PATHWAY CONNECTION

The Career & Technical Education (CTE) Train the Trainer Program pathway project was designed to help construction industry experts who wish to pivot their careers and teach the next generation of workers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for a career in education. This program aimed to prepare experienced professionals in construction and the trades to acquire the foundational skills needed to teach noncredit programs within New Jersey Community Colleges.

Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) held a pilot program in Spring 2024. The participants included a diverse group of individuals, comprising of men and women from Asian, African American, White, and Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Delivered by construction industry experts with teaching experience, the training covered key topics such as emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices. It included instruction on curriculum design, assessment, and student evaluation.

The CTE Train Trainer Program is designed to bridge the gap between industry expertise and classroom instruction, ensuring that skilled professionals can effectively teach in CTE settings at community colleges. Reflecting on this mission, two of the participants are currently working at Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) and are further enhancing their qualifications by taking additional advanced manufacturing classes. This preparation will enable them to teach CTE programs in the Spring and Summer semesters of 2025. Similarly, another participant is gearing up to bring their industry expertise into the classroom, teaching a healthcare program at RCSJ in Fall 2025. These examples underscore the program’s critical role in cultivating industry-trained educators to meet the needs of students and workforce demands.