Name: Chester "Chet" P. Wichowski

Occupation: Associate Director

Employment History: Associate Director, Center for Professional Development in Career and Technical Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (1990-present); Senior Advisor for Curriculum and Training, U.S. Department of Labor and the United States Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1984-1990); Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education and Director of Statewide Curriculum Development , NJ Vocational-Technical Curriculum Laboratory, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (1976-1980); Associate Professor, Division of Vocational and Adult Education, Florida International University, Miami, FL (1976-1980); Assistant Professor, Division of Vocational and Adult Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (1974-1976); Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Vocational Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (1973-1974); Instructor, Drafting and Design, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ (1970-1973); Vocational Drafting Teacher and Cooperative Educational Coordinator, Ewing High School, Ewing, NJ (1969-1970); Specialist, U.S. Army, First Infantry Division, Vietnam (1967-1969)

Education: D.Ed. in Vocational Industrial Education, The Pennsylvania State University; MA in Industrial Education and Technology, The College of New Jersey; BA in Industrial Education, The College of New Jersey

ACTE Involvement:

Division: NRS Division ACTE Resolutions Committee Representative (2000-2003), Vice Chair (2002), Chairperson (2003); NRS Division ACTE By-Laws Committee Representative (1997-2000); PA Delegate ACTE Assembly of Delegates (2002-present); ACTE National Policy Seminar Attendee (2000-present); ACTE Annual Convention Presenter (1990-present);

NRS Professional Development Section (APDCTE) Program Chairperson (1992); NRS Professional Development Section (APDCTE) President Elect (1992); NRS Professional Development Section (APDCTE) President (1993 and 2004-present); NRS Professional Development Section (APDCTE) Awards Committee Chairperson (1996-present); NRS Division By-Laws Revision Team Member (1996)

Region and State: PA-ACTE Program Planning Committee Member (1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005); PA-ACTE Conference Registration Chairperson (1996); PA-ACTE Conference Publicity Chairperson (1999, 2002, 2005); ACTE Region 1 Policy Committee Representative (2003); PA-ACTE Conference Presenter (1990-present); PA Cooperative Education Association Conference Presenter (1997- present); PA Integrated Learning Conference Presenter (1994 – 2004); PA Association  for Vocational Education Special Needs Conference Presenter (2003 and 2006)

Other National, State and Local Involvement:

PA Outstanding CTE Educator of the Year (2006); Faculty Advisor, Omicron Tau Theta (2005-present); Facilitator, State Revision Team of the PA Academic Standards for Career and Technical Education (2005); Member of the PA- CTE Committee on Basic Skills (2003-present); Reviewer of Federal Proposals for a National Center for Research in Career and Technical Education (1999); Reviewer of  Federal Proposals for Native American Vocational and Technical Education Programs (2001-2002); Invited Discussant on National Issues in Work-Based Education (2003); External Evaluator, Manufacturing Technology Program and Middle College Program Lehigh Carbon Community College and Lehigh Career Technical Institute (2002-2005); Internal Evaluator, Children Designing and Engineering Project, National Science Foundation, The College of New Jersey (1999-2002)

Platform Statement:

I believe that a strong organization is the key to effectively representing the needs of its members. Clearly, the ACTE is well recognized and respected among educators, legislators, and members of business and industry as a strong and influential leader in the area of career and technical education. This level of respect and influence, however, requires continued self-inspection, revision, and organizational growth.

Declining membership and reduced levels of participation in ACTE activities must be turned around in order to maintain the vitality and effectiveness of the organization. To this end, I am committed to focus on increasing the membership of the NRS Division as well as contributing to the overall growth of ACTE. I am also committed to work hard to serve all the members of the NRS Division, provide representation to all sections of the NRS Division, and be a strong advocate for the NRS Division within the ACTE. I will also provide leadership and work with the members of NRS in seeking solutions to other challenges we all face. Some of these include:

• Gaining continued support for the re-authorization of the Perkins Legislation
• Developing programs to increase the effective integration of academics and CTE
• Promoting a positive image as well as the economic value of CTE
• Working to increase membership and involvement in ACTE  and state affiliates