.

“Delaware will hire or replace 30 percent of its workforce in the next eight years. These shifts require employers and schools to take a more active role in shaping Delaware’s talent pipeline,” Bunting said.

The Pathways programs currently serve about 9,000 students across 41 high schools. This is an increase from about 5,000 students last school year. Three years ago the program had one class of about 30 students.

Since 2015, more than $2 million has been allocated to support career opportunities for all youth.

Bunting made the announcement at Smyrna School District’s Smyrna High School, which is receiving five grants totaling $55,000 for its business information management, computer science, early childhood education, agriculture structures and agriculture power pathways.

“The agriculture and construction industries are facing a shortage of qualified workers, with the greying of today’s workforce. ABC Delaware is pleased to partner with the First State’s schools to help students prepare for the construction trades,” said ABC Delaware President Edward J. Capodanno. “With these new Agricultural Power & Engineering and Agricultural Structures & Engineering programs, we are helping students prepare for apprenticeships programs in construction after they graduate high school while helping to meet the needs of local businesses and companies. These programs put students on the pathway to successful employment.”

Pathways are developed in partnership with Delaware employers and institutions of higher education. The Department of Education provides curriculum support for each pathway as well as training for teachers to successfully implement the coursework. In addition, the department is working on agreements with Delaware colleges and universities to ensure that students who complete the new programs will be eligible for college credit at one or more institutions of higher education in the state.

College and career preparation is one of the educational focuses in Governor John Carney’s Action Plan for Delaware.

“Delaware Pathways is important for the future of our students and our state’s economy,” Carney said. “Our students learn academic and technical skills and also get meaningful work experience that prepares them for success after graduation.”

New Pathway Grant Awards Beginning in School Year 2018-19

Appoquinimink
Appoquinimink High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($10,000)
Appoquinimink High School: Public and Community Health ($6,000)
Middletown High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($10,000)
Middletown High School: Public and Community Health ($6,000)

Brandywine
Brandywine High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($13,000)
Concord High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($13,000)
Mt. Pleasant High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($13,000)

Caesar Rodney
Caesar Rodney High School: Academy of Business Information Management ($12,000)
Caesar Rodney High School: Architecture Engineering Technology ($10,000)
Caesar Rodney High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Education ($11,000)

Capital
Dover High School: Architecture Engineering Technology ($12,000)
Dover High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($6,000)

Colonial
Penn High School: Environmental and Natural Resource Science ($12,000)

Delaware Military Academy
Delaware Military Academy: Academy of Business Information Management ($12,000)

Delmar
Delmar High School: K-12 Teacher Academy ($10,000)

Indian River
Indian River High School: Computer Science ($5,000)
Indian River High School: Nurse Assisting ($11,000)
Sussex Central High School: Agriculture Power and Engineering ($14,937)
Sussex Central High School: Agriculture Structures and Engineering ($14,763)

Lake Forest
Lake Forest High School: Agriculture Power and Engineering ($15,000)

Milford
Milford High School: Agriculture Structures and Engineering ($15,000)
Milford High School: Public and Community Health ($15,000)

New Castle County Vocational Technology
Hodgson Technical High School: Cisco Networking Academy ($7,500)
Howard Technical High School: Cisco Networking Academy ($7,500)

Polytech
Polytech High School: Cisco Networking Academy ($7,500)
Polytech High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($7,000)

Red Clay
AI Dupont High School: Academy of Business Information Management ($12,000)
AI Dupont High School: K-12 Teacher Academy ($5,000)
Conrad School of Science: Computer Science ($5,000)
Thomas McKean High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($11,000)
Thomas McKean High School: Environmental and Natural Resource Science ($12,000)

Smyrna
Smyrna High School: Academy of Business Information Mgmt. ($12,000)
Smyrna High School: Agriculture Structures and Engineering ($15,000)
Smyrna High School: Computer Science ($5,000)
Smyrna High School: Early Childhood Education Teacher Academy ($8,000)
Smyrna High School: Agriculture Power and Engineering ($15,000)

Sussex Tech
Sussex Technical High School: Cisco Networking Academy ($7,500)

Woodbridge
Woodbridge High School: Agriculture Structures and Engineering ($12,821)
Woodbridge High School: Computer Science ($5,000)
Woodbridge High School: K-12 Teacher Academy ($5,000)

New and Expanded Pathways

Academy of Business Information Management
The NAF Academy of Business Information Management introduces students to the skills needed to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate business functions essential to business operations through courses focusing on entrepreneurship, global and domestic economics, information technology, customer service, and ethics. Students gain critical career knowledge through a series of work-based learning activities that are conducted in school as well as outside the classroom. These activities may include, but are not limited to, job shadowing, mock interviews, and resume writing workshops. In addition, a paid 120-hour summer internship is designed to be included as part of the program.

Agricultural Power and Engineering
The Agricultural Power and Engineering program of study provides students with the mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles and methods required to understand dynamic power systems and metal fabrication. Students practice real world applications, communication skills, and problem solving skills associated with dynamic power systems and metal fabrication. Students are prepared for a variety of careers including engineering, welding technicians, mechanical and industrial technicians, maintenance technicians, mechanical engineering, metal fabrication, CNC operators, power technology repair and troubleshooting, and green energy technologies.

Agricultural Structures and Engineering
The Agricultural Structures and Engineering program of study provides students with the scientific principles and methods required to understand the interrelationships of construction. Students practice real world applications and problem solving skills associated with agricultural designs and engineering principles. Students utilize problem solving, as well as communication skills to develop engineering concepts and building practices that are sound and reliable. The program prepares students for a variety of careers including carpentry, engineering, architectural design, electrical, plumbing, masonry, construction framing, business management, sales, building maintenance, home improvement, and green energy technologies.

Architectural Engineering Technology
The Architectural Engineering Technology program of study engages students in the world of construction and architecture through coursework focusing on site selection, drafting, architecture, and engineering planning, budgeting, cost estimating, and project management. Students utilize strategies to solve open-ended problems while they learn how to apply technical skills, knowledge, documentation techniques, and processes using modern, industry-leading technology and software. Work-based learning experiences and industry-mentored projects will introduce students to a wide array of careers such as architects, civil engineers, construction management, cost estimators, and drafters.

Computer Science
The Computer Science program of study helps students to develop analytical thinking and problem solving skills as well as algebraic reasoning and quantitate analysis necessary for careers in computer science, programming, and IT.

Early Childhood Teacher Academy
The Early Childhood Teacher Academy program of study prepares students for careers in an early childhood setting. The program engages students in developing a realistic understanding of early childhood education while exploring the importance and impact of teachers as well as the uniqueness of early childhood development. Observation opportunities including special needs and non-classroom settings, provide practical experiences to enrich the learning.

Environmental Science and Natural Resources
The Environmental and Natural Resources Science (ENRS) program of study provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and human-made, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. The program prepares students for a variety of careers including environmental engineer, environmental science and protection technician, geological and petroleum technician, natural sciences manager, wildlife biologist, and zoologist.

K-12 Teacher Academy
The K-12 Teacher Academy program of study prepares students for careers in elementary and secondary education. Observation opportunities in a variety of age and discipline settings, as well as special needs and non-classroom settings, provide practical experiences while enriching the learning. Students participate in a long-term placement during their senior year which allows for in-depth experiences in a classroom setting.

Nursing Assisting
The Nurse Assisting program of study engages students in open-ended problem solving where they study topics such as medical terminology and human anatomy and physiology. Students will acquire important skills necessary for healthcare professionals such as medical mathematics, communication, safety practices, legal responsibilities, and teamwork. In addition, students will develop technical skills such as providing personal care of the resident while taking care of their environmental needs and psychosocial needs. Students will identify signs and symptoms that require alerting other members of the healthcare teams such as choking or a significant change in vital signs. The program prepares students for a career as a certified nurse assistant (CNA), patient care technician, home health aide, licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered nurse (RN) in acute or long term care settings.

Public & Community Health
The Public & Community Health program of study engages students in a comprehensive approach to health. Students learn the history of public and community health as well as examine complex public health problems, major theories of disease etiology and intervention. Students explore public health issues related to epidemiology, mental health, disabilities, and substance abuse.

Media Contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

When it comes to career and technical education and preparing young people for life after high school, Delaware is emerging as a national and international leader, according to “Propelling College and Career Success: The Role of Strategic Partnerships in Scaling Delaware Pathways,” a case study just released by Jobs for the Future (JFF).

 

The case study is part of a larger series, supported by a gift from the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation to Harvard University, examining how states and regions are preparing tomorrow’s workforce and highlighting promising practices that can inform other college and career readiness efforts around the country.

 

In Delaware, nearly 9,000 students are enrolled in a statewide initiative called Delaware Pathways, which is designed to provide college and career preparation for youth. Under the program, high school students who enroll develop needed skills, get real work experience, earn college credit at no cost to their families, and gain industry-recognized credentials that prepare them for postsecondary education or employment when they graduate. The program has grown exponentially since its inception in 2014, with just 27 students enrolled in an advanced manufacturing pathway, to 4,922 students enrolled in a Pathway program in the 2016-17 school year, and an anticipated 9,000-plus students in the 2017-18 school year (exact enrollment numbers to be released in November 2017). At the same time, participating businesses are developing a strong local workforce of the future while helping students gain the knowledge and skills needed to be job-ready upon graduation.

 

The case study, authored by National Center on Education and the Economy Senior Editor Robert Rothman, lauds Delaware’s strong and diverse partnership that includes the K-12 system, businesses, higher education, and community agencies and organizations. Delaware’s collaborative nature, ability to respond to economic demands, and small size are cited as contributors to Delaware Pathways’ success.

 

“Delaware has emerged very quickly as a national leader in the career pathways movement,” said Robert Schwartz, senior research fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-founder of the Pathways Network. “It set an ambitious goal of having half of its high school students enrolled in career pathways by 2019, and it is on-track to meet that goal. Its work has been characterized by careful planning, robust support for implementation, and an extraordinary spirit of collaboration across agency and sector lines.”

 

“Propelling College and Career Success” traces the origins of Delaware Pathways to 2014, when Delaware began connecting national and local stakeholders to build a broad coalition of partners around a concept coined “The Delaware Promise,” a pledge to increase the proportion of Delaware residents with college degrees or postsecondary credentials to 65 percent (up from 40 percent) by 2025 and to enroll half of all Delaware high school students in career pathways by 2019.

 

“This initiative is critical not just for the future of the high school students enrolled but for the future of our state,” said Governor John Carney, who made career preparation one of his education platform issues when he took office this year. “Investing in Delaware’s economy starts with providing a quality education for Delaware’s children and making sure that our students have the skills necessary to compete and succeed.”

 

In Delaware, partners highlighted in the case study include the state Department of Education, the state Department of Labor, Delaware Technical Community College, the United Way of Delaware, the Rodel Foundation, and the Delaware Workforce Development Board.

 

The study also spotlights how Appoquinimink School District redesigned its two high schools into “schools,” each of which includes one or more career pathways. As part of each pathway, students can take Advanced Placement courses or dual enrollment classes to earn college credit, and each also includes work-based learning experiences with partnering businesses. Some of the pathways also have spread to begin in middle schools.

 

Appoquinimink Superintendent Matt Burrows said the redesign was aimed at supporting all students, including those who did not intend to go on to four-year colleges: “For a long time, we have been saying college and career readiness. We’ve done a wonderful job on the college piece. We want to do a better job on the career piece.”

 

Other case studies in the series, which will be published over the next several months, feature Marlborough, Massachusetts and Tennessee. The series spotlights states and regions that are members of JFF’s Pathways to Prosperity Network, a collaboration focused on building college and career pathways that was launched by JFF and the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2012. The growth and progress of the Pathways to Prosperity Network is chronicled in a new book, Learning for Careers, published by the Harvard Education Press and co-authored by Nancy Hoffman and Robert Schwartz, who jointly founded the Network.

 

“Propelling College and Career Success: The Role of Strategic Partnerships in Scaling Delaware Pathways” was officially released Tuesday at the national Pathways to Prosperity Network Fall Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 

To read “Propelling College and Career Success: The Role of Strategic Partnerships in Scaling Delaware Pathways,” visit http://www.jff.org/initiatives/pathways-prosperity-network.

 

About Jobs for the Future:

Jobs for the Future is a national nonprofit that builds educational and economic opportunity for underserved populations in the United States. JFF develops innovative career and educational programs and public policies that increase college readiness and career success, and build a more highly skilled workforce. With over 30 years of experience, JFF is the national leader in bridging education and work to increase economic mobility and strengthen our economy

 

About Delaware Pathways:

Delaware Pathways is a state-wide initiative aimed at engaging students in career exploration and training through sets of curriculum focused on specific industry-based “pathways,” paired with opportunities to gain workplace experience while still in high school, graduate with a head start on a college degree, and to best prepare for post-secondary education (including two-year and four-year degrees, professional certificates or apprenticeships) and career. Delaware Pathways is a unique collaboration of school districts, businesses, higher education, and national advisory partners that represent a “new way to do school.”

 

Media Contacts:
Alison May, Delaware Department of Education, (302) 735-4006, Alison.May@doe.k12.de.us
Michelle Sedaca, Jobs for the Future, (617) 728-4446 x212, msedaca@jff.org

 

Dover, DE — Governor Markell announced today the nomination of respected educator and human resources expert Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Ph.D. to serve as Delaware’s next Secretary of Labor.

For more than a decade, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson has served as Chairperson of Wilmington University’s Organization Dynamics Program.  In that capacity, she has helped prepare thousands of students for careers through instruction in the social and psychological elements of organizational behavior, leadership, motivation, workplace performance, and management.  Prior to entering academia in 1997, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson was a consultant providing training and consultation relating to workplace competency skills, employee selection, assessment and performance evaluation systems, and grievance procedures.  Prior to that time, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson gained a critical understanding of how organizations and governments can prepare employees for growth while serving in various roles with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the District of Columbia Courts, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Patrice’s experience and background coupled with her strong work ethic, dedication to underserved communities, and her passion for public service will make her a strong Labor Secretary if confirmed,” said Governor Jack Markell. “I am confident that Patrice’s understanding of people and how best to support them and their organizations will allow her to help build a stronger workforce in Delaware.”

Dr. Gilliam-Johnson received her Bachelors in Psychology from Morgan State University, and her Masters and Doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Maryland. She currently resides in Wilmington.  Dr. Gilliam-Johnson is active in the community, including as President of the Gilliam Foundation.  She has served as a board member or volunteer with the Delaware Community Foundation, the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, and Communities in Schools.  If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of John McMahon.

“I am honored to have been nominated by Governor Markell to serve as Secretary of Labor,” said Gilliam-Johnson. “The Department has a hugely important role connecting people with the training and resources they need to get good jobs.  If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to helping them with this vitally important work.”

###