What is it?

The Arizona Scitech Festival showcases Arizona as a national leader in science, technology and innovation with over 200 free events taking place state-wide between January 25 and March 14, 2012. Spearheaded by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation in partnership with Arizona State University and Arizona Science Center, the Arizona SciTech Festival is a grass roots collaboration of over 200 organizations in industry, academia, arts, community and K-12, geared to excite and inform Arizonans ages three to 103 about how science, technology and innovation will drive our state for the next 100 years. With such a diverse set of hands-on activities, stunning exhibitions, exciting workshops, thought provoking discussions and unforgettable tours; all at diverse locations through the state, there is something for everyone!

How can I participate?

Visit the Arizona SciTech Festival website for more information including a calendar of events, program guide and marketing materials.  We encourage you to celebrate CTE and schedule some time to visit the Arizona SciTech Festival and support our communities efforts in all that is Science, Technology and Education.

National Policy Seminar

This year the National Policy Seminar will take place on March 5th – 7th.  As posted on the National ACTE website, CTE Works!

CTE WORKS! — This is the message that D.C. needs to hear! As a CTE professional, you understand the significance of our work. Now is the time to make your voice heard! At the 2012 ACTE National Policy Seminar, you will have the opportunity to connect with legislators who need to see us, understand us—and remember us! When you attend NPS, you invest in our future by helping our leaders appreciate the critical importance of CTE nationwide.

• Online Registration
• Printable Form

Why Attend the 2012 National Policy Seminar?

• We are stronger together! With many special-interest groups lobbying for funding, it is imperative that we stand together and speak out with a strong voice to promote the cause of CTE.
• We will connect with the decision-makers! NPS offers a unique opportunity to meet our national leaders face to face and share with them the incredible value of CTE in our communities and country.
• We have the resources you need! At NPS, you will receive the latest news about the budget debates and other federal issues affecting CTE—as well as everything you need to advocate effectively.
• We can strengthen our future! Together, we can protect the gains we’ve made and ensure the security of our livelihood.

Stand up to be counted for the cause of CTE—join us at the 2012 ACTE National Policy Seminar!

Hotel Information:

Crystal Gateway Marriott
1700 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

The room rate is $239.00 single/double. You must make your reservations by Fri., Feb.10, 2012, to receive the ACTE seminar rate. All rates are subject to Virginia tax of 10.25 percent per room, per night.

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This year’s conference, Capture the Spirit of the West: ACTE Region V in Action 2012 will be located in Jackson, Wyoming on April 11th – 14th.

• ACTE Online Registration
• Printable Form
• Call for Presentations (Deadline Feb. 1, 2012)
• Exhibitor Information

Early registration ($350.00) ends March 1, 2012 and the registration cost then goes to $400.00.  For more information you can contact WACTE Past President Lyn Velle by phone at (307) 687-4553 or by e-mail at lvelle@ccsd.k12.wy.us.

ACTEAZ is proud to work with all of its members and affiliates in supporting CTE. We would like to remind you all that February is a month of celebration and recognition for all that is CTE. ACTE National is happy to present us with this year’s theme, CTE: Careers Through Education. We hope you will join us in recognizing CTE in your schools by sharing your success stories with your fellow students, educators and communities.

Ways to support and promote CTE Month:

• Play the student produced video PSAs that won in ACTE’s contest
• Plan for 2012 CTE Month events
• CTSO Events and Activities (Feb. 1st-29th)
• Job Shadow Day (Feb. 2nd)
• National Entrepreneurship Week (Feb. 19th-26th)
• Social Media Advocacy Day (Feb. 23rd)
• Share your CTE stories with us and with traditional media sources
• Involve legislators and businesses

For more information on CTE Month including sample press releases, CTE Facts and ideas on how to involve your community please visit ACTE here.

The newest issue of the ACTEAZ Review is now available.  Completely redesigned with a new look and feel; we hope you all enjoy it!

•  December 2011 Newsletter

For older issues, please go here.

The ACTEAZ Award Application is now available.  The winners will be awarded at the ACTEAZ Summer conference in Tuscon at the Awards Celebration on July 18th, 2012.  For more information and to dowload the application please click here.

2011 – 2012 ACTEAZ Scholarship Information

The ACTEAZ Scholarship Application is now available.  The recipients will be awarded at the ACTEAZ Summer conference in Tuscon at the Awards Celebration on July 18th, 2012.  For more information and to dowload the application please click here.

Submitted by Tony York

I was recently told of an article that was published in Nature, written by lead author Britney Schmidt, a former FFA State Officer from Flowing Wells High School. The excitement caused by the article was quite wide spread across the internet as a new theory helps to explain “chaos terrains”, tips of subsurface lakes that well up and warm the icy surface located on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. The implications of such a discovery includes the possibility of biological life and has the scientific community abuzz with discussion. While no doubt busy with her continued research and the attention from recent publicity, Britney was kind enough to discuss some of her views and answer a few questions on her success and her path through Career and Technical Education.

Q: How long have you been working in the field of geophysics and space physics?

A: Basically, I am a planetary scientist. I got my BS in physics in 2005 from U of A and my PhD from UCLA in 2010, so I’ve been involved since 2001 but actually out of school for the last year and a half. During my undergrad and PhD work though I was an active researcher.

Q: Have you always wanted to do something in this area?

A: I’ve always been interested in the night sky and space. Being in Arizona was a big part of that, because I could see the Milky Way from my backyard since I was a small child.

Q: In high school you were in the FFA and also an Arizona State FFA Officer. Would you say that being in this student organization helped prepare you at all for your career?

A: Definitely! I learned public speaking and interview skills in the FFA that have helped me to communicate about science with others. 

Q: Looking back upon your own education would you say that Career Technical Education was helpful in getting you where you are today?

A: I would definitely say so. Beyond giving me a place to be active in school and to learn new things, CTE/FFA helped me hone communication skills and gave me self confidence that has played a major role in my career thus far.

Q: Do you have any advice for students that are now beginning to look forward and plan for their education and careers?

A: I think it’s critical for students to take initiative and to be thoughtful about where they want to head. All too often people just pick a direction or course of study and just stick to it, never questioning whether it really is the right direction for them. Taking some time to think about yourself and what is important to you, where you want to be, the kinds of things you want to do and the kinds of people you would like to meet and work with helps you gain perspective on your path forward. I entered college studying Agriculture and English, but I found I needed to be answering different questions. I don’t think I would be where I am today or as happy with my directions if I hadn’t taken the time to think and to question myself. Sometimes being uncomfortable is a good thing–it means you aren’t taking the easy way out. 

Q: I’ve noticed quite a few news websites have snippets of information on your article. When writing it and having it published with the Nature journal did you expect this much interest and discussion?

A: Oh my gosh, not at all! It was such a surprise to have received such support for our work. When we were working on the paper and developing the ideas, we thought we were really on to something. We had hoped to give our community some new perspective and new theories to work on, and hoped it would be well received. To have our paper covered so widely and to have received so many emails with questions and excitement has been a real honor. I’m just thrilled. 

Q: So what happens now with your research?

A: Well, now we go back to the grindstone and test our model and apply it to more observations. In addition, I am spending some time trying to understand just what these conclusions imply for the habitability of Europa. The reason many of my colleagues and I study Europa is because of the potential that we might one day find life there. It’s a huge question for humanity, and something very important to me. Hopefully, we can figure out how Europa really works, and then motivate a mission to go back and test whether Europa really is habitable, and even better, if life exists there. Our work is a small piece of the puzzle, but I hope the whole picture might be visible some day soon.

Congratulations Britney and thanks again for taking the time to answer our questions!

Submitted by Tiffani Nichols

The Executive Club Council, a student organization at the East Valley Institute of Technology, has committed $1,000 to purchase toys for the Cardon Children’s Medical Center holiday toy drive.

Students will join Mesa District 3 Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 the Mesa Riverview Wal-Mart (1061 North Dobson Road) to purchase the toys and gifts for children to help them enjoy their holiday away from home.

Members of the community may drop off new, unwrapped toy donations through Dec. 8 at EVIT’s two Mesa campuses, located 1601 W. Main Street and 6625 S. Power Road. EVIT is also collecting canned and non-perishable food items through Dec. 12 for the United Food Bank.

Submitted by Jan Brite

The Education and Training Rigorous Program of Study at Tuba City High School was recently awarded the 2011 Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award from the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. The Pathways to Postsecondary Education Award’s goal is to recognize and showcase outstanding college access programs that prepare, encourage, transition or retain students into postsecondary education. (See attached award letter).

Tuba City High School is located on the Native American reservation in northeastern Arizona and serves students from the Navajo and Hopi tribes. The Education and Training Rigorous Program of Study at Tuba City High School, includes two pathways, the Early Childhood Education (birth-grade 3) and the Education Professions (K-12) pathways.

Each Program of Study pathway is based on education industry standards and includes an onsite work-based learning lab designed to provide students the opportunity to practice the concepts they are learning in the classroom through hands-on work experience. Participation in the program allows the students the opportunity to meet most of the requirements needed to qualify for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, in the Early Childhood Education pathway and qualify to work as a para-professional in the Education Professions pathway. Students who complete the high school program, also earn up to six (6) college credits through the dual enrollment program offered by Coconino Community College. Students can then transition to the community college with the credits earned toward completion of the CDA credential and their Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or the Associates in Elementary Education which is articulated directly to the Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education degree.