Q&A talks with Nivea Torres, superintendent of schools of the Connecticut Technical High School System.
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Q&A talks with Nivea Torres, superintendent of schools of the Connecticut Technical High School System.
Q: What's the biggest challenge that Connecticut's Technical High School System (CTHSS) will face in 2017?
A: The biggest challenge we face is to remain nimble when it comes to responding to the high demand for particular skills in the state of Connecticut. We have a huge responsibility in ensuring our graduates are equipped with the skills needed to meet these demands.
We work very closely with the Department of Labor and the Department of Economic and Community Development to make sure we are responsive to emerging economic trends.
Another challenge we face is addressing the negative perceptions of technical high schools that persist. We have taken great efforts in rebranding ourselves so that people view the CTHSS in a different light — one that more authentically represents our schools, students and teachers. We don't just provide career technical education, but also rigorous academic programs that you find in traditional high schools.
By spreading this message, we have seen the perceptions of our system change drastically.
Q: Connecticut is expected to have the nation's third-fastest decline in students enrolled in high school over the next 10 years. What enrollment trends are you seeing?
A: While we are proud to say that our enrollment and graduation rates continue to improve and be among the best not only statewide, but nationally, we are particularly pleased to see a rising number of young women enrolling in non-traditional pathways such as manufacturing and science, technology and mathematics.
For the longest time, the most popular pathways among female students included hairdressing and culinary arts, but as the perception of what were once considered male-dominated fields have changed, we see more diverse skillsets among our student body.
We have also seen more students enrolling with the intention of not just entering the workforce directly upon graduation, but taking advantage of our partnerships with state colleges to pursue a secondary education, often in their high school field of study. We have found that about 45 percent of our students enroll in either a two- or four-year college after graduating. About 6-7 percent of our students take the skills they learned in our schools and enter the military, as well.
Our enrollment and applications have remained consistent over the past five years in spite of the declining enrollment in some areas of the state. We attribute this to the fact that more families see technical education as a viable educational opportunity that can lead to multiple pathways for their students.
Q: As Connecticut manufacturers continue to struggle to find talent, how do we get more young people interested in the field?
A: We typically start recruitment early on. We try to reach parents as early as elementary and middle school so they can see technical education as a viable opportunity for their kids.
It is important to note that the manufacturing sector is one of the key drivers of our state's economy. In recognizing this, we have formed partnerships with several businesses in the manufacturing industry to ensure our programs align with their needs.
One of our partners, the Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), conducts a Young Manufacturer's Academy each summer to introduce middle school students to manufacturing.
Q: What do you hear or see as the most in-demand jobs and careers right now for students?
A: One of the common things we hear about is the aging workforce that is seeing more and more of its members retiring, resulting in new job opportunities for younger generations.
We see this particularly in industries such as manufacturing and construction. With companies such as Sikorsky and Electric Boat, Connecticut has become one of our nation's leaders in national defense.
With these companies signing new work contracts, more job opportunities have become available for our students upon graduation.
