Dear CTECS Team,
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and want to share some updates, good news, and plans for the months to come.
First, I look forward to visiting all of our schools in the next few months. These visits are invaluable for me to learn more about your work, the needs of our schools, and how we can continue to improve together. The visits to date have given me a chance to tour the academic and shop areas, talk with administrators, staff, and students, and hear about your schools’ accomplishments.
This semester we have exciting events coming up to support our students in securing meaningful employment in the trades. In partnership with DAS Talent Solutions, we are bringing workshops to most of our schools to showcase trade-related job opportunities available within state agencies. Plans are also underway to partner with the state’s Workforce Development Boards and the American Job Centers to engage students in their spring job fairs. In addition, a variety of external stakeholders from state agencies, community organizations, and colleges and universities have reached out declaring their interest in partnering with CTECS to bring work-based learning and employment opportunities to our students. It will be a busy spring with these activities underway and I look forward to sharing the results in future communications.
Another highlight is the upcoming regional SkillsUSA competitions. These events celebrate the talent and skill of our students, and I’m looking forward to seeing their dedication and accomplishments in action.
For increased transparency, we’ll begin sharing CTECS Advisory Board meeting videos on CTECS’ YouTube channel starting with our January 22 meeting. This will provide everyone with better access to updates and decisions affecting our system. We are also pleased that we’ll begin hosting every other board meeting at one of our schools with opportunities for board members to talk with students and staff about their trade programs.
The Connecticut legislative session has just begun, and education is a key focus. I am proud to advocate for the needs of CTECS during this important time, ensuring our students, staff, and schools remain a priority for our state leaders. The state budget will be debated throughout the session and I will share information from the Governor’s budget address in February and deliberations by the Appropriations Committee in the coming months. In addition, on January 30, I will testify before the Executive Nominations Committee of the legislature on my nomination by the Governor to serve as Executive Director of CTECS. I am honored to be appointed by the Governor and to serve in this capacity through the rest of his term in office should the legislature confirm that appointment.
I am also pleased to report that the superintendent search, which is being conducted by the CTECS Advisory Board, is underway with interviews starting in the coming weeks and my selection announced later this spring.
Lastly, I’m happy to share that we’ve welcomed a new Director of Grants to the central office. This role will focus on pursuing funding to better support our schools and students. I am also pleased to announce plans to fill several vacant positions. In February, we’ll be joined by a new Human Resources Business Partner through DAS centralized HR services. This position will be instrumental in addressing a wide range of human resources related needs. Additionally, I will be bringing on a Chief Financial Officer and Legal Director to the central office staff later this spring to ensure we have the leadership needed for the system.
I will continue to provide updates via email in the weeks to come. Thank you for all you do to make CTECS a place of excellence for our students, adult learners, and a resource for Connecticut industry. I welcome your ideas and feedback as we keep moving forward together.
Dr. Alice Pritchard
Interim Executive Director
As the Interim Executive Director of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), I am honored to lead this extraordinary agency during such an important time. CTECS plays a critical role in shaping Connecticut’s future workforce by providing high-quality career and technical education to more than 11,000 high school students and nearly 3,000 adult learners. Our dedicated team of educators and staff work tirelessly to prepare students for rewarding careers and meaningful contributions to their communities. We ensure our graduates are ready to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving industries.
