Meet Adrian San Miguel (PLSP-ECMC Foundation fellow)
Meet Adrian San Miguel, director of program services with Idaho Career & Technical Education. San Miguel’s interview appears as part of a spotlight series on 2020–21 fellows in the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation.
What leadership skills do you hope to develop as part of the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation?
Being a part of the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation, I collaborate with amaz¬ing peers from across the country that represent various institutions and their communities. Being able to listen to and value different viewpoints is one of the leadership skills I hope to continue to de¬velop. By listening and understanding where individuals are coming from, leaders become more thoughtful in actions that build a collab¬orative spirit. They begin to recognize that everyone adds value from their lens, building trust to work on finding solutions together.
How do you anticipate your participation in the program will better equip you to support career and technical education (CTE) students, particularly underserved groups, toward career success?
A community is powerful when we harness the ability to share and support each other in our work. While we all might not have the ex¬act same situation or challenge, we can learn from our approaches and successes, toward a common goal such as better support for underserved groups. ACTE and ECMC Foundation provide that community. I am excited to focus on, and provide support for, un¬derserved populations through better understanding of policy and how data can be leveraged to target and support Perkins funds — to help every student gain access to CTE.
In your opinion, what are the most important elements of professional development for postsecondary leaders?
The PLSP–ECMC Foundation has demonstrated key elements of successful professional development for postsecondary leaders. Content is focused on addressing issues related specifically to postsecondary institutions in CTE, like advancing relationships with industry that are mutually beneficial and meaningful.
The program supports collaboration and fosters networking through monthly webinars and
meetings, like the National Policy Seminar and ACTE’s CareerTech VISION — now all virtual!
Most importantly, any effective professional development pro¬vides coaching and mentoring. From being paired with a mentor, to working with ACTE leadership and their partners, it offers op¬portunities for constant feedback and reflection that can sustain personal growth.
Learn more about the PLSP–ECMC Foundation.
The Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation presents a yearlong professional development experience. The program is intended to develop the organizational leadership and management skills of postsecondary CTE professionals, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved populations. Applications for the third cohort open Oct. 1.
