Laying the Foundation for Your Advisory Board | Origin: CM143
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Building and Leading Effective CTE Advisory Boards --> Laying the Foundation for Your Advisory Board
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
From what we have been doing so far, I have taken away that a strong advisory board is more than a compliance requirement, it's a key partner in connecting classroom learning to real-world careers. I plan to apply this by engaging board members to ensure our curriculum aligns with industry needs, create work-based learning opportunities, generate community-focuses projects, and help students earn marketable certifications. I see their expertise as essential for continuous program improvement and for showing students the value and relevance of what they're learning.
I've learned that is important to truly utilize the knowledge and skills of an advisory board. Nobody wants to just fill a seat, that doesn't help anyone and would be really boring. I plan to fully engage with the board members and to put their suggestions to use when applicable.
This has helped me create a clear visualization of what my ideal advisory board would look like, and what kind of individuals would best assist my program. The addition of a workforce development representative to our advisory board would be a great asset in ensuring our students are field ready. This has also made me realize the importance of appreciation for our board members.
It is important to provide opportunity for advisory members to be active particpants in the advisory process. It is also important to clearly uinderstand and define the role of the advisory board.
I truly believe that an advisory board should not be seen as a formal requirement, but as a real opportunity to strengthen our career and technical education programs. Actively involving employers, listening to their input, and showing how their ideas lead to meaningful changes is key to building relevant and market-aligned training. Genuine engagement leads to real transformation!
