About the Program
VISION
The vision for the NextLevel Fellowship is to provide professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs through a nationally-recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable. The NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Program is made possible through the generous support of the ECMC Foundation. ECMC Foundation is a Los Angeles-based, nationally-focused foundation whose mission is to inspire and to facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes – especially among underserved populations – through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments in two focus areas: College Success and Career Readiness; and uses a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grant-making and program-related investments, to invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is for all learners to unlock their fullest potential. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting ecmcfoundation.org and ECMC Group by visiting ecmcgroup.org.
THE FELLOWSHIP
This is ACTE’s fourth cohort of postsecondary CTE professionals in leadership development activities. Through this program, fellows build their leadership abilities as they work alongside peer professionals and an experienced mentor in this year-long professional development experience. Fellows also elevate their interpersonal skills and capacity to communicate, collaborate, network, problem solve and use time and resources effectively. The core capstone project is to identify a professional objective to address in each fellows’ institution and carry it out to realize a lasting impact. This 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. The NextLevel Fellowship also includes a research study to help determine what efforts best contribute to leadership development among postsecondary CTE professionals and the creation of resources that can be widely distributed to support others in the field.
The NextLevel Fellows will participate in monthly webinars designed to challenge the current thinking and practices designed to propel action toward building a more robust and equitable CTE presence in each participants’ institution. The Fellows will be exposed to such topics as the future of CTE; building stronger alliances with secondary CTE and dual credit; building strong business-education partnerships and creating high quality work-based learning opportunities for students; what skills are demanded to lead in today’s educational and labor climate; Higher Education Act and Perkins reauthorizations; building global competencies; exploring the U.S. skills gap; interaction with leaders from governmental education agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL); and models for high quality CTE programs and instruction.
In addition to monthly webinars the NextLevel Fellows will have four in-person meetings to enhance the cohort’s experience as they attend conferences, including a visit to a nationally recognized community/technical college to see programs, business partnerships, and interact with leaders on that campus. The Fellows will also engage with current leaders from across the country on CTE advocacy, policy, instruction and leadership.
Questions about the program? Feel free to reach out to Lauren Fillebrown, Senior Manager of Leadership Development at ACTE.
