Pennsylvania Bureau of Career & Technical Education Director Judd Pittman met with students from six technical schools on Thursday, Feb. 22 at Lehigh Career & Technica Institute.

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. — High school students and teachers from across the region gathered at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute on Thursday (Feb. 21, 2024) for an open forum with Pennsylvania Department of Education official Judd Pittman.

Pittman, the state’s Bureau of Career & Technical Education director, led listening sessions with 30 representatives from six schools. Students explained why they chose to pursue career and technical education (CTE) and the opportunities it created for them. They also discussed barriers that dissuade prospective students, including negative stereotypes about CTE and parent pressure.

Student participants included:

Carbon Career & Technical Institue

Dominic Collins, Drafting & Design Technology
Callie Mae Peiffer, Drafting & Design Technology

Career Institute of Technology

Kaleya Lapaix, Health-Related Technology
Emma Blaine, Electronics Technology

Career & Technical Center of Lackawanna County

Darrel Smith, Carpentry
Rhys Fortuner, Welding

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute

Amal Basyouni, Health & Medical Sciences
Doris Bozali, Criminal Justice
Lindsey Coursey, Criminal Justice
Ardit Pacuku, Computer Information Technology

Monroe Career & Technical Institute

Jaheem Glasgow, Criminal Justice
Timothy Clements, Carpentry

Schuylkill Technology Center

Joel Williams, Criminal Justice
Hannah Helper, Early Childhood Care & Education

Pittman joined the bureau in December and the Pennsylvania Association of Career & Technical Administrators organized Thursday’s event to help him establish personal connections with students and teachers as a key state-level decision-maker.

The event also served to mark Career & Technical Education Month. Career and Technical Education Month® is a public awareness campaign, hosted by ACTE and sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders, that takes place each February to celebrate CTE, the accomplishments of CTE programs and the importance of CTE for all students of all ages.

View the news release

Media Contact: Precious Petty, Public Relations Coordinator, 610-799-1450, pettyp@lcti.org