Donna Rain-O'Dell

Thank you to everyone who’s joined our Early-Service CTE Instructors Community of Practice—and welcome to a new school year! Last year, our posts focused primarily on supporting brand-new instructors. This year, we’re shifting the spotlight to the people who support them: mentors, CTE resource teachers, coordinators, instructional coaches, and program leaders.

What’s New This Year

Our weekly posts will dig into practical, ready-to-use supports that help early-service CTE teachers where they need it most. Expect tools you can grab and go, real examples from labs and shops, and strategies you can implement the same day.

What to Expect (Weekly)

• Coach-ready
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Every win—big or small—matters in the world of Career and Technical Education. Whether it’s a student mastering a new skill, earning an industry credential, completing a successful work-based learning experience, or simply finding their voice in your classroom, these moments deserve recognition.

What’s one recent success in your CTE program that made you proud?

• How did it positively impact your students—individually or as a group?
• What strategies do you use to celebrate student achievements, both big milestones and everyday progress?
• How do your celebrations help build motivation, confidence, or classroom culture?

Let’s share stories that inspire and elevate the amazing… >>>

As CTE educators, we sit at a unique intersection of education and industry. Not only do we teach, but we also model lifelong learning, adaptability, and professional excellence for our students. Growing as a teacher means growing as a practitioner—and that journey looks different for everyone.

This week, let’s reflect on how we stay sharp, current, and inspired.

Discussion Prompt: What’s one professional development experience that’s made a meaningful difference in your teaching?

Was it a workshop, conference, mentorship, or course?
What did you take away, and how did it impact your students?
Would you recommend it to others?

Staying… >>>

As CTE educators, we know that preparing students for the workforce goes far beyond individual skill mastery. Today’s careers demand strong collaboration and teamwork, whether in a medical setting, on a construction site, or in a culinary kitchen. But how do we cultivate these essential interpersonal skills in a structured, purposeful way within our classrooms and labs?

Let’s open up a conversation about how we embed collaboration into our daily instruction and long-term projects.

Discussion Prompt: How do you encourage collaboration among students in your classroom or lab?

Do you assign roles within teams?
Do you structure tasks to require… >>>

To all our incredible CTE instructors—

This week, we pause to recognize the dedication, creativity, and heart you bring to your classrooms and labs every single day. As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to say one simple thing:

Thank you.

Thank you for being more than just content experts.
Thank you for being mentors, motivators, role models, and advocates.
Thank you for teaching our students the skills they need not only to succeed in a trade—but to thrive in life.

Every time you demonstrate a technique, hold a student accountable, stay late to help… >>>

As CTE educators, one of the most important roles we play is preparing our students not just with technical skills, but with the tools they need to confidently transition into the workforce. Career readiness goes beyond job-specific knowledge—it includes communication, problem-solving, teamwork, dependability, and professional behavior.

So let’s open up a conversation:

How do you prepare students for the transition from school to work?
What routines, habits, or practices have you built into your classroom or lab that help students see themselves as future employees?

We’d love for you to share one activity, project, or lesson you use to teach… >>>

CTE educators wear many hats—skilled instructor, mentor, lab supervisor, cheerleader, and more. At the heart of it all? Strong instructional strategies that engage students and support their success.

This week, let’s take a moment to share and learn from each other. What’s working well in your classroom or lab right now? How are you adapting to meet diverse student needs?

• What’s a teaching strategy or technique you’ve recently tried that worked well?
  Maybe you introduced a new way to check for understanding, incorporated a hands-on group challenge, or used storytelling to connect content to real-world careers. Tell us what made
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As career and technical educators, we’re always striving to prepare students for a workforce that’s constantly evolving. One of the biggest drivers of change in our classrooms and labs? Technology.

Whether it’s a new piece of equipment, an instructional platform, or software that streamlines learning, technology has the power to transform how we teach and how students learn. At the same time, many of our programs are rooted in hands-on, real-world application—and finding the right balance between tradition and innovation is both an art and a science.

This week, let’s reflect on the role of technology in your CTE experience:… >>>

Let’s face it—managing a hands-on classroom or lab takes a special kind of balance. In career and technical education, we’re not just teaching content—we’re guiding students as they navigate real tools, real equipment, and real responsibilities. Whether it's welding sparks flying or cosmetology kits spread across the room, keeping students safe, focused, and engaged is a daily dance of structure and flexibility.

That’s why we want to hear from YOU!

What’s your go-to strategy for managing student behavior in a hands-on environment?
Maybe you’ve mastered the art of clear routines, or perhaps you lean into restorative practices when challenges arise.… >>>

In Career and Technical Education, meaningful partnerships with local businesses are the cornerstone of student success beyond the classroom. This week, we’re exploring how educators cultivate strong industry relationships that translate into real-world opportunities—from internships and job shadowing to equipment donations and guest instruction. How do you approach relationship-building with businesses in your area?

Share a story from your own experience! How has a partnership elevated your program or impacted your students in a lasting way? Whether it's a local company providing hands-on training or a long-term collaboration that shaped your curriculum, we want to hear how your industry connections… >>>