One passion + two opportunities: a fulfilled career.

Bloomfield, Amie ; Foster, John

As our nation looks towards the future and the types of jobs that will be in demand, it is evident that skills in many of the fastest-growing careers can be acquired in career and technical education (CTE) programs. The 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, confirms this fact and reinforces the importance of GTE. If we know the fastest-growing careers, if we have established GTE programs aligning to the demand, and if we have students eager and ready to learn these in-demand skills, there is only one thing missing: A highly skilled and knowledgeable instructor to impart their knowledge and prepare our future workforce.

The route an individual often takes to becoming a GTE teacher is not always a traditional path to teacher certification. Yes, there are traditional college-preparation paths to becoming a CTE teachers, like a business education program, but there are many areas for which these paths are not available. Many individuals who teach CTE courses are entering directly from the workforce. These individuals navigate through a variety of pathways, essentially because they have a desire to help students grow and learn. They also bring with them years of experience in their particular technical areas, and more importantly, experience that is current and relevant.

The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) has a continuing opportunity to work with hundreds of some of the most impressive practitioners in the CTE community through its test revision and development workshops that are conducted on a revolving cycle. As with many other testing providers, a key factor in successful test development is the involvement of subject matter experts (SMEs) at various stages in the process. Test development is based on credibility--not only of the reliability and validity of the content and the process, but also of the background of the individuals who are chosen as SMEs.

NOCTI is excited to present three individuals who not only have a strong desire to help students, but who have also stayed current with their content knowledge and possess a willingness to learn the best ways to deliver it to our students. We are proud to introduce you to just a few of the amazing professionals who really have a passion for teaching in CTE.

Patrick R. Hanrahan

Patrick Hanrahan currently teaches criminal justice at the Ida S. Baker High School in Cape Coral, Florida. The Sunshine State has not always been Hanrahan's home, however. In December 2007, after practicing law as a board-certified family law specialist for 35 years in Mentor, Ohio, and trying more cases than he can remember, he closed his practice and moved to Florida to enjoy retirement. Immediately, Hanrahan decided that retirement was not for him, and after more than three decades of law practice experience, and even more years of life experience, he decided he had something to offer kids. He began to explore his options, one of which was teaching.

In the spring of 2008, lie had his first assignment as a substitute teacher. In July 2008, Hanrahan was issued his temporary vocational certificate in public service, which was a requirement to teach the Criminal Justice Program. He continued to substitute teach in the fall and through January 2009. In February 2009, he was hired to teach criminal justice at Ida S. Baker High School, and in June of that year, he earned his professional certificate in vocational studies. For the next two years, he spent 450+ hours in both physical and online classrooms, continuing to earn certifications.

When he was asked about the transition from industry to education, first focusing on what he "gave up" to become a teacher. Hanrahan said: "I took a huge cut in pay. I lost the ability to leave the office when I wanted and to be gone for as long as I wanted. I also knew I was going to miss the rush of litigation, but I knew that going in. I had reached the point in my life where I decided there has to be something more to the than generating cash flow." During his time as an attorney, Hanrahan taught continuing education classes for lawyers. He also helped develop and teach a program for new lawyers for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Both of these experiences provided satisfaction and generated an interest in teaching. "I may have given up some money and some freedom, but I gained so much more. It is so much fun teaching high school students. They accept challenges. They present challenges. They make me think more than many lawyers I tried cases against. And they are runny, vibrant and an absolute hit the streets running every day. excited about my upcoming classes and what we will be doing."

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Individuals coming from industry have the advantage of being able to bring their experience into the classroom. Hanrahan is able to take the textbook and make the material real and relevant. He can tell his students about the real-life applications of cases. And, of course, from his many years in the courtroom, he is skilled at teaching his students how to induct depositions and be deposed, how Hit. a bullet-proof incident report, how to hold up under cross examination, and what goes on behind closed doors and what encompasses a plea bargain. In addition to these law-related subjects, Hanrahan can also share his knowledge on entrepreneurship skills, including hiring and firing staff, how to work with community leaders, how to become a community leader, how to juggle family and a profession, how to interview and even how to write a resume.

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Hanrahan has found his passion as a CTE teacher. He often tells people, "I'm retired and teach for fun. I cannot imagine not doing this until I drop."

Tony Sandutch

Walking the halls of Hazleton Area High School in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, you may run into Tony Sandutch, but the CTE classroom has not always been his home. Tony was introduced to teaching through his 13-year position as a maintenance engineer and construction manager for a power company in Pennsylvania. The company's owners was looking for someone to teach an electrical apprenticeship program during the evenings at a local career center, and Tony agreed to take on the task. He immediately knew that this decision would lead to a career change.

A major turning point came when the administrator at the career center needed some assistance on troubleshooting new technology that had been inst tiled. and Tony was happy to assist. Short I hereafter, the administrator asked if he was interested in a position at the center. At first, he declined. The administrator was adamant and presented another opportunity to Sandutch, which was an opening as the electrical technology teacher. He knew this was the job for him, and for the past 13 years he has helped to prepare hundreds of students for a career in the electrical field.

Sandutch did not give up his ties to industry, however. In 1999, he Formed his own business, providing consulting services in the areas of electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, construction and industrial controls engineering to both residential and commercial customers. When asked about what type of advantage his industry experience brings to his students, he said: "My students have an advantage because of my experience in the field in addition to my ongoing experience. I still work in the industry and have close relationships with many others in my field. My connections help to provide opportunities for cooperative-work assignments, field trips and job shadowing. In addition, many of [these connections] have provided donations of equipment and supplies for use in my classroom."

Sandutch has found his second career and he loves it. One of the things he enjoys most is being able to see students succeed because of the knowledge he was able to pass on to them. He has even offered summer employment at his business to some of his students. "I expect the same from my students as I do from anyone else when it comes to soft skills. They need to show up--on time--and be ready to work," he noted.

Sandutch has a passion for CTE and his students. After making a life-changing decision to enter teaching, he knew it was his calling and never looked back. He enjoys his students, he enjoys the classroom, and he is convinced that working with students helps to keep him young. And that is certainly a benefit!

Christopher Tully

Christopher Tully began his career in the field of multimedia technology at the age of 14. His family had strong connections in the industry that allowed him to spend countless hours observing the fast-paced action of recording studios and television networks. By the age of 25, he was producing and directing for many of the local networks in Philadelphia. During this time, Tully was offered an opportunity--an opportunity that forever changed his life.

During a visit to his former high school, the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tully was asked if he was interested in a teaching position at a local high school. He accepted a position with Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, and while confident in his decision in his career path, he still kept a foothold in the television industry. After two years at Roxborough High School, Tully accepted a teaching position at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Jamison, Pennsylvania, as the school's multimedia technology instructor. He has been sharing his knowledge and passion with his students for the past 11 years.

Tully admits that he was challenged during the first few years of teaching. "Coming directly out of industry with no real teaching experience made entering the classroom a daily struggle. Without having formal training to manage a classroom or deliver curriculum, I simply relied on my own instincts. When the kids looked bored, I entertained. When I noticed students weren't getting it, I broke things down. It seemed that the more challenges I faced, the more I wanted to overcome," said Tully.

Tully's day does not end in the classroom. He owns his own production company which offers a variety of multimedia services. One advantage of still working in the industry is that he is able to give his students a real-world experience. Because of his work, he has created a classroom culture and a curriculum which is based on the skills, knowledge and attitudes they will need to be successful in the industry. He believes that actively running a company and being a teacher allows him to make a direct impact on his program. His teaching reflects up-to-date practices and technology, and he can provide examples of what he just experienced with a client and what is on the radar, not what happened two, five or 10 years ago. His classroom reflects the type of work his clients are requesting, and he firmly believes his ability to remain up to date keeps the program curriculum current and relevant to the students.

After 13 years in the classroom, Tully says teaching is something he just can't give up. "With all the external opportunities I am afforded to leave the classroom to either go into administration, go back to industry or even run my own company full time, there is nothing I can produce that will give me the satisfaction of knowing I am impacting the lives of my students. I have always said I will retire the day I feel I am no longer effective. And, until that day, I will continue to do my best to make the greatest impact on the students."

Those Who Can, Teach

These are three individuals with very different backgrounds, yet they all have one thing in common--their passion for teaching and for their students. While their entry into teaching was not traditional and may not have been their first career, where they have ended up, as each has indicated, is exactly where they want to be. Their choices demonstrate their commitment to CTE and to their students.

We are proud of the choices our SMEs have made, including capitalizing on opportunities presented at just the right time in their lives, for making a decision to move into a position which was so different from what they were doing, for their willingness to give up so many of the conveniences that go along with a "non-teaching" position, and most of all, for continuing to keep their classrooms current and relevant for their students. This just goes to prove that those who can, teach!

Explore More

If you are interested in sharing your passion and expertise with NOCTI, please contact nocti@nocti.org or visit the website at www.nocti.org.

See other Educators in Action, and PS. maybe tell your own story, at www.acteonline.org/eia.

Amie Bloomfield is the customer care and outreach manager at NOCTI. She can be reached at amie.bloomfield@nocti.org.

John Foster, Ph.D., is the president/CEO of NOCTI. He can be reached at john.foster@nocti.org.