group photo

Photo L-R: Eric Cook, CCPS Career & Technology Education Coordinator; Rachel Stevens Parker, Governor's Workforce Development Board; Shay Lewis-Sisco, Career Coach, Dorchester County Public Schools; and Pam Clay, Maryland State Department of Education

Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS) recently partnered with Chesapeake College and other school systems on the Upper Eastern Shore to host their Spring Career & Technology (CTE) Program Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting. The event took place at Chesapeake College’s Caroline Building with a record-setting 145 people in attendance.

Chesapeake College President Dr. Clifford Coppersmith welcomed guests. CCPS Director of College and Career Readiness Lindsey McCormick introduced school system Apprenticeship Coordinators, and guest speaker, Rachael Parker, the Executive Director of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board-Workforce Development & Apprenticeship. Ms. Parker talked about participation with school systems in developing the future workforce, emphasized the need for collaboration with local expertise regarding best practices, and stressed leadership by example, which she acknowledged was out in full force at the event.

CTE PAC meetings are held at a minimum once per semester. These committees include local employers in the industry, local workforce development representatives, economic development, business/labor representatives, current teachers, CTE administrators, current and former students and parents/guardians. The meeting advises, assists and advocates for CTE programs of study, ensuring alignment between what is going on in the classroom with post-secondary institutions and local industry partners and businesses.

Local residents or business/industry members looking for more information on the Career & Technology Education Programs of Study at Caroline County Public Schools should visit carolinetech.org.

Individuals, businesses or organizations interested in joining the PAC committees should contact CCPS CTE Supervisor, Lindsey McCormick: mccormick.lindsey@ccpsstaff.org

Meeting attendees included individuals from:

  • AF Whitsitt Center

  • Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

  • Arcadia Assisted Living

  • Before & After Salon Spa

  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

  • Chesapeake College

  • Choptank Community Health

  • Colliflower Inc.

  • Combined Technology Solutions

  • Crossroads Community, Inc.

  • Corsica River Mental Health Services, Inc.

  • Culinary Arts Advisory board

  • Dixon Valve

  • Eastern Shore Hospital Center

  • Enrichment Chef Instructor; owner of Hambleton House LLC

  • Green Thumb Industries

  • Hunter Engineering

  • Jason's Computer Service

  • M and M Carnot (Johnson Controls)

  • Marine Trades Association of MD

  • Maryland Department of Labor

  • Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation

  • Maryland Small Business Center

  • Maryland State Department of Education

  • Paul Reed Smith Guitars, LLC

  • Preston Automotive Group

  • Sauer Compressors USA

  • Snap On industrial

  • Talbot County Hospice

  • Talbot County Public Schools Culinary Arts Advisory Board

  • Treasury Department

  • University of MD Global Campus

  • US Department of Justice (retired)