On February 5, 2018, I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Connie Strebe as she will be serving as my Mentor during the 2018 ACTE Fellowship program.>#0160; Connie currently serves as the Satellite Director for the Tolles Technology Center in Plain City, Ohio.>#0160; 22 CTE programs exist onsite at Tolles, but Connie specifically oversees 16 CTE teachers that work at several off-campus high schools.>#0160; Nearly 675 students attend the main campus and approximately 1,000 students take CTE classes at satellite high schools.>#0160; Connie told me that programs range from Medical Assisting to Pre-Engineering.>#0160; Having only been involved with CTE for 8 years, Connie has an impressive resume!
This year marks Connie’s 28th year in education.>#0160; Originally, Connie started as an English >amp; French Teacher and then went on to finish her Spanish credentials from The Ohio State University.>#0160; Connie continued on to earn a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Assessment from Ashland University, where she also earned an Administrative Endorsement in Grades 4-9 and 5-12.
In 2010, Connie joined ACTE and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.>#0160; That year, Connie took a job at Tolles and has learned so much about the field of CTE!>#0160; Connie finds it personally rewarding to see CTE teachers “working their magic” from their business >amp; industry backgrounds.>#0160; For example, Connie will often observe teachers showing students “what really matters” in industry.>#0160; She loves a time early in her CTE career when she first saw a student “weld a line” as the instructor had done such a nice job inspiring the student. It was moments like this that affirmed her decision to begin a CTE administrative career!>#0160; When asked about a frustrating topic in her profession, Connie mentions the debate of STEM education versus CTE.>#0160; Basically, Connie sees that we are “competing against the same kids.”>#0160; Going back to one of her favorite examples, Connie told me that “you can’t replicate a welding lab” in a STEM setting.>#0160;
The ACTE Fellows Class of 2012 included Connie.>#0160; One of her most enjoyable pieces of the program included the professional diversity of the fellows.>#0160; Connie tells me that it was a strong class and she keeps in touch with many of them today.>#0160; For example, she met a professor from the University of Texas and has become close friends.>#0160; Networking was her favorite part of the program along with the National Policy Seminar experience.>#0160;
Today, Connie says the field of CTE has come a long way.>#0160; Occasionally, she’ll face the challenges of the traditional vocational education stereotype with today’s CTE field.>#0160; However, she curbs that with discussions about her “hi-tech, hi-demand” CTE programs at Tolles.>#0160; Connie regularly stays up to date with industry by attending advisory meetings with a goal of “challenging kids to go outside of the box” with their thinking.>#0160;
In my conversation with Connie, I quickly learned about her CTE passion for students.>#0160; She is a difference-maker who genuinely cares about students and staff. >#0160;Connie also understands the balance that you must take between your professional and personal life.>#0160; I can tell that Connie is a great leader and I’m fortunate to have her as my mentor!
