South Texas Career and Technical Education Association visits ENCORE
Edinburg, TX - January 30, 2009

Throughout South Texas, administrators seek a variety of new programs and curriculum that will assist them in enhancing the engagement of their students in the classroom.

The team at Engaging Communities for College Readiness (ENCORE) recently hosted a South Texas CTE Association Meeting at Texas Valley Communities Foundation in Edinburg, Texas. This organization is comprised mostly of Career and Technical Directors from the Rio Grande Valley. Participants in this session were provided an opportunity to experience an inquiry-based, performance driven, interdisciplinary approach to teaching through the Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (PAS) curriculum.

These educational leaders experienced first-hand what the Ford PAS student encounters when in the classroom. Through this curriculum, students are provided with real-world, hands-on activities that build on their 21st century learning skills which include teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication, all vital to their overall success at the postsecondary level as well as in the workplace. The ENCORE team took this opportunity to offer the directors professional development sessions for the teachers on their campuses. These professional development sessions would provide their teachers with effective teaching practices to enhance student engagement in the classroom, thus having an impact on overall student success.