Dive Brief:

• In an interview with District Administration, Sheila Harrity, a principal at Massachusetts' Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District, describes the turnaround efforts that are underway in the technical program that serves 18 school districts.
• Harrity has a background in vocational technology transformations: At her previous school, Worcester Technical High School, which served a predominantly poor student body, passing rates in English and math rose to 92% and 84%, respectively, and dropouts plummeted.
• At Monty Tech, she has bolstered school-business partnerships in addition to adding rigor and opportunities for real-world certifications and college credit for courses; for example, the school has added an EMT certification course, with the option to take the state certification exam, to its health services program.

Dive Insight:

Vocational technical programs are often an afterthought but more schools and districts are beginning to rethink their approach, as they look to build out STEM programs and other hands-on skill building for students. Harrity’s approach at Monty Tech is notable for its comprehensive vision for involvement and the creativity with which school resources are used to further students' technical skills.

For example, Harrity and school leadership decided there was a need to build health services labs to boost academic offerings, with model simulators for patients to be diagnosed by students. Students in the school’s construction program, as well as faculty, will build out those labs inside the school building this summer.

Harrity doesn’t think of the technical program as a standalone, but she says it can help provide grounding for the student’s academic learning.

“Students are learning theory in their academic classes and are able to apply this knowledge in their technical program,” she told District Administration. “They never ask, 'Why do I have to learn that?' They understand it because they apply their skills and knowledge into their work.”