• Agriculture Science Teacher, North Thurston School District
• Vocational Education Director, Tacoma School District
• Executive Director, Washington Vocational Association
• Job Skills Director, State Board for Vocational Education
• Assistant Superintendent for Vocational Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
• President, American Vocational Association
• Region 5 Vice President, American Vocational Association
• Assistant Superintendent for State & Federal Legislation, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

The University of Nevada, Reno is organizing a competition for high school and home-schooled students, whose objective is to 

attract them to 3D CAD modeling. CAD modeling is an important STEM area. The competition is based on an innovative free web browser based CAD system, and it is completely free for the students.

The goal for students will be to create the best 3D design in NCLab using PLaSM, NCLab's free web browser based CAD tool. Usage of PLaSM is very simple as you will find in this tutorial. The contest is not limited to the U.S. but the official language is English. PLaSM is a new addition to NCLab so all competitors have equal starting conditions. Once more - everything takes place directly in the web browser, no purchasing or installation of any software is needed. First webinar will take place on September 5.

The competition will close on November 30, and winning designs will be announced on December 15.  

More information, including registration info is available at  http://cadchallenge.net.

A new Moodle webpage (moodle.ospi.k12.wa.us/course/view.php?id=127) has been created for GRADS teachers to communicate with each other, view and download framework files, and keep up to date on the latest news and upcoming events. Check it out.

• Pre-Conference Sessions, including a cooking demo and cook-off featuring the students at the Northwest Culinary Institute, fashion and marketing.
• Keynote Speakers Seth Aaron Henderson, Fashion Designer & 2007 Project Runway winner, and  Pati Palmer, Pattern Designer, Fit Expert and CEO of the Palmer/Pletsch Company.
• Educational Vendors, such as the Washington State Dairy Council, Wheat Commission, and Beef Council with the latest updates and materials for FCS teachers.
• At least 30 Breakout Sessions, featuring presenters with the latest educational materials in all the disciplines of family and consumer sciences.
• Networking and Area Meeting Sessions, where FCS educators can share their ideas, meet col-leagues and professionals and representatives of all the areas of family and consumer sciences. 

On August 1, Certiport, the official test delivery solution provider for the global workforce and academic markets, presented the Champions of Digital Literacy Award to Randy Dorn, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. Dorn was chosen for his work advocating technology training including Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology Associate certification for all high schools in Washington State.

In his three years as Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dorn has improved the state assessment system, argued successfully against cuts to education funding, and expanded early learning opportunities for all students. In 2011 his office partnered with Certiport Platinum Solution Provider CCI Learning Solutions to implement the Microsoft IT Academy Program. Since the program launched, more than 14,000 certification exams have been taken in Washington.

"Under Randy Dorn's direction, the State of Washington has become a model for statewide certification implementations to help students gain real world skills they can apply to the job market or in the classroom," said Ray Kelly, CEO, Certiport. "Randy has also worked to integrate technology learning into the state's common core standards to provide students across the state with access to relevant and in-demand technology skills that will accompany them throughout their academic and professional careers."

Read the rest of the annoucement here:  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9760364.htm

The Washington Association for Career and Technical Education's Awards seek to promote excellence in Career and Technical Education by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of Career and Technical Education, programs that exemplify the highest standards, and organizations that have conducted activities that promote and expand Career and Technical Education.

• An individual will or may have the opportunity to be alone with a child in child care at any time for any length of time; and
• Access that is not within constant visual or auditory range of the licensee, an employee authorized by the Department of Early Learning (DEL), or a relative or guardian of the child in child care.

As of August 17, there are 73 state-approved trainers and an additional 102 who have submitted applications and are in the process of being approved. This is a huge accomplishment in 11 months.

DEL has extended the training approval period for STARS training organizations to January 1, 2013. They want to make sure those applicants who submitted before the September 1 deadline are processed before the provisional approval period ends.

Trainers who have not submitted applications have an additional four months to complete the process and that current STARS-approved organizations may use the organizational level STARS approval until January 1, 2013.*

DEL will be evaluating a percentage of statewide training on an annual basis to give more information about whether the new system is working, and to be able to provide additional support and feedback to trainers. DEL is relying on partners to help improve the quality of training around Washington, as it is a critical link in the professional development system.

If you have ideas on how DEL can continue to build our capacity of high quality state-approved trainers, please contact by emailing, merit@del.wa.gov and place "Trainer Approval Process Feedback" in the subject line.

*You may temporarily see the approval date in MERIT still listed as August 31, but you will be able to create trainings beginning September 1. The date in MERIT will be updated to reflect this change.

Registration is now open for the 2012-2013 Real World Design Challenge. The Challenge starts in the fall, but you can sign up today.

The Real World Design Challenge is an annual aviation design competition for teams of 3-7 high school students. The Challenge is free for students and teachers. And each teacher that signs up a team will receive $1 million in professional engineering software as well as access to mentors from industry, government and academia. 

Every team that wants to participate needs to register even if they participated in the past.

For the 2012-13 school year, visit iGrants to access FIRST grant applications. Applications are due September 14.

Grants break out into three categories:

• FIRST Lego League - form package 605 (grades 7-8)
• FIRST Tech Challenge - form package 606 (grades 7-12)
• FIRST Robotics Competition - form package 424 (high school only)

You must log in to iGrants as a school, rather than a district, since the grants will be awarded to individual public schools. Please carefully read the "Profile" page for specific eligibility information.

All skilled and technical science subject matter teachers are invited to participate in the Fall Advisor's Meeting. Please advise your teachers of this opportunity. The meeting will help teachers know leadership requirements, up-to-date template for course approvals including information on 21st Century Skills, Common Core, Common Technical Core and the professional development program. Dates include:

• September 18 - Puget Sound Region; 6:00pm, Mt Si High School, $6.00 BBQ boneless ribs dinner. Please contact Jim Wickens (jwickens@auburn.wednet.edu) with your RSVP
• September 19 - Eastern Region; 6:00pm Northern Lights Brewing Co., 1003 East Trent Ave. Spokane WA. Order off the menu. Please RSVP to Will Sarett (wills@spokaneschools.org)
• September 20 - Central Region; 5:00pm, YV Tech, dinner provided, $15.00 at door. Please RSVP to Ray Cyr (cyr.raymond@yakimaschools.org)
• September 26 -  Southwest Region;TBD  Clark County Skills Center. Please RSVP to Tom Whittingham (thomas.whittingham@evergreenps.org)
• September 27 - Olympic Region; 6:00pm, AAA Buffet in Tacoma (10310 S. Tacoma Way)  Please RSVP to Keith Kuniyasu (kkuniyasu@nthurston.k12.wa.us)

Please copy Denny Wallace ( dennis.wallace@k12.wa.us) in your responses above so we have an idea of presentation materials.

OSPI iGrants Form Package 545 is open for 2012-13 STEM Lighthouse School applications until October 5. STEM Lighthouse schools originated in 2010 with the Legislature's passage of House Bill 2621. The bill directs the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to designate as many as three elementary, three middle and three high schools each year as lighthouse schools. The schools "serve as resources and examples of how to combine the following best practices:

• Small, highly personalized learning communities;
• An interdisciplinary curriculum with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), delivered through a project-based instructional approach; and
• Active partnerships with businesses and the local community to connect learning beyond the classroom."

Criteria used to determine the lighthouse schools included demonstration of increased student achievement; how the instruction mirrors the world beyond the classroom; involvement of under-represented populations; and involvement of business, industry, community, parents and postsecondary practitioners. Awards for selected schools are approximately $20,000.

Program Contact: Dennis Milliken, STEM Program Supervisor, OSPI, (360) 725-4467 or  dennis.milliken@k12.wa.us.

Two grants are available from Lowe's to benefit SkillsUSA Chapters and projects:

• Schools in Need - Deadline November 1. Grants range from $2500 to $25000. Classroom improvements, upgrading or providing tangible tools for learning technical skills, leadership development opportunities or providing for competition clothing .
• CareerSafe Vouchers - Deadline December 1. CareerSafe vouchers allow students to take an online assessment and earn their OSHA 10-Hours Construction or General Industry safety credential.

For more information, visit http://skillsusa.org/educators/lowes.shtml.

SkillsUSA Washington needs trades and industry individual to help form Technical Advisory Committee to plan, organize and carry out the 80 + contest held at the State Conference. In additional judges are needed. 

Please invite applicable advisory committee members  to attend this Wednesday, September 12, planning meeting at Renton High School, 5:30pm. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP with Bruce ( bruce.mcburney@skillsusawashington.org or Denny (dennis.wallace@k12.wa.us).