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3 3 F A L L 2 0 1 9 / S T U F F M A D E I N M A I N E CTE Schools University of Maine Electrical En- gineering Department told him that they prefer students with CTE experience in high school. "Students with strictly academic courses aren't as well prepared as electrical students from the CTE, because they've had no exposure to the technical or applied aspects of the field," Hallet says. Stilphen says the education also empowers students. The structure of the program works no matter what post-high school plans a student has. "No longer is it either/or," Stilphen says. "No longer is it a binary choice of a vocational edu- cation or a college path. It doesn't lessen the value of their high school education, it increases it. We don't offer programs that lead to career or educational dead ends." A 'courageous choice' Another benefit of the program is that it's an avenue for students who may not adhere well to the typical academic path. Students in the program are doing something they're interested in, and want to be there, Stilphen says. He sees students all the time who've "made the courageous choice to step outside the com- fortable path — a student's getting on the bus early in the morning to come here from Buxton for a weld- ing program," while her classmates are going to classes at their high school. He says that's "the most im- portant thing." "A lot of them get a concept of what they want to do," he says. "They're experiencing success, they're doing something they enjoy. Choice plays a huge role — it gives the students some say." The program pays for students' certification exams at the end of programs, and other costs associ- ated with programs. "All it costs the student is step- ping outside of their comfort zone and committing to it," he says. n Career and technical education sites The Maine Career Clusters framework comprises 10 career clusters and related career pathways to help students explore career options and better prepare for college and a career. They are an organizing tool for the state, communities, centers and regions to develop more effective programs. The following 10 career clusters offered at Career and Technical Education schools and the related career pathways listed below them form the structure for the dozens of courses offered at Maine's CTE schools. AG R ICU LTU R E & N ATU R A L R E SO U RCE S Wood Harvesting Architecture, Construction & Manufacturing Building Trades Drafting Electrical Machine Tool Small Engine Repair (includes Marine Maintenance) Welding A RTS, A U D IO / VID E O TE CH N O LO GY & CO MMU N ICATIO N S Graphic Arts Multimedia BU SIN E SS MA N AG E ME N T, A D MIN ISTR ATIO N , FIN A N CE , MARKETING, SALES & SERVICE Business Studies Cooperative Education Marketing/Sales CTE E MPLOYA BILITY SK ILLS CTE Employability Skills E D U CATIO N & PU BLIC SE RVICE Early Childhood Education H E A LTH & H U MA N SE RVICE S Health Services H OSPITA LITY & TO U R ISM Cosmetology Culinary Arts Travel and Tourism Management PU BLIC SA FE TY & SE CU R ITY Public Safety SCIE N CE , TE CH N O LO GY, E N G IN E E R IN G A N D MATHEMATICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Computer Repair/Install Composites Manufacturing Pre-Engineering Technology TR A N SPO RTATIO N Automotive Technology Auto Body Heavy Equipment and Commercial Driving MAINE'S CTE CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTERS AND REGIONAL Maine CTE centers are governed, operated and administered by a single school administrative unit; a CTE region comprises all the school administrative units within a geographical boundary. There are 27 CTE centers and regional schools in Maine. CE N TE R S Bath Regional Career and Technical Center / 207.443.8257 Biddeford Regional Center of Technology / 207.282.1501 Augusta / Capital Area Technical Center / 207.626.2475 Caribou Technology Center / 207.493.4270 Machias / Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology / 207.255.0345 Farmington / Foster Technology Center / 207.778.3562 Ellsworth / Hancock County Technical Center / 207.667.9729 Naples / Lake Region Vocational Center / 207.693.3864 Lewiston Regional Technical Center / 207.795.4144 Waterville / Mid-Maine Technical Center / 207.873.0102 Portland Arts & Technology High School / 207.874.8165 Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center / 207.764.1356 Calais / St. Croix Regional Technical Center / 207.454.2581 Frenchville / St. John Valley Technology Center / 207.543.6606 Sanford Regional Technical Center / 207.324.2942 Skowhegan / Somerset Career and Technical Center / 207.474.2151 Dexter / Tri-County Technical Center / 207.924.7670 Van Buren MSAD 24 / 207.868.2746 Westbrook Regional Vocational Center / 207.854.0820 R E G IO N A L SCH O O LS R E G I O N 2 — Southern Aroostook County, Houlton / 207.532.9541 R E G I O N 3 — Northern Penobscot Technical Center, Lincoln / 207.794.3004 R E G I O N 4 — United Technologies Center, Bangor / 207.942.5296 R E G I O N 7 — Waldo County Technical Center, Waldo / 207.342.5231 R E G I O N 8 — Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland / 207.594.2161 R E G I O N 9 — School of Applied Technology, Mexico / 207.364.3765 R E G I O N 10 — Technical High School, Brunswick / 207.729.6622 R E G I O N 11 — Oxford Hills Technical High School, Norway / 207.743.7756 SOURCE: www.maine.gov/doe