By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Guam Community College is seeking to produce more instructors specializing in technical education, a goal that complements its efforts to build a pool of skilled workers on Guam.
“The goal is to graduate students who are both highly-skilled in their CTE area of specialization and who can apply best teaching practices," said Dr. Mary Okada, GCC president.
The Guam Commission for Educator Certification (GCEC) presented the Guam Community College with Bachelor of Science in Career Technical Education jurisdiction certification.
This is a milestone for GCC as the program has met GCEC standards in preparing graduates to acquire GCEC CTE certification. This jurisdictional approval of the program was a necessary step toward securing national education program accreditation, which is GCC’s next step.
"Ultimately, we hope our program will help meet the needs of the community and region in filling teacher shortages,” Okada said. “Furthermore, we trust that our program will help build a more skilled workforce competent in technical, educational and soft skills.”
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“Congratulations on your certification as a jurisdiction for education and producing educators that we need for our island and that is very important,” said Kenneth Perez, GCEC executive director. “We know as educators ourselves, that we have to put the right person in the classroom and it starts with teaching them how.”
According to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, many states use approved programs as a significant factor in granting credentials to those applying from out-of-state for certified teaching positions.
This program will provide an opportunity for students to apply their CTE associate or technical diploma (e.g. Culinary Arts, Automotive, Construction Trades, Early Childhood Education, etc.) to this baccalaureate degree to become educators who meet the CTE certification requirements of the GCEC and the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards for CTE.
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