Volunteer Resources

Welcome to the volunteer resources page! This page provides tools, resources and recorded training sessions intended to help you be an educator in action and support you in whatever form of leadership you choose to take on behalf of CTE. If you’re a new volunteer and not sure where to begin, we encourage you to check out the resources we have and see if any of our current opportunities to get involved interest you. We send out an e-newsletter with fresh opportunities to volunteer each quarter – you can check out our past newsletters below. If you have any questions or need assistance from ACTE staff, please contact us.

PROMOTE

The word of a colleague is worth a thousand emails from ACTE (and who wants to get a thousand emails from anybody?) All it takes is few minutes to help us spread the word about ACTE news and upcoming activities – you can help by forwarding on relevant news, posting on social media, and telling your colleagues what ACTE’s up to. Below are some links to year-round resources to help you promote CTE and ACTE updates.

Follow ACTE:  Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to join thousands of other CTE professionals and get our updates on these platforms.

CTE Working Wonders: this annual CTE awareness campaign showcases ACTE resources to help you communicate to your communities and to colleagues, parents and students the crucial role CTE plays in our students lives and nation’s economy. Visit the Working Wonders page for resources you can share with parents, students, school counselors, and other audiences on the value of CTE!

Promote ACTE to Your Colleagues: ACTE’s research, national policy work, leadership development, professional development and services are supported by membership dues. If you believe in the importance of ACTE, you can help the organization by spreading awareness of ACTE and the benefits of membership. Here are some other resources:

Relevant volunteer trainings:

Advocating for ACTE: Membership Recruitment (Aug. 2016)
ACTE’s members make our activities, advocacy, and leadership on behalf of CTE possible, and building our network is an incredibly valuable contribution our volunteers can make. Learn about the power of peer-to-peer recruitment and ways you can help spread awareness of our organization both through direct and indirect methods.

CONTRIBUTE

Educators in Action are diversifying and elevating the collective voice of CTE professionals by sharing their stories, opinions, and expertise with the world via ACTE’s platforms. Here are some ways you can get creative while contributing to the dialogue.

Write for the Educators in Action Blog: The Educators in Action blog is a dynamic means for educators to discuss the latest hot topics in education and CTE. Blog posts are written by educators and CTE professionals like you and published to the blog and promoted by ACTE staff. The latest blog posts are promoted in our weekly ACTE News and the blog receives hundreds of views per month.

Write for Techniques Magazine: Techniques is an award-winning magazine, published eight times a year, which brings all members news about legislation affecting CTE, in-depth features on issues and programs, notices of new products, ACTE events and more. Anyone is welcome to submit an article proposal for the magazine- please see below for information on what we’re looking for and where to start.

Host a Virtual CTE Discussion:these live, online discussions are designed to empower educators and reinforce their professional skills. Led by career and technical educators, these regular discussions provide a platform for peer-sharing with professionals across the country. Discussions explore hot topics in CTE and tools and tips for strengthening CTE programs.

Present a Session at an ACTE Conference: If you’re open to presenting on your area of expertise, we encourage you to check out ACTE’s upcoming professional development events and submit a session proposal.

Serve on a Committee: ACTE’s committees directly contribute to oversight for the organization’s activities and help deliver programs at the Region, Division and national levels. Vacancies are filled by Region and Division Vice Presidents – you can contact them directly if you’re interested in serving.

  • Standing Committee Positions: National committee vacancies are typically filled from April-June.
  • Region/Division Policy Committees: Vice Presidents fill vacancies as needed/on an annual basis. Visit your Region or Division page to learn more about these committees and view past minutes.

Relevant volunteer trainings:

Can you hear me now? Get your audience to hear what you have to say! (Oct. 2016)
Whether you’re leading a classroom discussion, giving a demonstration or hosting a session on best practices for your peers, strong presentation skills are essential for any educator and leader.  This training, led by former Marketing Division Vice President Deb Moore, addresses how to be the best presenter that you can be.

ADVOCATE

One of ACTE’s most effective advocacy tools is you! Becoming an advocate is one of the most important actions you can take to secure the future of CTE. Not all advocacy requires a trip to Capitol Hill – there are a variety of ways you can help make a difference. Below are some links to year-round resources to help you advocate for CTE.

Relevant volunteer trainings:

Advocacy 101 (Sep. 2015)
The seminar focuses on why your personal advocacy is important and how you can more effectively advocate for your CTE programs at the local, state and federal levels.  You’ll receive an in-depth overview of ACTE’s advocacy tools and resources, tactics for engaging the community and media in your efforts, and key strategies and messaging tips.

Championing CTE in 2017 (Feb. 2017)
With a new Administration, new Members of Congress at the federal level, and many new state and local officials assuming office, the work of educating policymakers about CTE renews again. As always, ACTE is here as a strong national voice for CTE, but volunteers like you are critical for making advocacy present and relevant in your communities. Hear key advocacy and talking points for the coming year – we need your voice!

LEAD

ACTE is led by an active and engaged core of veteran volunteers who serve in formal leadership roles and informally engage at the highest levels of project leadership on initiatives that help ACTE. We are always looking for new leaders! Here are some opportunities to get involved that come with a higher level of commitment and independent leadership.

Plan CTE Month Celebrations: February marks a month of national celebration for CTE. See what educators have done across the country to promote CTE and check out student-made PSA videos, CTE success stories, and our calendar of events. It’s never too early to start planning a school visit, media event, or other activity to garner exposure for CTE. Whether you’re planning something big or small, we have ideas, tools and tips to support you on our webpage.

Nominate a Colleague for an Award: the ACTE Excellence Awards recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to CTE, programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations that have conducted activities to promote and expand CTE programs. Our ability to recognize the best in CTE starts with recommendations of outstanding professionals from a friend or colleague – like you! Learn more about how to nominate an award candidate in your state.

Run for a Position on the Board of Directors: Serving on the ACTE Board is a 3-year volunteer commitment and entails helping set direction for the organization, leading your annual Region and Division activities, and having fun while you learn to be a national leader for CTE. Nominations are open April 1-June 15. Visit our webpage to see what seats are open for this year’s election and learn more about the nomination process and requirements.

Recommend an Up-and-Coming Leader: Do you know somebody who would be a great leader for ACTE? Please encourage them to get involved if they haven’t already, and if they have we would love for you to recommend them to their Region and Division Vice President, ACTE staff, or to point them toward our leadership development programs:

  • National Leadership Fellowship Program: this year-long program is an instrument to provide professional development, policy knowledge and leadership development for CTE professionals. Applications are accepted in the fall.
  • State Leadership Training Program: this annual program is offered through sessions at VISION and NPS to provide state leaders with leadership training in addition to specific instruction in association management.

Relevant volunteer trainings:

CTE Month & CTE Showcase (Jan. 2016)
In February, educators across the nation celebrate CTE Month. Simultaneously, ACTE will launch a nationwide “CTE Showcase” campaign to showcase outstanding CTE year-round. Learn what you can do to spread CTE awareness as a part of both of these campaigns and hear from other volunteers about the unique activities and promotions they have planned.

Recognition in the CTE Community (Apr. 2016)
At a time when counties and districts across the nation are suffering from low teacher recruitment and retention rates, building strong communities of support, recognition and encouragement for educators is more essential than ever. This presentation focuses on what CTE professionals can do to foster a positive environment and strong community for growth and recognition, both locally and in their state/nationwide.

Other Volunteer/Leadership Resources
The presentations below provide general tips and training for volunteers and leaders.

Tick, Tick, BOOM! Time Management Skills for the 21st Century CTE Professional (April 2017)
As an educator and volunteer, ‘time flies’ whether or not you’re having fun. It feels like the clock is always ticking with no end in sight, which can make one weary. During this engaging presentation, we’ll share techniques to master time management and balance your energy. Between your personal and professional life, it is possible to find balance and equilibrium. Don’t let life rule you – rule your life!

The Secret: What Great Leaders Know (and Do) – by Coleen Keffeler (featured at the 2017 ACTE Region V Conference)
Being a Leader – by Coleen Keffeler (featured at the 2016 ACTE Region V Conference)