Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. Named ACTE Champion for CTE

/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2020

Media Contacts:
Megan Kmiotek, ACTE
mkmiotek@acteonline.org 

Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. Named ACTE Champion for CT

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the ACTE Champion for CTE: Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D., Senior Executive Officer at Capital Region BOCES in Albany, New York. The ACTE Champion for CTE award recognizes education leaders, business and industry executives, celebrities and thought leaders who support and champion career and technical education (CTE) programs as a vital part of developing a prepared, adaptable, and competitive workforce.

Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D. joined Capital Region BOCES in 2017, and continues to prioritize the development and expansion of Career and Technical Education. This includes the addition of courses to enhance the experience for both high school students and adults while strengthening the regional workforce and the addition of many new business partners. It also includes the construction of a new workforce training center to replace the nearly 50-year-old Career & Technical Education training complex. The specialized building will be outfitted with cutting-edge labs and learning spaces to train students and adults for current and future industry needs.

Dragone has expanded partnerships and programming for underserved adults in downtown Albany at the Capital South Campus Center – including a new high-tech Internet of Things (IoT) Technology Demonstration Center. The center will illustrate the integration of technologies that can help improve quality of life, safety, and efficiency for regional municipalities, college and university campuses, high school campuses, connected roadways and smart buildings.

Dragone regularly meets with state lawmakers, business partners and regional leaders to discuss issues affecting BOCES programs across the state and to advocate for support of CTE. He also participates on numerous panel discussions around the topic of CTE advancement. In addition, Dragone co-leads the Capital Region STEM Hub, a regional cross-sector collaboration that represents education, business, industry, and nonprofit groups that support STEM activities throughout the eight-county economic development region. The goal is to create a more skilled and inclusive workforce and provide more opportunities for students to find success in school and beyond. As a member of the Regional Economic Development Council, he co-leads the Education & Workforce workgroup that supports CTE education and the training that fuels the region’s workforce pipeline.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award on behalf of Capital Region BOCES,” said Dragone. “Career and technical education is vital to developing a prepared and successful workforce. Helping our students achieve success is what we are all about and I am proud to expand, improve, promote and champion CTE.”

Dragone will be recognized alongside other national ACTE award winners on Dec. 3, 2020, at the ACTE Virtual Awards Gala during ACTE’s Virtual CareerTech VISION 2020. VISION is ACTE’s signature event, with more than 4,000 CTE professionals from across the country in attendance. For more information on the Excellence Awards and the Awards Gala, visit https://www.acteonline.org/awards.

###

About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.

About Capital Region BOCES
The Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) is the sixth largest BOCES in New York state, and delivers more than 300 educational and administrative services to its 24 component school districts. Combined, these districts educate more than 80,000 students in the Albany, Schoharie, Schenectady and Saratoga counties of New York state. In addition, Capital Region BOCES provides several services to more than 150 school districts outside of the Capital Region.