Virginia Career Development Association

 Creating Connections for Virginia's Career Development Professionals

Your News Is Our News
Do you have newsworthy information or a link you want other colleagues to know about? Maybe you want to acknowledge a colleague who has been honored? Send your news to: news@vcdaweb.org

2008

November is National Career Development Month with the poetry and poster contest theme of
"Bridges to a Brighter Future:
Inspire Your Career - Empower Your Lives!"

Click here for more information and contest rules.

To highlight the growing importance of business engagement in education, the National Career Pathways Network (NCPN) and the Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have released a joint publication titled Thriving in Challenging Times: Connecting Education to Economic Development Through Career Pathways .

The publication's title reflects an increasing awareness among American employers and business leaders of the critical role they must play in supporting successful education models in their local communities, particularly in challenging economic times.

4/30/09 Job Posting: #BKP Education Support Specialist III, Counselor, Pathway/Career Coaching Programs, P-14.  The coaching/counseling position at TC Williams has now been posted. If you know of anyone you would recommend for this position, please have them go to the NOVA web site and complete the application process. This position requires a master's degree in counseling.

4/30/09 Call for Presenters: VCA's Annual Convention- Up to 75 programs will be selected for the 2009 Convention, November 11-14, 2009 in Williamsburg. Deadline extended to June 1st.  Click here for more information and to submit a proposal.

4/29/09 "Developing a Bright Future" - The Virginia Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education, invites you to our across-the-board 2009 Career and Technical Education Summer Professional Development Institute, Developing a Bright Future , from Monday, August 3, 2009, through Friday, August 7, 2009, in Richmond. The Institute will officially begin with a series of across-the-board professional development programs on August 4, 2009, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. On August 3, 5, 6 and 7, each CTE program area's professional association will provide industry certification training, technical update workshops, and teacher recognition programs. More information can be found by visiting the DOE link, click here.

3/10/09 VCDA Conference "Dealing with the Certainty of Uncertainty: Career Planning Matters!" 
Conference Presentation Handouts:
1. Academic and Career Planning:Facilitating the Career Planning Process with Students (powerpoint) Presented by Sue Sheffield and Terry Burton of Albemarle County Public Schools and Joe Wharff, School Counseling Connections Specialist, Office of Career and Technical Education Services, Virginia Department of Education. A discussion of the elements that support the success of Academic and Career Plans.
2. Using the Kuder Career Planning System to help middle school students create career-focused academic plans (pdf) presented by Micki Coffman, Career Specialist, TC Williams HS

3. We're off to see the Wizard! Handout (pdf) presented by Scott Kemp, Virginia Community College System Office of Workforce Development Services

4. Virginia's Career Pathways System (pdf) presented by Scott Kemp and Joe Wharff

5. Career Pathways: Utilizing Career Planning Resources presented by Scott Kemp and Joe Wharff

6. Drop-out Prevention/Launching Freshmen into Their Decade of Transition (no handouts) Presented by Rebecca Dedmond, George Washington University and Freshman Transition Initiative: The central role of career development in drop-out- prevention. Website: http://www.freshmantransition.org/

7. Stereotype Threat and Career Development, (no handouts) presented by P. J. Dempsey, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia Website: http://www.ctetrailblazers.org/

8. Resources for Career Clusters Roundtable -
http://www.vcef.net - Resources at the vcef.net site under the educator's tool kit section, including a PowerPoint presentation “Life After High School: A Reality Check for Considering All Your Options” – a good data-rich presentation that can be adapted for local use. The career game (“Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader – Career Version”) was developed from the PowerPoint. It's a great little ice breaker or discussion starter with students and parents.

http://www.knowhowvirginia.org - The “Know How” site is a resource for career information organized around the 16 career clusters. Educators would probably enjoy the Downloads (under “Contact Us” from top of the home page). As long as the supply lasts – we will fill requests for materials in quantity. Include number needed, name and mailing address (physical location) and phone number. This site is undergoing revision so look for some changes in the near future.

2/27/09 NCDA/ AACE Ken Hoyt Memorial Fund

Friends and family of Ken Hoyt have established a memorial fund to provide recognition and a monetary award to a career education practitioner or practitioners who have through their work exemplified the career education concepts and practices Dr. Hoyt championed throughout his lifetime. The fund will be held in trust by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) for this purpose.  NCDA together with the American Association for Career Education (AACE) will establish the selection criteria, solicit nominations from their members and select the recipient(s) of this award which will be presented annually at the NCDA summer conference.

Individuals wishing to remember Ken and help ensure that his legacy lives on through the annual Career Education Practitioner award are encouraged to make a contribution to the Ken Hoyt Memorial fund.Click here to visit the NCDA website for more information.  You can also read the letter and download the contribution form from the Kenneth Hoyt Memorial Fund Committee.  Form should be returned to NCDA.

1/9/09 Opportunities for professional development or license renewal!

• Attend the VCDA conference in March and earn CEUs and learn more about the GCDF credential during our Relevant Roundtable at the VCDA conference-register now!
• Learn about opportunities to earn the GCDF at the NCDA website
• Earn the GCDF credential online from Thomas Edison State College
• Earn a graduate certificate in Career Development online from Mercer University - designed for folks who have completed or are enrolled in a Masters program that relates to counseling, Ed or HR.

12/18/08 SAVE THE DATE TO ADVOCATE -- JANUARY 26, 2009 in Richmond!
The VCA Legislative Day 2009 is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2009. The day will begin at the Library of Virginia at 9AM with a quick "how to effectively advocate" training and briefing of current legislative issues by VCA's Lobbyist. Then we storm the General Assembly Building armed with information, resources and warm greetings. Mark your calendars now to attend this free event sponsored annually by the Virginia Counselors Association. For complete details, including on-line registration, visit http://www.vcacounselors.org/cde.cfm?event=243121 or www.vcacounselors.org .

12/17/08 Career Development Facilitator e-learning class starting January 27, 2009
If you are a career services provider who wants to:
- update and upgrade your skills
- improve your confidence in your work
- study using e-learning at a time and place convenient for you
- take a Career Development Facilitator class using approved National Career Development Association's curriculum
- complete the educational component required to apply for an internationally recognized certification
- meet with you fellow students for three days of face-to-face

Contact Marjorie Hendrickson at almargenccc@earthlink.net for more information.

12/16/08 "We're off to see the Wizard!"
The VCDA annual conference will be hosting visits with Wizard, a new career and educational planning tool available this spring through the Virginia Community College System. Wizard will enable students to learn about the local labor market, assess their interests and skills, and plan for the post-secondary educational experience that best meets their needs - all on one, integrated system. The VCDA conference is March 10, 2009 at Piedmont Valley Community College. Registration is/will soon be available online at www.vcdaweb.org .

12/12/08 Model Career Development Awards
The Virginia Career Development Association would like to honor career development
professionals who have demonstrated effective planning, teaching and counseling
strategies to foster career development in a variety of settings. Model Career
Development Award winners will be selected in February and presented at the VCDA
Conference in March. Award recipients will receive two free VCDA Conference 2009
registrations. Deadline for submitting applications is Jan. 31, 2009. Click here for more information and applications.

10/15/08 Hearings Concerning High School Graduation Requirements
On October 30th public hearings will be held across the state to address proposed changes to the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia. The hearings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the locations listed below. The top two issues that will impact our members are: 1. The proposed new diplomas, Technical Studies and Advanced Technical Studies (8VAC20-131-50), and 2. Development of Academic Career Plans for middle school students (8VAC20-131-140). *While Governor Kaine's letter has the Plans starting in 2008-2009, approved changes would start in 2009-2010. More Details

10/15/08 Hearings Concerning High School Graduation Requirements

On October 30th public hearings will be held across the state to address proposed changes to the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia. The hearings will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the locations listed below. The top two issues that will impact our members are: 1. The proposed new diplomas, Technical Studies and Advanced Technical Studies (8VAC20-131-50), and 2. Development of Academic Career Plans for middle school students (8VAC20-131-140). *While Governor Kaine's letter has the Plans starting in 2008-2009, approved changes would start in 2009-2010. More Details

VCDA NEWSLETTERS

Summer 2008 The last issue, of the VCDA Online Newsletter is available.  Summer 2008, includes:

• VCDA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE – Year 2008 in Review
• VCDA BOARD - NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS
• VCDA SPRING CONFERENCE 2008
• ANNOUNCING SPRING CONFERENCE 2009
• VCDA MODEL CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS RECIPIENTS
• NCDA CONFERENCE COMES TO WASHINGTON, DC
• VCDA CO-SPONSORS WELCOME RECEPTION AT NCDA CONFERENCE
• GLOBAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR CERTIFICATION SUMMER PROGRAM

Winter 2008

Fall 2007