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Lasting Impact: Thank you, Tim Shipp!

This is teacher appreciation week, and for me maybe the most impactful one I’ll ever have. Teachers shape us more than we realize, and in ways that ultimately influence your life for decades to come. For me, one stands out by far – who happens to be “hanging it up” this year. Tim Shipp will retire from teaching this year, but his influence will continue for many years to come.

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#ThankATeacher: Celebrating Educator Appreciation Week

PSA: My birthday is this week. (Yes, I am very big on birthdays- even as an old lady.) Do you know what else is this week? Teacher Appreciation Week. And in this day and age, I believe it’s critical that we focus on EDUCATOR Appreciation Week. Why, you ask? Well, how many people influence your child every single day? And, we are not only facing a teacher shortage in our schools today, but we are also facing a shortage of every single person who could make a difference for your child during his or her day at school. Don’t you think it’s worth a few minutes of your time to say thank you?

Webinar on Demand: Explore the Power of MapMaker to Fuel Your Science and Social Studies Classrooms!

Explore the Power of MapMaker to Fuel Your Science and Social Studies Classrooms!

National Geographic MapMaker, developed by Esri and National Geographic, is a mapping application that uses the latest in GIS software to connect social studies and science classrooms with essential technology for exploration. Created specifically for students and educators, MapMaker is easy to use, free to access, is browser-based, and usable on most laptops and tablets. Learn about MapMaker and how your students can gain a better understanding of how the world’s most crucial issues, challenges, and opportunities fit into the context of place.

In the Blink of an AI – Time to Shift our CTE Assessments_Corinne-Hoisington

In the Blink of an AI – Time to Shift our CTE Assessments

Thanks to ChatGPT, educators need new methods of assessment that are NON-TEXT in nature. It is highly necessary to create assessment methods that require students to produce authentic, novel, and personalized responses, which can help educators stay ahead of the uncertainty and workload that AI writers create. In this presentation, you will see tons of examples of new ways to assess that are not text-based!

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CTE Career Journeys – Sales Specialist

CTE Career Journeys – Sales Specialist

Antonette Adams

Sr. Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Journeys series is aimed to shed light on current career trends as they align to student career clusters. In this series installation, we have interviewed Aimee Steele, Assistance General Counsel in the law, public safety, corrections and security career cluster. Aimee shares with us the career journey that lead her to her current role with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. Aimee dives into what motivated her to pursue this career, milestones that lead to where she’s at today, how she stands out in her field and advice for others looking to pursue this career. This series also offers career outlook data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Interview information

Name: Ian Leonard

Title: Sales Specialist

Career Cluster: Marketing

Company: National Geographic Learning | Cengage

Additional Career Highlight Information

Career Outlook: About 1.8 million openings are projected each year, on average.

Median Salary: $62,400 per year + commissions in some instances

Education Needed: High school diploma or equivalent

*All career outlook data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ian Leonard, Sales Specialist

Question and Answer with Ian Leonard

Q: What motivated or inspired you to pursue your particular role or career path?

A: I have this memory of meeting with the guidance counselor as a high school junior. Super nice person, but she point-blank asked me: “So, what field of study do you want to enter in college?” Not having a clue, I hastily mentioned dentistry. (If asked, my chemistry teachers would’ve more than disagreed with my choice.) In that moment, I assumed my career path had to be determined – and fast. In truth, my career path has taken different directions over the years – just like it has for many others.

Part of what’s led me to my current role is knowing where I can contribute most. Knowing how you can best contribute – to an organization, a community, or team – can lead to a more fulfilling career.

Q: What were the key milestones or turning points in your career or life that led you to where you are today?

A: In high school I used to give tennis lessons and coach at local clinics – absolutely loved it. A fellow coach asked if I’d ever considered going into teaching. (Truthfully, I was just looking forward to graduating and starting college, so…no.) The teaching itch made a comeback during college which led to teaching and coaching positions in my first two career stops. Teaching wasn’t anywhere in the original career plan – until an outside perspective got me thinking. Looking back, I’m glad I listened to ‘em!

Q: What strategies did you employ to stand out in your field and differentiate yourself from others?

A: There’s a belief among some educators that their skill sets won’t translate into other fields – relatively set schedules, curricula, school policies, etc. specifically designed for education. This mindset can apply to other professions, too. In truth, there are plenty of connections to other fields. An example – I was asked during an interview if I had sales experience. I responded: “I’ve been selling education for years – to students who don’t always want it. In sales, adults just tell you ‘No, thanks!”’

Ultimately, the teaching background gave me confidence to better connect with educators while working in a business environment. Plus, having professional connections to the classroom is something we embrace here at Cengage in serving our schools. It was a good lesson in that there are plenty of transferable skills among the professions.

Q: Looking back, is there anything you would do differently in your career journey or advice you’d offer individuals in or considering your field?

A: It’s normal to retrace your steps and wonder if you’ve taken a different route somewhere along the way. Starting college, I was determined to enter the business field – even start a business. Instead, a few courses in the education department took me ‘off course’ and changed my plans completely. In the end, going off-script turned out to be just as fulfilling and rewarding. Learning isn’t ‘one size fits all’ and neither is the career journey.

The Samples You Want Without The Wait!

Request samples for your classrooms without the hassle. Our eSample site gives you access to hundreds of samples in minutes.
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CTE Career Journeys – Registered Nurse

CTE Career Journeys – Registered Nurse

Antonette Adams

Sr. Product Marketing Manager • Career and Technical Education • National Geographic Learning | Cengage

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Journeys series is aimed to shed light on current career trends as they align to student career clusters. In this series installation, we have interviewed Chris Orr, a High School Principal in the Education & Training career cluster. Chris shares with us the career journey that lead her to his current role with Capital Christian High School. Chris dives what motivated him to pursue this career, milestones that lead to where he’s at today, how she stands out in her field and advice for others looking to pursue this career. This series also offers career outlook data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Interview information

Name: Chaelyn Tani

Title: Registered Nurse

Career Cluster: Health Sciences

Company: Queens Medical Center

Additional Career Highlight Information

Career Outlook: 6% increase (faster than average)

Median Salary: $81,220 per year

Education Needed: Bachelor’s degree

*All career outlook data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chaelyn Tani

Question and Answer with Chaelyn Tani

Q: What motivated or inspired you to pursue your particular role or career path?

A: I have wanted to pursue a nursing career since middle school after completing a cliche “what do you want to be when you grow up” assignment. During my first year in high school, my grandma pushed me to start volunteering at my local nursing home. I talked to the nurses about their careers there, which helped solidify my desire to pursue a nursing degree after high school.

Chaelyn Tani, Registered Nurse
Q: What were the key milestones or turning points in your career or life that led you to where you are today?

A: My grandma got sick and passed away in 2006 from pancreatic cancer. I remember going with her to chemo appointments at Kaiser and decided I wanted to be an oncology nurse. I wanted to be someone who took care of others with as much love and compassion as those nurses showed my grandma and our family.

Q: What strategies did you employ to stand out in your field and differentiate yourself from others?

A: To stand out in nursing, obtaining a specialized certificate helps. I was able to obtain my oncology-certified nurse designation. Continuing education also helps to keep you the most up-to-date in healthcare, which is always evolving.

Q: Looking back, is there anything you would do differently in your career journey or advice you’d offer individuals in or considering your field?

A: My advice to future nurses is to make sure that nursing is your passion and not just a job. It can be a very thankless and emotionally draining job, and if you are not pursuing this career because you truly have a passion for it, you will find yourself burnt out. Also, remember there are so many avenues to nursing; if one place doesn’t suit you, find another that will.

The Samples You Want Without The Wait!

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Inform. Inspire. Educate. Re-imagining CTE for the 21st Century

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has a nearly 150-year track record of dynamic change and evolution. Despite its longevity and history, CTE is still a pillar of innovation, designed to equip learners with a blend of academic knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experiences. It also remains a leading approach to education that prepares individuals for the complex challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce. Today, CTE is on a transformative journey to reshape itself into a model that not only prepares students for current job markets but instills a lifelong passion for learning and exploration…