Press Release - NASDCTEc 2007 Officers Begin Terms Today

July 03, 2006
For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C. (July 3, 2006) — Elected to provide leadership to the national association representing the state and territorial agency heads of career technical education, the 2007 officers of the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium begin their one-year term today. The Officers will guide the work of the staff and the NASDCTEc Board of Directors toward achieving the association’s mission of providing leadership for career technical education’s role in education, workforce preparation and economic development. Key to this work is NASDCTEc’s leadership of the States’ Career Clusters Initiative, as well as providing premier leadership in the finalization and eventual implementation of the law authorizing the federal investment in career technical education.

Joining, President Milton D. Ericksen, Arizona Department of Education’s Deputy Associate Superintendent and State Director for Career and Technical Education, on the Executive Committee are: Vice President Rich Katt, State Director for Nebraska Career Education with the Nebraska Department of Education; Secretary/Treasurer Jean Stevens, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, New York State Education Department (NYSED), Albany, New York; and immediate Past President Katharine M. Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent for Career Technology & Adult Learning at the Maryland State Department of Education.

President: Milton D. Ericksen — Throughout Mr. Ericksen’s career with the Arizona Department of Education, he has worked to develop relationships between business, industry, and career technical education. This effort has resulted in 2,100 secondary and postsecondary programs that have enriched the educational experiences for both students and teachers. In addition, Mr. Ericksen currently coordinates information between the career technical education division of the Arizona Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Since 2001, he has also served on the Governor’s Council on Workforce Policy Advisory Board and the Association for Career and Technological Education.

Vice President: Mr. Rich Katt — As a secondary education instructor for over 30 years, Mr. Katt is well suited for his current challenges. As Nebraska’s State Director of Career Technical Education, he is responsible for administering the funds from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technology Act to provide leadership and assistance to career and technical education throughout the state’s secondary schools and community colleges. He also is involved with coordinating education activities with the Nebraska Workforce Development and Economic Development.

Secretary/Treasurer: Mrs. Jean Stevens – Mrs. Stevens currently serves as the Interim Deputy Commissioner for Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education in the New York State Education Department. In this position, she develops and implements education reform initiatives; manages technical assistance to elementary, middle, and secondary schools on comprehensive school improvement; supervises a staff of almost 400 employees, with a State Operations budget of $40 million; and manages State and Federal local assistance funds in excess of $1.6 billion annually, plus an additional $18 billion in State Aid to public schools. Mrs. Stevens works closely with the Commissioner of Education, the Board of Regents and other top government officials in formulating policy and regularly represents the Commissioner in matters relating to elementary, middle, secondary and continuing education.

Past President: Ms. Katharine M. Oliver — In her role as the Assistant State Superintendent since 1989, Ms. Oliver is the nation’s most senior State Director of Career Technology Education. Under her leadership, career technical education and adult education in Maryland have grown to become model programs for other states, dedicated to excellence and innovation. Ms. Oliver also created the Correctional Education program which provides educational and library services to inmates in the State’s adult correctional institutions and is moving toward assuming responsibility for student education throughout Maryland’s Juvenile Services System. In addition, Ms. Oliver is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board Sub-Cabinet, and serves on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s Center for Women in Technology Advisory Board.

NASDCTEc extends its sincere gratitude to Ms. Katharine Oliver for her time and service as the past President of this organization. During a year of fast-paced challenges and opportunities, her guidance and knowledgeable leadership proved invaluable to the organization. NASDCTEc looks forward to Ms. Oliver’s continued wisdom and service during the year ahead.

Founded in 1920, the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium is the Washington DC-based professional society of the state and territory agency heads responsible for career technical education. The state directors are committed to leadership and results. The association has a growing membership of over 200 members who share the State Directors’ commitment to quality education at the secondary, post secondary and adult levels.