Twenty-four DuPage area high school students went down to Springfield April 27-29 for the 53rd annual SkillsUSA Illinois State Leadership and Skills Conference. Eight placed first, second, or third in their respective contest divisions while another six placed among the top ten. All are enrolled in a Technology Center of DuPage career program as an elective part of their high school curriculum. They qualified to compete via a written examination back in February.

Two returned state champions: Connor Lavin (Glenbard South), for Welding Sculpture; and Jamie Shorner (Lisle H.S.), in Esthetics (skin care and make-up). Both are now eligible to compete at National SkillsUSA June 19-24 in Louisville, KY.

Lavin is a second year student in the welding program at TCD and submitted a “bonsai tree” creation for the sculpture contest. Competitors had to develop and execute a welded design, prepare a notebook documenting the process, and deliver a presentation to judges about all aspects of the design creation.

The esthetics contest included a written exam, oral skin assessment, sanitation, skin analysis, basic facial demonstration, facial massage, and a beauty and fantasy makeup demo.

Students representing TCD actually swept the esthetics contest. In addition to state champ Jamie, Jacqueline Pawl (Downers Grove South) placed second and Lea Vicari (Lake Park) placed third. All are seniors in TCD’s Cosmetology program.

Other students placing second or third: Kayleigh Quinn (Glenbard North) and Athina Darrus (Downers Grove South) placed 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively in Cosmetology (hair styling and cutting); Brody Hickey of Downers Grove South earned a silver medal in Auto Refinishing; and senior Bogdana Tomei of Lake Park received a silver medal in Nail Care.

SkillsUSA Illinois is a showcase of career and technical education students. Students, teachers and business partners participate in the multi-day event.

More than 1,000 outstanding career and technical education students competed hands-on in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.

Each year, DuPage County school principals are eligible to recognize one or two students from the top grade in their school for academic performance, exemplary citizenship, overall improvement or other criteria the principal wishes to apply. Those students are recognized at the association’s annual spring breakfast.

Three high school students enrolled in elective programs at Technology Center of DuPage in Addison were honored for excellence at the Illinois Principals Association (IPA-DuPage Region) breakfast, Monday, April 24 at the Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn.

TCD principal Steve Carr honored senior Jehu Gomez of Glenbard East in TCD’s Construction Trades program and Athina Darrus, a senior from Downers Grove South in the Cosmetology program.

Jehu and Athina were selected for their outstanding performance in their programs and for their exceptional efforts as community ambassadors and TCD partner school liaisons.

Lake Park principal John Gouriotis honored senior Michala Belter for her academic excellence. Michala also happens to be enrolled in a TCD program (Early Childhood Education & Care) as an elective part of Lake Park’s curriculum.

Athina, Michala, and Jehu plan to continue in the career path they explored through Technology Center of DuPage. Their confidence in their career choices and future academic pursuits are strong indications of the benefits of the TCD/DuPage County High School partnership.

Three two-person teams of area high school students earned a 1-2-3 sweep in the EMT contest division at the 2017 Illinois HOSA State Leadership Conference in Decatur, March 1-3. The students are all enrolled in the Fire Science/EMT program at Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) in Addison as an elective part of their high school curriculum.

First place team was Ethan McReynolds and Jordan Stern, seniors from Neuqua Valley H.S. Second place went to the team of Angela Flammini and Jordan McDonnell, both seniors from Glenbard West. The third place honor went to Matthew Watson and Olivia Rydholm, Naperville Central seniors. Stern also placed among the top ten in the Safety Test.

Accompanying the team was TCD HOSA chapter sponsor Ruth Ann Henson, RN, an NATP instructor, and Greg Leston, EMT instructor.

The students had to take a written test in order to qualify to compete. Round two of the EMT division was a practical contest consisting of a  medical or trauma scenario, in which each team had 10 minutes to assess, treat, and  stabilize the patient; call for resources; and call the hospital with a report, while using their equipment bag.

In the Home Health Aide contest, Jonathan Maghirang of Downers Grove South placed third in the state, while Delaney Wozniak of Glenbard East placed among the top ten. Maghirang is enrolled in TCD’s Nursing Assistant Training Program (NATP) while Wozniak is an EMT student.

The students who placed among the top three in their contests are eligible to compete at International HOSA, June 21-24 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida.

HOSA is an international leadership organization for students preparing for a career in health science technology. The state conference gives students a chance to test their knowledge and practical skills; develop leadership skills; and network with other students and industry professionals.

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Registration for the preschool program at Technology Center of DuPage in Addison is open for the 2016-2017 school year. TCD Preschool, for children aged 3-5 years old, begins October 4, 2016 and runs through May 12, 2017 with the choice of a two-hour morning or afternoon session. The preschool is located in the Technology Center of DuPage building at 301 S. Swift Road in Addison.  Registration is $20, and rates for the year vary according to the number of days per week the preschooler is enrolled.

For complete information on sessions, yearly rates, requirements, and instructional staff, visit www.tcdupage.org or contact TCD Preschool Lab instructor, Ms. Helen Figaro, helenf@tcdupage.org.

TCD Preschool features a play-based learning environment that is also a lab school for high school juniors and seniors with a passion for teaching, early childhood education, and working with young children. These students, from among 24 DuPage area high schools, are enrolled in TCD’s Early Childhood Education & Care program as an elective part of their high school curriculum. All student teachers work in the lab preschool under the direct supervision of a highly experienced certified teacher, providing an average 3:1 preschooler-teacher ratio. TCD instructional staff members have over 50 years of combined experience in early childhood education.

The high school students are learning to plan and implement engaging and developmentally appropriate activities for preschoolers. The preschool curriculum includes language and reading, math and science, art and music, large and small motor skills, and social/emotional skill development. The preschoolers have the unique opportunity to take on-site “field trips” to other career programs at Technology Center of DuPage, including Fire Science, Cosmetology, Healthcare Foundations, Culinary, etc.

New Executive Director named for DuPage Area Occupational Education System and Technology Center of DuPage

The DAOES Board of Directors approves the appointment of Michael D. Zimmerman of Indiana.

Starting July 1, Technology Center of DuPage and the DuPage Area Occupational Education System (DAOES) will welcome Mr. Michael D. Zimmerman of Crown Point, Indiana as the new Executive Director.

 Technology Center of DuPage is the elective high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) campus for 24 DuPage and Lyons Township high schools. Representatives of 14 member school districts comprise the DAOES Board, which is the governing body for TCD and other CTE delivery sites in the DuPage area.

Zimmerman will take over the position from Dr. Alf Logan, who has served as Interim Director for DAOES/TCD since the departure of previous director Dr. Jim Thorne.

“Mike Zimmerman has a strong background in administration, teaching, and partnership development in a CTE setting,” commented DAOES Board President Dr. Douglas Domeracki, Superintendent for Community H.S. District 94. “We believe his passion for quality career and technical education will greatly serve Technology Center of DuPage and the DAOES school communities.”

Zimmerman comes to DAOES/TCD with over 20 years of teaching and administrative experience in Indiana. He has a bachelor’s degree in business education from the University of Indianapolis and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision through Ball State University. He has taught business education at three high schools and for eleven years, worked at Area 31 Career Programs in Indianapolis, one of the largest career centers in Indiana.  During his time at Area 31 Career Programs, he served as the career pathway specialist and was involved in the career center’s expansion that led to almost doubling the number of CTE programs offered.

In 2011, Zimmerman was appointed the Principal of the Area Career Center in Hammond, Indiana and Director of Area Career and Technical Education District 2. While there he implemented, with post-secondary partner Vincennes University, one of Indiana’s first early college programs in a career center. Early college is an initiative through which high school students in specific career paths can earn 1-2 years of college credit with the ultimate goal of earning an associate’s degree at the same time they graduate from high school.

Under Zimmerman’s leadership and collaboration with local school districts and business partners, enrollment in area district high school’s CTE classes more than doubled in two years. At the career center, he has added new programs, updated existing programs, increased enrollment, and was appointed by the Governor of Indiana to serve on the Indiana Region 1 Works Council.

Upon his appointment as DAOES Director, Zimmerman stated: “I am very impressed with what TCD has to offer high school students and the community. It has high-quality programs, an extensive offering of college credits, and many industry certifications already in place. I look forward to working with the 14 member school districts to collaborate on the delivery of career and technical education at TCD and throughout the DAOES region.”

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