What a great start to the new school year for so many! Yeah, there were the usual bumps along the way, but even those were handled and people kept on truckin’ what a testament to the staffulty we have and the passion that exists amongst our team.
I also got to enjoy a special event recently by attending the JATC (Central Florida Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee) graduation celebration at the Hilton Palace at Disney Springs.
Fifty one students graduated from the 4-year apprentice program – the largest number in the program’s history – and not only did they graduate, they were paid very well over the past four years while attending school and all are currently employed and all have absolutely no debt!
On top of that, they are in a high-salary, high-demand profession with no limits on how high they can climb! As our catch phrase says this year – there’s more than one way to a great career!
Jimmy and I came into OCPS in 1987 and met each other while taking our teacher certificate classes together at UCF. Janet has known my wife all of her life and me for nearly 40 years and has been with OCPS for 30 years now. I was also fortunate to be her kids’ principal back in the day.
These two individuals have created an amazing program that is not only respected across the state of Florida, but across the nation! They build partnerships, collaborate and focus on one thing, Changing Lives Through Education and it shows in the results – over three hundred people attended the graduation!
Their passion is the same passion I see all across CTE, and never doubt for a moment that what each of you is doing is making a huge difference in the lives of those we serve and in the families’ lives of those we serve.
Thank you for a great start to the school year, for making a difference and for being a part of the CTE family!
PS-As an update to last month’s message regarding my father-in-law’s health, Sandi and I are sad to report Dalton Russell White passed peacefully last week with family by his side. Thank you for the kind words, cards, emails, texts, and even flowers that have come since his passing. It has meant a lot to both of us and has given us much strength during this difficult time. Mike.
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