ICTC RECOGNIZES SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

(January 31, 2008)...As citizen leaders, individual school board members face complex and demanding challenges. Few people fully understand the scope and far-reaching implications of board members’ responsibilities. All Pennsylvania citizens should recognize the vital contributions of these men and women and focus attention on the crucial role these elected public officials play in the education of our children.

Their job is to establish a vision for the educational program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community and strongly advocate continuous improvement in student learning. To achieve their goals, these citizens have to attend many meetings and school functions; read and study a multitude of reports, agendas, proposals and other information; and make a host of difficult decisions.

The ICTC school board members wear many hats in that in addition to serving their local school district, they also are school board members at the ICTC. Working together, school board members strive to educate the ICTC students for the competitive edge our young people will need once they enter the workforce.

The ICTC honored its school board members at its January 22, 2008 Joint Operating Committee meeting with a gift of recognition. Presenting the gifts were five ICTC student ambassadors: Jennifer Harvey, United senior; Katelyn Beatty, Saltsburg junior; Britany Bekina, Homer Center senior; Alyssa Poole, Marion Center senior; and Jacob Scott, Indiana junior. The ICTC student ambassadors extended an invitation to the school board members to return to the ICTC before February 29, 2008, during the regular school day and participate in a program called, “Adopt-a-Board Member Education Day”.

Under the direction of School Counselor and Leadership Advisor, Mrs. Kelly J. Fox, the five student leaders are prepared to host the school board member from their sending school district in their technical program area at the ICTC. The school board member will shadow the student ambassador and experience the academic and technical skills taught in their particular ICTC program. Mrs. Fox says that she is excited about this unique leadership project, “The “Adopt–a-Board Member Education Day”. This is a wonderful opportunity for the ICTC school board members to learn first hand what a day for an ICTC student entails. It is also a project that allows the ICTC student ambassadors to practice their leadership training skills by assuming the responsibility of spending a school day with their school board member in their technical program which will involve advance preparation, communication and presentation skills.

When asked about his plans for the day, Jacob Scott said, “I plan on showing my school director around the Masonry program. I hope she will gain an understanding of the technical skills taught and the equipment used at the ICTC.” Katelyn Beatty added, “It was interesting to talk to the board members. I appreciated the opportunity to attend the recent board meeting; it provided me with the insight of how board meetings are conducted.” The student ambassadors will plan their time with the school board members, communicate with them during their visit, and extend the necessary hospitality to make their visit enjoyable as well as educational. For student ambassadors and school board members, the day will be a valuable learning experience.

For more information on the ICTC, click here.

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