In an era where technology and automation are altering and revolutionizing the work landscape, our approach to education must evolve in tandem. It’s time to rethink, reimagine, and reinvent our teaching strategies to prepare students for a future already here.
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.
Name: Aimee Steele
Title: Assistant General Counsel
Career Cluster: Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
Company: Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
Career Outlook: Projected to have slightly more than 500,000 annual average openings from 2022 to 2032
Median Salary: $135,740 per year
Education Needed: Graduate-level occupations include those that typically require a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree
*All career outlook data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A: My interest in the civil rights movement as a child. Thurgood Marshall was my hero. I was interested and impressed with the way he and the NAACP used the law and legal strategy to challenge segregation in schools. The law is powerful and can be used for good change.
A: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in 1999. I earned my juris doctorate in 2002. I passed the bar exam in 2002. I received various promotions throughout the last 21+ years, the most recent being my hiring with Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District as the Assistant General Counsel.
A: I do not believe I am the smartest, but I am always the best prepared. I work extremely hard because I truly care about what I do and the positive impact I can make on the employees in my agency.
My advice to individuals who are considering the legal field: ensure you have a high reading retention rate. Ensure you are adept at multi tasking. Find the area of law that interests you, understanding that there is so much you can do with your law degree and license to practice.
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.
Name: Chris Orr
Title: High School Principal
Career Cluster: Education & Training
Company: Capital Christian High School
Career Outlook: 1% increase (little to no change)
Median Salary: $101,320 per year
Education Needed: Teaching experience and a master’s degree in education administration or leadership
*All career outlook data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A: I was fortunate enough to have family, educators, coaches, and a community who guided and inspired me to follow the path of academic excellence, moral values, civic responsibility, and discipline. I also recognized that every child in my community did not get the support and guidance that I did. I felt an urgent call to be to young people what many were for me.
A: Following graduation from college, I did not have a clear path of what I wanted to do. Initially, I took a corporate job that provided a decent salary, got married, bought a house, and started a family. But something was missing. Even though my dad told me when I graduated college to look at education as a career, I didn’t take his advice right away – but he always knew.
Outside of my professional and family life, I volunteered to coach, tutor, and mentor kids – that was my passion. As I began to surround myself with other educators, they began to influence and encourage me to pursue education as a career. I thought and prayed mightily in considering this move. At the time, I had a mortgage and a family depending on me. Any career decision had to be sound. I received some key advice and support during this time. One was from Mrs. Irene B. West – who was a legendary educator in our community who shared her pure joy in serving students and families daily. Another was from my Pastor who helped me see this was what I was being “called” to do – which was much bigger than just a job. And the final was from my wife. She believed in me and gave me the confidence that we would be able to make this move together.
I resigned from my corporate job and started substitute teaching. Within a couple of months, I was offered a full time teaching position. Since then I have progressed into education programming, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and now a principal role. The decision I made over 20 years ago has been validated ten-fold. It was absolutely the best decision I’ve ever made.
A: My approach in education has never been about comparing myself to other educators. It has always purely been about serving students and families. I firmly believe that when your drive is to serve in a great way, opportunities and success will take care of itself.
My only wish is I would’ve known my path right out of college and got started sooner. However, I do value my experiences because it makes me appreciate the outcome even more. I use my experience as a guide for students. I advise students heading into college to study something they love, because it will lead to a career that they love. It’s normal to look at careers that have big salaries, but your lifelong work is more than that. There is nothing better than making a living doing something you love to do.
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 Yris Oyola-Baker, a Project Coordinator in the Business Management & Administration career cluster. Yris shares with us the career journey that lead her to his current role with National Geographic Learning. She dives 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.
Name: Yris Oyola-Baker
Title: Project Coordinator
Career Cluster: Business Management & Administration
Company: National Geographic Learning | Cengage
Career Outlook: 6% increase (faster than average)
Median Salary: $67,280 per year
Education Needed: High school diploma and several years’ experience in the preferred work industry
*All career outlook data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
A: My father was my first inspiration and key to my growing passion for technology. He was an instructor of Hardware (Digital Electronics) and Software in the Peruvian Navy, and the computer lab was my favorite place to visit. It is there where I first learned about DOS prompt and ASCII code; while at home I would watch him work on circuit boards, logic gates, and later computer hardware. While in high school I had the opportunity to attend a vocational school, and I didn’t hesitate to choose Information Technology. Later, I attended Iona College to pursue a Computer Information Systems degree.
I have always appreciated the opportunities to work with people from different backgrounds and industries. I enjoy being resourceful and overcoming challenges that I face in my career. The knowledge that my work can assist others in achieving their goals brings me a great sense of fulfillment. The opportunity to connect with people and understand their motivations and goals is something I genuinely enjoy, alongside my passion for technology. This career path has allowed me to tap into my technical and analytical skills, creating a balance between “left and right brain”, which is personally fulfilling.
A: Some key milestones in my career came with each company I have worked with, whether it was with increased responsibilities or new opportunities. However, it is not solely about the size or recognition of these companies, but rather about the valuable lessons I have learned in each role. In my opinion, the turning points in my career are the opportunities I have had to learn something new, whether it involved venturing into unfamiliar territory or facing challenges head-on. During these moments, I have been able to leverage my technical skills to learn new software, employ my analytical abilities to devise solutions that drive results and tap into my creativity to explore innovative approaches. These experiences have always prepared me for the next step.
Sometimes we tend to think of milestones as events that occur over months or years, but with every project, every new thing we learn contributes to our development. My theory is that if I know more today than I did yesterday, it represents a turning point. This may not be immediately noticeable, but it is an additional pixel that contributes to the bigger picture. That one pixel could symbolize completing one section of the beautiful artwork that represents the journey of self-creation and individual growth.
A: In addition to passion and enthusiasm, continuous learning, adaptability, and staying current in the field are the key strategies to stand out. The way tasks or projects were completed in the 2000s is very different today. Software, processes, record keeping, communication, and even work trends have changed more than once over the years.
Awareness of these changes and welcoming the evolution of technology, with research to be aware of what is new and what is coming to the market, reading material, and learning new technical skills to stay current, has helped me in this regard.
Today’s educational demands require students, educators, institutions, and businesses to look beyond the four walls of a classroom for inspiration and preparedness. A learning concept that extends beyond the physical confines of a building is Work-Based Learning (WBL). WBL is an educational strategy that integrates classroom learning with practical work experiences…
ChatGPT, Dall-E, Bard, Synthesia, and Decktopus. What’s a person to do? We survived other technology – the PC, the Internet, Wikipedia – and we’ll survive artificial intelligence.
Join Cengage co-authors Les Dlabay and Brad Kleindl for insights on not only how to survive but thrive in using AI for your Career and Technical Education course planning, creating class assignments, and developing student AI career skills.
Principles of Business Co-Author,
Professor Emeritus, Lake Forest College
Principles of Business Co-Author,
Professor of Marketing, Park University
ChatGPT, Dall-E, Bard, Synthesia, and Decktopus. What’s a person to do? We survived other technology – the PC, the Internet, Wikipedia – and we’ll survive artificial intelligence.
Join Cengage co-authors Les Dlabay and Brad Kleindl for insights on not only how to survive but thrive in using AI for your Career and Technical Education course planning, creating class assignments, and developing student AI career skills.
Professor of Information Systems Technology, Author, Speaker
America is experiencing a skills gap with employers struggling to find workers, especially in industries that include technical and trade positions. We’re also seeing learners demand more choice and flexibility in their paths from education to employment. They want to be sure the education they choose leads to a secure, well-paying job. Career and technical education (CTE) could be the answer.
As Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month comes to a close, let’s join in giving another thanks to our CTE teachers and administrators across the country! Their passion and commitment to empowering students in gaining career and life skills is truly energizing, especially at this shifting time in our educational history here in the U.S.
Principles of Business Co-Author,
Professor Emeritus, Lake Forest College
Principles of Business Co-Author,
Professor of Marketing, Park University