June 6, 2011
Mr. Rick Snyder
Governor
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Dear Governor Snyder:
My name is Tasha Candela and I am a business teacher at Lake Shore High School in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan. I teach a freshman class called Career/Technology Foundations where I am responsible for sharing current trends in our job market, providing training for the creation of an electronic portfolio, and giving teenagers a solid dose of character education. For me, this course has been a highlight in my teaching career because, at the end of the class, students can clearly see the need for continuing education beyond high school. I have provided the flashlight and the skill set. They have the determination and the dream. Unfortunately, the one major challenge that our teenagers will face is the state of our economy which is why I am writing you.
On July 28-29 I will join ninety-nine other educators from across the United States at Microsoft’s 2011 Innovative Education Forum in Redmond, Washington to share a lesson titled Electronic Portfolios: The Weebly Wonders of the Web. Not only am I able to share the concept of professional career portfolios with others, this event will give me the opportunity to show a video that my entire class created. In four brief minutes, viewers will see the faces that are affected by the current job market. They will be moved by the information located from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The video can be found by visiting http://vimeo.com/24684516. I charge you to take a respite from your work and view it, too. These are not just the faces of forty-seven teenagers; they are the future leaders of our world.
In order for our students to thrive, we must invest in them. Please stop the cuts in funding for our school systems. These cuts affect elective courses. As a Career and Technical Education teacher, I know first-hand what it means for students to be given training in vocational areas. Business, medical, and technology are the three fastest growing careers fields today. Preparation in these areas is important. Likewise, college tuition prices have jumped significantly and there is virtually no guarantee for employment once a degree has been granted. Keeping a positive mindset is necessary, but is it realistic?
Thank you for reviewing my request to invest in our schools and I hope you have found the video enjoyable. This past weekend, I cheered on the class of 2011 at their commencement ceremony. They were filled with hope and ready to take that next step in life. As I watched each individual walk across the stage to receive their diploma, I could not help but to feel a bit worried about the job market of tomorrow. Please do not let me down. More importantly, do not disappoint them.
Sincerely,
Tasha Candela
Mr. Rick Snyder
Governor
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Dear Governor Snyder:
My name is Tasha Candela and I am a business teacher at Lake Shore High School in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan. I teach a freshman class called Career/Technology Foundations where I am responsible for sharing current trends in our job market, providing training for the creation of an electronic portfolio, and giving teenagers a solid dose of character education. For me, this course has been a highlight in my teaching career because, at the end of the class, students can clearly see the need for continuing education beyond high school. I have provided the flashlight and the skill set. They have the determination and the dream. Unfortunately, the one major challenge that our teenagers will face is the state of our economy which is why I am writing you.
On July 28-29 I will join ninety-nine other educators from across the United States at Microsoft’s 2011 Innovative Education Forum in Redmond, Washington to share a lesson titled Electronic Portfolios: The Weebly Wonders of the Web. Not only am I able to share the concept of professional career portfolios with others, this event will give me the opportunity to show a video that my entire class created. In four brief minutes, viewers will see the faces that are affected by the current job market. They will be moved by the information located from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The video can be found by visiting http://vimeo.com/24684516. I charge you to take a respite from your work and view it, too. These are not just the faces of forty-seven teenagers; they are the future leaders of our world.
In order for our students to thrive, we must invest in them. Please stop the cuts in funding for our school systems. These cuts affect elective courses. As a Career and Technical Education teacher, I know first-hand what it means for students to be given training in vocational areas. Business, medical, and technology are the three fastest growing careers fields today. Preparation in these areas is important. Likewise, college tuition prices have jumped significantly and there is virtually no guarantee for employment once a degree has been granted. Keeping a positive mindset is necessary, but is it realistic?
Thank you for reviewing my request to invest in our schools and I hope you have found the video enjoyable. This past weekend, I cheered on the class of 2011 at their commencement ceremony. They were filled with hope and ready to take that next step in life. As I watched each individual walk across the stage to receive their diploma, I could not help but to feel a bit worried about the job market of tomorrow. Please do not let me down. More importantly, do not disappoint them.
Sincerely,
Tasha Candela